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Prepositions of Time in English: Grammar Rules, Usage & Examples
Prepositions of Time in English
Prepositions of time are essential in English grammar as they help us understand when an event occurs. They connect nouns or pronouns with time-related elements, clarifying specific moments, durations, or general time frames. In this blog, we will explore the different prepositions of time, their usages, examples, and important points to remember.
List of Prepositions of Time and Their Usage
Below is a list of common prepositions of time along with their specific usage and example sentences.
| Preposition | Usage | Example Sentence 1 | Example Sentence 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| At | Specific time of the day, festivals, and specific points in time | I wake up at 6 AM. | We will meet at Christmas. |
| On | Specific days and dates | I was born on Monday. | The party is on 5th June. |
| In | Months, years, centuries, long periods | I was born in December. | We will visit Japan in 2025. |
| By | A deadline or before a certain time | You must submit the report by Monday. | She will be home by 7 PM. |
| Before | An event occurring earlier than a certain time | Finish your work before sunset. | He arrived before me. |
| After | An event occurring later than a certain time | We will go out after lunch. | She arrived after the meeting started. |
| Since | A point in time until now | She has been here since morning. | I have lived here since 2010. |
| For | Duration of time | She stayed here for two weeks. | I have known him for ten years. |
| During | Within a specific period | He slept during the lecture. | We traveled during the holidays. |
| From…to | A specific time range | The shop is open from 9 AM to 5 PM. | The movie runs from 6 PM to 8 PM. |
| Until/till | Up to a certain point in time | Wait here until I return. | The shop is open till midnight. |
| Within | Before the end of a specific period | The work will be done within an hour. | We will reach there within two days. |
More Example Sentences
- She will call me at noon.
- The meeting is scheduled on Tuesday.
- We moved to this city in 2018.
- Complete your assignment by tomorrow.
- The baby slept before dinner.
- We will go out after the rain stops.
- She has lived here since 2015.
- He was on vacation for a month.
- The crowd cheered during the match.
- The library is open from 9 AM to 7 PM.
Things to Keep in Mind
- At is used for specific points in time, while on is for specific days and dates.
- In is used for months, years, centuries, and longer periods.
- Since refers to a specific point in time, while for is used for a duration.
- By means “no later than,” whereas before means “earlier than.”
- Until/till is used when something continues up to a point in time.
- From…to marks the beginning and end of a time period.
- During is used to indicate something happening within a specific period.
- Within suggests a task or event will occur before a given period ends.
Fill in the Blanks
- The train will arrive ___ 6 PM.
- She was born ___ March.
- We will go on a trip ___ summer vacation.
- He stayed in London ___ two years.
- You should submit the form ___ Monday.
- The lights went out ___ the movie.
- I have been waiting here ___ morning.
- We will complete the project ___ two weeks.
- They will be back home ___ midnight.
- The concert will be held ___ Friday night.
Answers
- at
- in
- during
- for
- by
- during
- since
- within
- at
- on
Conclusion
Understanding and correctly using prepositions of time is crucial for clear and precise communication. These prepositions help in framing accurate sentences, making conversations and writing more effective. By practicing their usage and remembering their specific contexts, you can enhance your command over the English language. Keep practicing, and soon, using prepositions of time will become second nature!
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Vikas Kumar is a dedicated language educator, content creator, and digital entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder of My Language Classes and The Curious Mind. With a strong focus on helping learners achieve fluency in English, Spanish, and Japanese, he has guided audiences worldwide through a diverse range of resources, including in-depth blog articles, engaging YouTube tutorials, and comprehensive Books.
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