Prepositions of Time

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Examples of Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of Timeat, in, on, for, since, from—tell the reader or listener about when something happens or happened.

When it comes to expressing time, there are several prepositions commonly used to indicate various aspects of time. Following are some common prepositions of time:

  1. At

    1. At is used with noon, night, midnight, and with the time of day. For example:

      • My plane leaves at noon.
      • The movie starts at 6 p.m.
    2. At is used with a definite point of time:

      • I usually get up at 5 O’clock.
      • She leaves her house every day at 9 a.m.
    3. At is used with festivals:

      • He will come at Christmas
  2. In

    1. In is used with other parts of the day, with months, with years, with seasons. For example:

      • He likes to read in the afternoon.
      • The days are long in August.
      • The book was published in 1999.
      • The flowers will bloom in spring.
      • In summer the weather is warm.
    2. In is used with the future tense referring to the period in which action may take place. For example:

      • You must be careful in future.
    3. In is used with the names or countries and large towns. For example:

      • I live in Memphis.
      • He plays his professional football in England.
    4. In is used in speaking of things at rest. For example:

      • He is in bed.
  3. On

    1. On is used with days and dates. For example:

      • I will see you on Monday.
      • The week begins on Sunday.
      • My birthday is on the eight of March.
    2. On is often used in speaking of things at rest. For example:

      • He sat on a chair.
  4. By

    By may be used to convey a deadline or the latest time something can be completed, For example:

    • Finish your homework by 5 PM.
  5. For

    For indicates the duration of time. For example:

    • For two hours.
    • For a week.
  6. Since

    Since is used to specify the starting point of a particular time or event:

    • I have supported them since 1999.
    • Since I was a child.
  7. Until/ Till

    Until/till denote the endpoint of a particular time or event. For example:

    • From Monday until Friday.
    • They will work until 6 PM.
  8. During

    During signifies a period of time in which something happens:

    • During the summer.
    • We discussed the issue during the meeting.
  9. Throughout

    Throughout indicates a continuous or uninterrupted duration of time:

    • Throughout the day.
  10. Around

    Around suggests an approximate time or a vague time frame:

    • It takes place around noon.
    • It's usually around Christmas.
  11. Between

    Between refers to a period or event happening in the middle of two specified points in time:

    • Between 3 and 4 PM.
  12. After

    After shows that something happens subsequently to another event or time:

    • We went home after the movie.
  13. Before

    Before indicates that something occurs prior to another event or time:

    • He will come home before dinner.
    • She submitted her report before the deadline.

Expression of Extended Time

To express extended time, English uses the following prepositions: since, for, by, from–to, from–until, during, and within.

  • She has gone since yesterday. (She left yesterday and has not returned.)
  • I’m going to Paris for two weeks. (I will spend two weeks there.)
  • The movie showed from August to October. (Beginning in August and ending in October.)
  • The decorations were up from spring until fall. (Beginning in spring and ending in fall.)
  • I watch TV during the evening. (For some period of time in the evening.)
  • We must finish the project within a year. (No longer than a year.)
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  • References
    • OLYMPIAD EHF ENGLISH ACTIVITY BOOK CLASS 10 & 11 Preposition of Time (Pg. 93) By Dr. Sandeep Ahlawat.

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