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.

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Types of Preposition

 Types of Preposition 

According to the function prepositions are categorized into the following types. 

1) Preposition of time

2) Preposition of place

3) Preposition for direction or movement 

4) Preposition for  agency 

5) Preposition of instrument

6) Preposition for reason

7) Preposition for origin

8) Preposition for purpose 

9) Preposition for price

10) Appropriate preposition 

         

  

1) Preposition of time - 

These prepositions are used to denote the time. These prepositions tell us when the thing is taking place. 

E.g. - At, on, in, by, off, from, away, since, for, towards etc. 

Now let's form some sentences using these preposition :

• He came at 4 o' clock. 

• There are seven days in a week. 

• I will finish this work by tomorrow. 

• The Children's Day is celebrated on 14th November. 

2) Preposition for place -  

These prepositions are used to denote the place. 

E.g. -  On, at, in, into, from, within, without, inside, outside, in front of, on top, between, among, behind, under, below etc. 

Now let's form some sentences using these preposition :

• He puts his books on the table. 

• The gatekeeper is sitting at the gate. 

• He jumped from a wall.

•  The pitcher sank into the water. 

3) Preposition for direction or movement - 

These prepositions express the direction or movement of something. 

This type of prepositions are :

Up, down, over, under, along, across, To, into, through, towards etc. 

Now let's form some sentences using these preposition :

• The cat jumped over the wall.                                                   (movement)
• He went to the office.                                                                 (direction) 
• The train went through the tunnel.                                         (movement) 
• He threw a ball into a river.                                                     (movement, direction) 

 4) Preposition for agent - 

These preposition are used to denote an action done by someone to the subject. 

(this type of preposition is used in passive voices) 

E.g. -  By, with.

• The book was written by Shakespeare. 

• This task was finished by him. 

• This glass was filled with milk. 

(Here these prepositions are used to tell about the action done by someone. These sentences are in passive voice.) 

5) Prepositions for instrument or means -  

The prepositions for instrument indicates using which the action is performed. To define instrument or means we use the preposition 'By'  &  'with'.  

• By -  means of transportation. 

• With -  instrument or tool used. 

Examples - 

• He went to office by bus.            (means) 

• He cut the apple with a knife.   (tool)

• We hear with our ears.               (tool) 

6) Prepositions of cause (reason) - 

These prepositions are used to describe why something has occurred. To define cause, we use the following prepositions :

Of, for, with, as, through, due to, because of, on account of, on behalf of etc. 

• She obtained good marks because of her hard work. 

• He was awarded for his excellence. 

7) Prepositions for origin or source -  

The  preposition 'from'  is used to describe the origin or source of a person or a thing.  

• I am basically from U. P.     (origin) 

• She got a beautiful dress from her friends.    (source) 

  

8) preposition of purpose  -  

We commonly use the preposition 'for'  to describe purpose. 

• A ruler is used for drawing lines.      (purpose) 

 9) preposition for price - 

We commonly use the preposition 'for' and 'at' to describe price. 

The preposition 'for' is used when the actual sum of money is mentioned. 

• I bought this dress for 400 rs. 

The preposition 'at'  is used when the actual sum of money is not mentioned. 

• She bought a dress at a high price.

(If the weight or measurement follows the price 'at' may be used with actual sum of money.

• I bought the oranges at 50 rupees a kilo. 
• I bought this cloth at 50 rupees a meter. 

10) Appropriate prepositions -

Some adjectives, verbs &  nouns are followed by particular preposition. These prepositions do not follow any rule. 

• Afraid of (adjective + preposition) - 

         He is afraid of dogs.      

• Belong to (verb + preposition) - 

         This book belongs to me. 

• Fond of   ( Adjective + preposition) - 

         He is fond of music. 

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Preposition & its types 

What is the preposition? 

The word 'preposition' is made up of two words 'pre' & 'position'. 'Pre' means 'before' & 'Position' means placement. We use it before a noun or a pronoun & this noun or pronoun is known as the object of preposition. So the preposition is a word placed before a noun or a pronoun to connect that noun or pronoun with the rest part of the sentence. 

Definition - 

A preposition is a word placed before a noun or a pronoun to show its relation with another part ( or parts of speech) of the sentence. 

• It must always be followed by a noun or a pronoun in a sentence. 

Examples - 

• He puts his books on the table. 

(Here on preposition is used to define the place of  book. Where does he put his book? 

He puts his books on the table. it is telling us the relation of book with the table.)

• He is in the room. 

(This preposition is also used to define the place. In preposition is showing the relation between he &  the room.) 

         

      

Now let us focus on its types :

Types of preposition - 

We can define the types of preposition on two basis :

1)  On the basis of structure ( construction )

2) On the basis of function ( usage ). 

 On the basis of structure, Prepositions are divided into five categories. 

1) Simple preposition 

2) Double preposition 

3) Compound preposition 

4) Participle preposition 

5) Phrase preposition 

According to the function prepositions are categorized into the following types. 

1) Preposition of time

2) Preposition of place

3) Preposition of movement 

4) Preposition for direction 

5) Preposition for  agency 

6) Preposition of instrument

7) Preposition for reason

8) Preposition for origin

9)  Preposition for purpose 

10) Preposition for price

11) Appropriate preposition 

 First of all I will define the preposition on the basis of structure : 

1) Simple preposition - 

A simple preposition consists of only one word. 

E.g -  in, on, to, of, for, with, at, by, after, from, till, up,  off, as, over, out, but, than, after, under etc. 

Now we will form some sentences using simple preposition:

• He was staying at the hotel. 

(at 'is' a preposition which is used before a noun &  it consists of only one word so it is a simple preposition.) 

• They came from Agra. 

('Agra' is a place (noun), 'from' is a preposition which is used before a noun. This preposition consists of only one word so it is a simple preposition. ) 

2) Double preposition - 

Double preposition is a combination of two Simple prepositions. ( when two simple prepositions are used together are called double prepositions) 

E. g -  

• INTO -  IN+TO 

The preposition Into is made up of two simple prepositions 'in' &  'to' so it is a double preposition. 

Now let's form a sentence using this preposition :

He jumped into the well. 

• Within -  WITH + IN 

The preposition 'within' is made up of two Simple prepositions 'with' &  'in' so it is a Double preposition.

Now let's form a sentence using this preposition :

He will return within a week. 

• UPON - UP+ON

The preposition 'upon' is also made up of two simple prepositions 'up' &  'on' so it is a double preposition.

Now let's form a sentence using this preposition :

Stand upon the chair. 

3) Compound preposition - 

Compound prepositions are formed by prefixing a preposition to a noun, an adjective or an adverb. 

E.g - beside, along, behind, across, before, about, around, below, against, above, among, amidst, beneath, between, beyond, inside, outside, underneath, etc. 

Now let's form some sentences using these preposition :

• There are several trees around my college. 
• There is a bridge across the river. 
• The house is beyond the hill. 

4) Participle preposition - 

When a participle is used as a preposition before a noun or a pronoun in a sentence, is known as Participle preposition. 

A participle preposition is a verb, ending with ing, en, or ed that functions as a preposition in a sentence. 

Participle prepositions have - ing, - ed, &  - en as suffixes. 

Some of the most common examples of  participle preposition are :

 considering, regarding, during, pending, concerning, following, including, notwithstanding, respected, provided etc. 

Now let's form some sentences using these preposition :

Considering the quality, the price is cheap. 

During the war, everything was costly. 

You should not leave anything pending for tomorrow.

5) Phrase preposition / Prepositional Phrase -

Phrase prepositions are a group of words that act as a single preposition. 

A phrase preposition is a phrase containing a preposition &  functions as a preposition in a sentence &  connects nouns, pronouns, or other phrase to other words in a sentence. 

Phrase preposition are a combination of

A preposition  +  an object 's modifier + the object. 

Some phrase preposition are -  

On account of, on behalf of, by means of, in the end, in any case,  in spite of, in place of, because of, for the purpose of, in front of, according to, in order to, by reason of, by way of, due to, in case of, in comparison to, to the fact, in place of,as well as, in accordance with, for the sake of, with a view to, in the end, in any case, at home, in time etc. 

E. g - 

In spite of many efforts he failed. 

I couldn't attend the class because of fever.

They stayed together for the sake of their job. 

Our thoughts is expressed by means of language.

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