Grammar‎ > ‎Prepositions‎ > ‎

Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time
In - general period of time, month, year
  • exception: at night
  • They were born in 1948.
  • She was born in July
  • He was born in May, 1948.
  • He was born in the morning.
  • We eat supper in the evening.

at - specific time
  • exception at night, at weekends (British)
  • She goes to work at 7.
  • He comes home at 8.
  • They eat lunch at noon.
  • We go to bed at midnight.
  • We watch movies at night.
on - day - exception: on the weekend (American)
  • He was born on May 3rd, 1948.
  • I will go shopping on Saturday.
  • They are paid on the 15th and 30th of every month.
by - limit
  • You must turn in your report by 3.
  • I have to be home by 6.
until - limit, end
  • I will work until it is complete.
  • We played tennis until we were exhausted.
  • She wouldn't try apples until she saw someone else eat one.
since - start date, time or reference
  • I have been reading this book since Friday.
  • It has been broken since last year.
  • They have been working since early this morning.
during - at the same time
  • They were so happy during their vacation.
  • He goes hiking during the spring.
for - period of time
  • I have been teaching music for 3 years.
  • You have been sick for two days.
throughout - from the beginning to the end
  • I have tried to do what's right throughout my life.
before - earlier, in the past.
  • I ate lunch before leaving home.
  • You should grab your umbrella before going out in the rain.
after - later, in the future
  • Why don't we go for a walk after dinner?
  • We will finish the report after I check my e-mail.
around - a specific time give or take a few minutes
  • I should arrive around three.
  • I go to bed around ten.
Check your understanding:
1. I won't go home ________ I finish my report. 
2. This exercise was written ______ June 26, 2007. 
3. There have been problems________the entire experiment. 
4.They will go have lunch ________ working out. 
5. You should brush your teeth ________ going to bed. 
6.We usually eat supper________ 6. 
7.She has been taking Russian classes________ she was a teenager. 
8.He has been a computer programer ________ many years. 


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