Mastering Prepositions of Time: A Comprehensive Guide

Prepositions of time are essential for expressing when events occur, how long they last, and their relationships to other points in time. A solid understanding of these prepositions enhances clarity and precision in both spoken and written English. This article provides a comprehensive overview of prepositions of time, including definitions, structural breakdowns, usage rules, common mistakes, and practice exercises. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will help you master the nuances of prepositions of time, enabling you to communicate more effectively and confidently.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Definition of Prepositions of Time
• Structural Breakdown
• Types of Prepositions of Time
• Examples of Prepositions of Time
• Usage Rules for Prepositions of Time
• Common Mistakes with Prepositions of Time
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Definition of Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time indicate when something happens, its duration, or its relationship to another point in time. They are words that connect nouns, pronouns, or phrases to a specific moment, day, month, year, or other time-related concept. These prepositions are crucial for providing context and clarity in sentences, allowing us to understand the temporal aspects of events and actions.

In English grammar, prepositions of time are a subcategory of prepositions, which are words that show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. Prepositions of time specifically deal with temporal relationships, answering questions like “when?” or “for how long?”. Understanding their function is key to mastering English grammar and communicating effectively.

Structural Breakdown

The structure involving prepositions of time is relatively straightforward. A preposition of time typically precedes a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that represents a point or period in time. The basic structure is: Preposition of Time + Time Element (Noun/Pronoun/Phrase). For example, at 5 PM, on Monday, in July.

Prepositions of time can also be part of prepositional phrases, which act as adverbs, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. These phrases provide additional information about the timing of an action or state. For example, “I will meet you in the morning.” Here, “in the morning” is a prepositional phrase acting as an adverb modifying the verb “meet”.

Types of Prepositions of Time

While there are many prepositions in English, some are more commonly used to indicate time. Here are some of the most important prepositions of time, categorized for clarity:

Specific Time

These prepositions are used to indicate a specific point in time.

• At: Used for specific times of day, holidays without “day,” and mealtimes.
• On: Used for specific days of the week and dates.

General Time

These prepositions are used to indicate a more general or extended period of time.

• In: Used for months, years, seasons, centuries, and general times of day.

Extended Time

These prepositions are used to indicate a duration or period.

• For: Used to indicate a length of time.
• During: Used to indicate something happens within a specific period.
• From…to/until/till: Used to indicate the beginning and end of a period.
• Since: Used to indicate a point in time when something began and continues.
• By: Used to indicate a deadline or the latest time something will happen.

Related Time

These prepositions are used to indicate a relationship to another point of time.

• Before: Used to indicate something happens earlier than another time.
• After: Used to indicate something happens later than another time.
• Until/Till: Used to indicate up to a certain time.
• Within: Used to indicate something happens inside a period of time.

Examples of Prepositions of Time

Understanding how prepositions of time are used in context is crucial. The following tables provide extensive examples, categorized by the preposition being used.

Examples Using “At”

The preposition “at” is typically used for specific times, holidays without “day,” and mealtimes. Here are some examples:

Sentence	Explanation
I wake up at 6 AM every day.	Indicates the specific time of waking up.
The meeting will start at noon.	Specifies the exact time the meeting begins.
We eat dinner at 7 PM.	Indicates the specific time for dinner.
She always feels tired at night.	Refers to a general time of day.
They arrived at the same time.	Indicates a specific moment.
The concert starts at 8 o’clock.	Specifies the exact time the concert begins.
Let’s meet at the coffee shop.	Indicates a specific location and implied time.
He finished his work at last.	Indicates the final moment of completion.
The movie begins at 9:30 PM.	Specifies the start time of the movie.
We will arrive at dawn.	Indicates the time of sunrise.
She called me at midnight.	Specifies the middle of the night.
The birds start singing at sunrise.	Indicates when the birds begin to sing.
I always feel hungry at lunchtime.	Specifies the time for lunch.
The train departs at 10:15 AM.	Indicates the exact departure time.
He usually studies at home.	Indicates a location and implied time.
Please be there at the entrance.	Specifies the meeting point and implied time.
The presentation is scheduled at 2 PM.	Indicates the specific time for the presentation.
We will celebrate at Christmas.	Refers to the holiday season.
She laughed at the joke.	Indicates the moment of laughter.
They will meet at the party.	Indicates a specific event and implied time.
The show begins at 7:30 PM sharp.	Specifies the exact start time.
I’ll see you at the airport.	Indicates a location and implied time.
He is always busy at work.	Indicates a location and general time.
We will eat at the restaurant.	Indicates a location and implied time.
She studies at the library.	Indicates a location and general time.

Examples Using “On”

The preposition “on” is used for specific days of the week and dates. Here are some examples:

Sentence	Explanation
I have a meeting on Monday.	Indicates a specific day of the week.
Her birthday is on July 20th.	Indicates a specific date.
We celebrate Independence Day on July 4th.	Indicates a specific date.
The store is closed on Sundays.	Indicates a recurring day of the week.
He will arrive on the 15th of August.	Indicates a specific date.
The concert is on Saturday evening.	Indicates a specific day and time.
She called me on my birthday.	Indicates a specific day.
I always visit my family on holidays.	Indicates recurring special days.
The package will arrive on Tuesday.	Indicates a specific delivery day.
We went to the beach on a sunny day.	Indicates a specific type of day.
She will present her project on Friday.	Indicates the day of the presentation.
The deadline for the assignment is on October 31st.	Specifies the exact deadline date.
I plan to start my diet on January 1st.	Indicates the start date of the diet.
He will graduate on June 10th.	Indicates the graduation date.
We celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November.	Indicates a specific day.
She was born on a rainy day.	Describes the weather on her birth day.
I have a doctor’s appointment on Wednesday morning.	Indicates the day and time of the appointment.
The event will be held on the first day of spring.	Indicates the specific day for the event.
He always takes a break on weekends.	Indicates recurring days for taking a break.
We will have a picnic on Sunday afternoon.	Indicates the day and time for the picnic.
The new product will be launched on the 25th of December.	Indicates the specific launch date.
I’m going to the library on Thursday.	Specifies the day for visiting the library.
We watched a movie on Saturday night.	Indicates the day and time for watching the movie.
She has a dentist appointment on Monday morning.	Specifies the day and time for the appointment.
The sports game is on Friday evening.	Indicates the day and time for the sports game.

Examples Using “In”

The preposition “in” is used for months, years, seasons, centuries, and general times of day. Here are some examples:

Sentence	Explanation
I was born in 1990.	Indicates the year of birth.
The flowers bloom in spring.	Indicates the season when flowers bloom.
She will graduate in May.	Indicates the month of graduation.
We live in the 21st century.	Indicates the century we live in.
He reads the newspaper in the morning.	Indicates a general time of day.
The project is due in two weeks.	Indicates a period of time.
They will travel to Europe in the summer.	Indicates the season of travel.
I will finish the book in a few days.	Indicates a period of time.
The meeting will be held in June.	Indicates the month of the meeting.
She started her new job in January.	Indicates the month she started the job.
The company was founded in 1985.	Indicates the year the company was founded.
He learned to play the piano in his childhood.	Indicates a period of life.
We will go skiing in the winter.	Indicates the season for skiing.
She completed her degree in three years.	Indicates the duration of her studies.
The festival takes place in October.	Indicates the month of the festival.
I usually go for a walk in the evening.	Indicates a general time of day.
He will return in a week.	Indicates a period of time.
She plans to move to a new city in the future.	Indicates a general time frame.
The conference will be held in November.	Indicates the month of the conference.
We will celebrate our anniversary in September.	Indicates the month of celebration.
The store will open in an hour.	Indicates the time of opening.
I like to read in the afternoon.	Indicates a general time of day.
He finished the race in record time.	Indicates the period of time.
She will graduate in the spring of 2024.	Indicates the season and year of graduation.
We will meet in the lobby.	Indicates a location and implied time.

Examples Using “For,” “During,” “Since,” and “By”

This table provides examples for prepositions indicating extended time.

Sentence	Explanation
I have been studying English for five years.	Indicates the duration of studying.
She worked as a teacher for ten years.	Indicates the length of her teaching career.
He will be away for a week.	Indicates the duration of his absence.
They lived in Paris for six months.	Indicates the duration of their stay in Paris.
I slept for eight hours last night.	Indicates the duration of sleep.
We stayed at the hotel during our vacation.	Indicates the period of the vacation.
The museum is closed during the winter.	Indicates the season when the museum is closed.
He felt nervous during the presentation.	Indicates the period of the presentation.
She studied hard during the semester.	Indicates the period of the semester.
The power outage occurred during the storm.	Indicates the period of the storm.
I have known her since 2010.	Indicates the starting point of knowing her.
He has been working here since January.	Indicates the starting point of his employment.
She has been living in London since she was a child.	Indicates the starting point of her residency.
They have been married since 1995.	Indicates the starting point of their marriage.
I haven’t seen him since last week.	Indicates the last time he was seen.
The report is due by Friday.	Indicates the deadline for the report.
Please submit your application by the end of the month.	Indicates the deadline for submitting applications.
He promised to finish the project by tomorrow.	Indicates the deadline for finishing the project.
She wants to learn French by next year.	Indicates the target time for learning French.
We need to make a decision by the deadline.	Indicates the final time for making a decision.

Usage Rules for Prepositions of Time

Using prepositions of time correctly requires understanding specific rules and conventions. These rules ensure clarity and accuracy in your writing and speech.

• “At” for Specific Times: Use “at” for precise times, such as “at 3 PM,” “at noon,” and “at midnight.”
• “On” for Days and Dates: Use “on” for specific days of the week and dates, such as “on Monday,” “on July 4th,” and “on my birthday.”
• “In” for Longer Periods: Use “in” for months, years, seasons, centuries, and general times of day, such as “in January,” “in 2023,” “in the summer,” and “in the morning.”
• “For” for Duration: Use “for” to indicate a length of time, such as “for five years,” “for a week,” and “for an hour.”
• “During” for Periods Within: Use “during” to indicate that something happens within a specific period, such as “during the meeting,” “during the summer,” and “during the movie.”
• “From…to/until/till” for Start and End: Use “from…to/until/till” to indicate the beginning and end of a period, such as “from Monday to Friday,” “from 9 AM until 5 PM,” and “from January till June.”
• “Since” for a Starting Point: Use “since” to indicate a point in time when something began and continues, such as “since 2010,” “since last week,” and “since I was a child.”
• “By” for Deadlines: Use “by” to indicate a deadline or the latest time something will happen, such as “by Friday,” “by the end of the month,” and “by tomorrow.”

Exceptions and Special Cases: There are some exceptions to these general rules. For example, we say “at the weekend” in British English, but “on the weekend” in American English. Also, some phrases have become idiomatic, such as “in time” meaning “early enough” and “on time” meaning “punctual.”

Common Mistakes with Prepositions of Time

Even experienced English learners can make mistakes with prepositions of time. Here are some common errors and how to correct them:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
I will see you in Monday.	I will see you on Monday.	“On” is used for specific days of the week.
The meeting is on 3 PM.	The meeting is at 3 PM.	“At” is used for specific times.
She was born at July.	She was born in July.	“In” is used for months.
I have been studying English since five years.	I have been studying English for five years.	“For” is used to indicate a duration of time.
He will finish the project until Friday.	He will finish the project by Friday.	“By” is used to indicate a deadline.
We stayed there during two weeks.	We stayed there for two weeks.	“For” is used to indicate a duration of time.
I will arrive at the morning.	I will arrive in the morning.	“In” is used for general times of day.
The class starts on 8 AM.	The class starts at 8 AM.	“At” is used for specific times.
She has lived here for 2010.	She has lived here since 2010.	“Since” indicates the starting point in time.
The movie starts in 7 o’clock.	The movie starts at 7 o’clock.	“At” is used for specific times.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of prepositions of time with these practice exercises. Choose the correct preposition to complete each sentence.

Exercise 1: Basic Prepositions

Question	Answer
1. I will meet you _____ 5 PM.	at
2. She was born _____ June.	in
3. We will go to the park _____ Sunday.	on
4. The movie starts _____ 7:30 PM.	at
5. He always exercises _____ the morning.	in
6. The deadline is _____ Friday.	by
7. I have been studying English _____ two years.	for
8. The concert is _____ Saturday.	on
9. She will arrive _____ the evening.	in
10. They got married _____ 2015.	in

Exercise 2: Intermediate Prepositions

Question	Answer
1. I have been working here _____ January.	since
2. The store is closed _____ Christmas Day.	on
3. We will be on vacation _____ July and August.	between
4. He felt sick _____ the flight.	during
5. She promised to call me _____ a week.	within
6. The project must be finished _____ the end of the week.	by
7. I will be available _____ 9 AM _____ 5 PM.	from, to
8. The event will take place _____ the summer.	in
9. He has lived in this city _____ 2000.	since
10. The meeting will be held _____ Tuesday afternoon.	on

Exercise 3: Advanced Prepositions

Question	Answer
1. I haven’t seen him _____ last summer.	since
2. The report is due _____ the close of business on Friday.	by
3. She will complete her studies _____ three years.	in
4. We plan to launch the product _____ the first quarter of next year.	in
5. He will be back _____ two weeks’ time.	in
6. The conference will be held _____ the week of July 15th.	in
7. She has been practicing the piano _____ she was five years old.	since
8. The construction should be finished _____ the end of the year.	by
9. We will have a meeting _____ next week to discuss the project.	sometime
10. I expect to hear from them _____ the next few days.	within

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, understanding more nuanced uses of prepositions of time can further enhance your English proficiency.

• Idiomatic Expressions: Many idiomatic expressions use prepositions of time, such as “in the nick of time,” “at the drop of a hat,” and “once in a blue moon.” Understanding these expressions requires learning them as individual units of meaning.
• Prepositions with “Time” Itself: The word “time” can be used with different prepositions to convey specific meanings. For example, “in time” means “early enough,” while “on time” means “punctual.” “At times” means “occasionally.”
• Formal vs. Informal Usage: In formal writing, it’s important to use prepositions of time precisely. In informal speech, people may sometimes use them more loosely. However, for clarity and accuracy, it’s best to adhere to the standard rules, especially in writing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about prepositions of time:

1. What is the difference between “in” and “on” when referring to dates?

   Use “in” for months and years (e.g., in July, in 2023) and “on” for specific dates (e.g., on July 4th, on my birthday).

2. When should I use “at” versus “in” when talking about time of day?

   Use “at” for specific times (e.g., at 3 PM, at noon) and “in” for general times of day (e.g., in the morning, in the evening).

3. What is the difference between “for” and “during”?

   “For” indicates a length of time (e.g., for five years), while “during” indicates that something happens within a specific period (e.g., during the meeting).

4. How do I use “since” correctly?

   “Since” indicates a point in time when something began and continues (e.g., since 2010, since last week). It is often used with the present perfect tense.

5. What does “by” mean when referring to time?

   “By” indicates a deadline or the latest time something will happen (e.g., by Friday, by the end of the month).

6. Is it correct to say “on the weekend” or “at the weekend”?

   Both are used, but “on the weekend” is more common in American English, while “at the weekend” is more common in British English.

7. Can I use “till” and “until” interchangeably?

   Yes, “till” and “until” are generally interchangeable and mean “up to a certain time.” “Till” is slightly more informal.

8. How do I avoid common mistakes with prepositions of time?

   Pay attention to the specific rules for each preposition, practice using them in context, and review common errors to avoid repeating them.

Conclusion

Mastering prepositions of time is crucial for clear and effective communication in English. By understanding the definitions, structural breakdown, usage rules, and common mistakes associated with these prepositions, you can significantly improve your language skills. Remember to practice regularly and pay attention to context to ensure accurate usage. With consistent effort, you’ll be able to use prepositions of time confidently and effectively in both spoken and written English.

This comprehensive guide provided detailed explanations, numerous examples, and practical exercises to help you grasp the nuances of prepositions of time. Keep practicing, and don’t hesitate to consult resources and seek feedback to refine your understanding and usage. Happy learning!