Prepositions are small but incredibly powerful words that help us understand relationships between different parts of a sentence. When it comes to understanding and using prepositions of time, learners often find themselves puzzled. This article aims to clarify the most commonly used prepositions of time in English, providing examples and nuances to aid your understanding. By the end of this article, you’ll have a solid grasp of prepositions of time and how to use them correctly.
Understanding Prepositions of Time
Prepositions of time are words that indicate when something happens. These prepositions are essential for specifying dates, times, durations, and more. The most common prepositions of time in English are at, on, and in. While these three prepositions cover a lot of ground, other prepositions such as before, after, during, and since also play significant roles. Let’s explore each of these prepositions in detail.
At
The preposition at is used to indicate specific points in time. Think of at as a pinpoint on a timeline. It is used for:
1. **Clock times**:
– “The meeting starts at 3 PM.”
– “I usually wake up at 6:30 AM.”
2. **Specific moments**:
– “She arrived at the right moment.”
– “I’ll call you at lunchtime.”
3. **Holidays and festivals (without ‘day’)**:
– “We celebrate Christmas at home.”
– “I love going to the beach at Easter.”
Note that at is also used for night:
– “I heard a noise at night.”
On
The preposition on is generally used for days and dates. Think of on as marking a specific day on a calendar. It is used for:
1. **Days of the week**:
– “I have a meeting on Monday.”
– “We go to the gym on Thursdays.”
2. **Dates**:
– “Her birthday is on September 15th.”
– “The event takes place on July 4th.”
3. **Specific days**:
– “I will see you on Christmas Day.”
– “We met on New Year’s Eve.”
4. **Parts of specific days**:
– “I’ll call you on Friday morning.”
– “We have a meeting on Saturday afternoon.”
In
The preposition in is used for longer periods of time such as months, years, centuries, and long periods. Think of in as indicating a duration or an extended period. It is used for:
1. **Months**:
– “I was born in March.”
– “We’re going on vacation in August.”
2. **Years**:
– “He graduated in 2010.”
– “The company was founded in 1998.”
3. **Decades and centuries**:
– “The internet became popular in the 1990s.”
– “Many discoveries were made in the 18th century.”
4. **Seasons**:
– “Flowers bloom in spring.”
– “We go skiing in winter.”
5. **Parts of the day**:
– “I prefer studying in the morning.”
– “We’ll finish the project in the afternoon.”
Before and After
The prepositions before and after are used to indicate relative time. They help to show when something happens in relation to another event.
1. **Before**:
– “I always have a coffee before work.”
– “She arrived before me.”
2. **After**:
– “We can go to dinner after the movie.”
– “He called me after the meeting.”
During
The preposition during is used to indicate a period of time in which something happens. It is commonly used with events, periods, and activities.
1. **Events and periods**:
– “We stayed indoors during the storm.”
– “He was very active during his youth.”
2. **Activities**:
– “She took notes during the lecture.”
– “No talking during the exam.”
Since and For
The prepositions since and for are often used to express durations and starting points of actions or events.
1. **Since**:
– “I have lived here since 2015.”
– “She has been working since this morning.”
2. **For**:
– “We have been friends for ten years.”
– “He has been studying for three hours.”
By and Until
The prepositions by and until are used to set deadlines and endpoints.
1. **By**:
– “Please submit the report by Friday.”
– “I need to finish this by tomorrow.”
2. **Until**:
– “The store is open until 9 PM.”
– “I will wait until you arrive.”
Common Mistakes and Tips
Even though prepositions of time are common, many learners make mistakes when using them. Here are some tips and common pitfalls to avoid:
1. **Mixing up ‘at’, ‘on’, and ‘in’**:
– Remember that at is for precise times, on is for days and dates, and in is for longer periods.
2. **Using ‘in’ with times of the day**:
– Correct: “I will meet you at 5 PM.”
– Incorrect: “I will meet you in 5 PM.”
3. **Using ‘on’ with months and years**:
– Correct: “I was born in January.”
– Incorrect: “I was born on January.”
4. **Using ‘during’ with specific days**:
– Correct: “I will see you on Monday.”
– Incorrect: “I will see you during Monday.”
5. **Confusing ‘since’ and ‘for’**:
– Use since for the starting point: “I have lived here since 2010.”
– Use for for duration: “I have lived here for ten years.”
Practice Exercises
To cement your understanding, here are a few practice exercises. Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition of time:
1. The store opens ___ 9 AM.
2. She was born ___ July 15th.
3. I will call you ___ the afternoon.
4. We met ___ the 1990s.
5. The project is due ___ Friday.
6. They have been traveling ___ three months.
7. The train arrived ___ time.
8. He has been working here ___ last year.
9. We will stay here ___ Sunday.
10. I woke up ___ the middle of the night.
Answers:
1. at
2. on
3. in
4. in
5. by
6. for
7. on
8. since
9. until
10. in
Conclusion
Mastering prepositions of time is crucial for effective communication in English. These tiny words can dramatically change the meaning of a sentence, so it’s important to use them correctly. Remember the general rules: use at for precise times, on for days and dates, and in for longer periods. Don’t forget the other prepositions like before, after, during, since, and for, each of which serves its own unique function.
By practicing and paying close attention to the context in which these prepositions are used, you’ll become more confident and accurate in your English communication. Keep practicing, and soon using prepositions of time will become second nature to you.
