Prepositions that are used to develop a relationship of time between different parts of the sentence are known as Prepositions of Time.
| MOST COMMONLY USED PREPOSITIONS OF TIME |
| ON |
| AT |
| IN |
| FROM |
| TO |
| SINCE |
| AGO |
| BEFORE |
| TILL/UNTIL |
| BY |
AT, ON, IN
AT:
This preposition is used when a sentence is indicating the exact and accurate time.
Example
I ended working at 7 PM.
My shift begins at 9 AM.
The restaurant closes at 12 AM.
Note:
There are certain exceptions of time that specify the time but in an indirect way. For instance, at Christmas, at Easter, in the evening, at the weekend.
ON:
It is used to highlight the mentioned date or time of the day.
Example:
Emma will see her on Tuesday.
She broke a piece of equipment on Friday morning.
David has to attend a meeting on 27 December.
IN:
It determines an unspecified an indefinite period of time such as months, centuries, seasons, years, etc.
Example:
I will get a bonus in March.
Lisa was born in 2004.
I love playing volleyball in the sun.
Note: a few commonly used terminologies are – in the morning, in a few minutes, in two years, in the evening, in the afternoon, in six days, etc.
FROM…. TO, TILL/UNTIL SINCE, FOR,
FROM… TO:
These terms indicate a specific time frame with the starting and the end.
Example:
I worked there from 2000 to 2015.
I usually work from Monday to Friday.
I will stay there from 11 AM TO 5 PM.
UNTIL/TILL:
These two words are used to indicate a specific or an unspecific time/event up to a point.
Example:
He will not return until Sunday.
Wait for me until I come back.
I will not give up until I succeed
I will not be there until Friday.
SINCE:
Since it highlights a specific time frame beginning in the past and continued in the present.
Example:
Linda has been in the town since Monday.
She has been suffering from cold since Thursday.
Jade and Charlotte have been friends since childhood.
FOR:
It is used to indicate a period of time or an amount of time from the past, present or future.
Example:
Brian stayed in London for five days.
I will be staying there for six months.
I will work with him for a year
He was sitting there for a long time.
BEFORE, AFTER, DURING, BY
Before:
It indicates and highlights a prior event or a span of time from a point.
Example:
Kate was very confused before the interview.
I want to leave before dinner.
These fast ballers should not get out before the tea break.
Before going, close all the lights.
After:
It determines an event or period of time from a point to another. This type of preposition is totally the opposite of before.
Example:
Jade felt doubtful after the interview.
I want to leave the party after dinner.
We went home after playing volleyball.
During:
During is used to determine a period of time throughout the time lap or duration of any occasion or act.
Example:
Anna was sleeping during the class.
They don’t talk during lunch.
I don’t usually smoke during official gatherings.
By:
It means within the extent or period of; during something.
Example:
I will finish the task by Sunday.
She will return by 8 PM.
I will give the feedback by 2 PM.