Preposition of Time

Preposition of Time

Today, we are going to focus on all the prepositions`that are used to tell about time. We use the prepositions 'In', 'At', 'On', 'During', 'For', 'Since', 'Till'/'Until', 'Ago', 'Before', 'After', 'By', 'To', 'Within' etc before time.

'IN'

We use the preposition 'IN' when we talk about 

Months  -   

in January, in February, in August. 

Example - My friend will come back in October.

Years       -  

in 1995, in 2008, in 2019, in 2020. 

Example -  He was born in 1998.

Decades  -  

in the 60’s, (in the sixties), the 1990’s. 

Example - He was famous in the 90’s.

Centuries-  

in 1700’s, in 1800’s, in the 21st century. 

Example -We are living in the 21st century. 

Seasons-     

in  Winter, in Summer, in Spring, in Rainy

Example - We are going to visit there in winter.

Parts/period of the day - 

in the morning /evening / afternoon 

(but at noon/midday/night/midnight)

Examples - 

He is leaving in the morning. 

He is leaving at noon. 

 We try to work in the evening.

Period of time - 

in three hours, in one week, two weeks, in a few minutes, in a few days/Weeks, in a couple of days, in the present, in the past, in the future, in the next century, in the 5 years time.

Examples - 

He will go to Mumbai in a week.

 He will leave in a few minutes/in two hours.    

 

'ON'

We Use the preposition ‘ON’ when we talk about days & dates. 

Days of the week – on Sunday, on Monday

              The game will be played on Monday.

              He doesn’t work on Sundays.

Day + Part of day – Sunday Morning, on summer evening

                We are going to the theatre on Friday evening.

Days of the month - on the 15th, on the 31st

Dates with month - on 15th August, on 

26th of January, on 14th of November

                 The children’s Day is celebrated on 14th of November.

Special Days - My birthday, His anniversary, on my wedding day, on the following day

                  I have an exam on my birthday/on the following day.

Special part of a day - on the morning of October the 11th

                  Last time, I met my friend on the evening of August the 14th.

Holidays with day-    on Easter day, on Christmas Day, on Women’s Day. 

                                            

'AT' 

   we use the preposition ‘AT’ when we talk about 

A specific time - at 6 a.m./p.m., at 6:30, at 9 o’clock, at 12 o’ clock, at  noon, at night, at midday, at midnight, at sunrise, at sunset, at dawn, at dusk.

         The meeting starts at eleven thirty.

         I don’t like to go out at night.

         He arrived at 2:30.

         He left at midnight.

         He left the place at 9 o’clock.

Fixed phrases (expressions) - at the moment, at the present, at the same time, at the end of the month/day, at the beginning, at the end, at the weekend etc. 

    He is doing his work at the moment.

    They arrived at the same time.

    I finished the course at the end of October.

    He’s unavailable at present.

    He is leaving at the weekend.

   (in American English, on the weekend is the correct form.)

Holidays without day – at Easter, at New Year, at Christmas (on Christmas day, on Easter Day, on new year day)

Meal times- at lunch time, at dinner time, at breakfast etc. 

We will go shopping at lunch time.

'During'-

Used when something happens within the time something else is happening.

During office hours, during the summer, during that time, during 1984 etc.  

     We stayed at the student hostel during the conference. 

     He fell asleep during the movie. 

'For' – 

Used to show a period of time/an amount of time. It indicates that the action continues for the whole period.

E. g.  -  For three weeks, for five hours etc. 

I have been teaching in this school for five years.

I sleep for six hours.

This labourer works for eight hours daily.

He has been doing his work  for two hours.

'Since' – 

since expresses point of time (Refers back to a point in time when something began). 

I have been teaching in this school  since 2015.

He has been doing his work since two o’clock.

'Until'/'Till'-

To describe a continuous action that stops at a specific time.

They lived in Delhi until 2008.

We will wait till half past six.

'From'… 'to' / 'till'/ 'until' -

To show when something begins & ends.

The principal remains in his office from 10 to 4.

We work from 8 a.m. to/till 4 p.m.

Her visit will extend from Monday to Thursday

'Ago' - 

 Refers to how far back in time something happened or to talk about a past event in reference to the present time. 

He left the house an hour ago.

He completed his course five months ago.

'Before'/'After'-

 use the preposition before & after refers that something happens either previous or later a specific time. Before is also used to talk about a past event in reference to another past event.

He will come here before Sunday.

I’ll see you after Monday.

He cleared the test a month before he completed the course.

'By' -

 Not later than

He had promised to be back by five o’clock. ( Before 5 o’clock or at 5 o’ clock)

He will finish this work by Friday.

Submit the project report by Friday.  

 

'Between'… 'and' – 

to talk about time that separates to points.

They lived in New York between 1998 & 2004.

'In'/'Within' –

'In' indicates that the action will perform at the end of time while 'within' indicates that the action will perform before the end of time. 

He will return in a week. (at the close of the week)

 He will return within a week.  (in less than a week)

 You should receive a reply within seven days. (in less than seven days)

'IN'/ 'ON'/ 'BY'

In time  – before time

On time – at the appointed time

By time -   before that time or at that time( to indicate a deadline)

Submit the project report in Friday.

Submit the project report on Friday.

Submit the project report by Friday.

(IN indicates you have to submit the project report before Friday, 'ON'  indicates you have to submit the project report on Friday 'AT' indicates you have to submit the project report till friday) 

I should reach the school by 7 a.m.

You have to finish the work by five o’clock.