Prepositions of Time - Examples and Sentences
- 3.1Prepositions of Time Examples
- 6.1(i) Preposition of Time and Date:
- 6.2(ii) Preposition of Place:
- 6.3(iii) Prepositions of Travel and Movement:
Prepositions of time are words that help us describe when something happens. They include words like "in," "on," and "at," which are used to talk about specific times, dates, and periods. For example, we say "in the morning," "on Monday," and "at 5 o’clock." Understanding how to use these prepositions correctly is important for clear communication in English, as they help us talk about time accurately and effectively.
What is Prepositions of Time?
A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. It often indicates location, direction, time, or how something is related to something else.
Prepositions of Time Examples
a) The food is on the table.
b) I am fond of music.
c) The boy jumped into the river.
In the first example, the preposition ‘on’ joins a noun to another noun.
In the second example, the preposition ‘of’ joins a noun to an adjective.
In the third example, the preposition ‘into’ joins a noun to a verb.
How to Use Prepositions of Time - (On, It and At)
These three prepositions (On, It and At) often confuse English learners because they serve similar purposes. However, it's important to know that they aren't interchangeable, as each one refers to a different time frame.
Use ‘at’ when talking about a specific time (e.g., at 3 PM).
Use ‘on’ for a particular day or date, like on Sunday or on May 25th.
Use ‘in’ for broader periods such as a month, year, or decade, like in June or in 2020.
Check out the examples below to see how these terms are used.
Prepositions of time sentences
Here are a few sentences using prepositions of time:
1. At:
- The meeting starts at 9:00 AM.
- We should arrive at noon.
- She usually goes to bed at midnight.
2. On:
- My birthday is on September 15th.
- We have a test on Monday.
- The concert is on New Year’s Eve.
3. In:
- I’m going on vacation in July.
- He was born in 2005.
- The flowers bloom in the spring.
4. During:
- The power went out during the storm.
- We met during the conference.
- She read a book during the flight.
5. By:
- Please submit your report by Friday.
- The project must be completed by the end of the month.
- She promised to return by 5:00 PM.
Classes of Preposition
To understand the distinction between the prepositions, simple Prepositions can also be divided into three classes.
(i) Preposition of Time and Date:
The words that are used to denote time and date are: at, on, in, by, to, till, until, during, for, since, from, within, before, after, afterward, then, etc.
(ii) Preposition of Place:
The words that are used to denote places are: at, on, to, behind, etc.
(iii) Prepositions of Travel and Movement:
The words to denote travel and movement include from, to, by, on, into, at, out, out of, off, etc.
In this segment, we will learn about the Preposition of Time.
1. At, in, on
‘At’ is used to indicate the exact point of time and with the names of festivals or occasions.
Example:
The train arrived at 10 o’clock.
My father reached home at midnight.
We will not burst crackers at Diwali.
‘In’ is usually used with a longer time span like seasons, years, months, weeks, day, etc. It also means ‘within’ a certain time period.
Example:
My mothersleeps in the afternoon.
We don’t get good vegetables in the monsoons.
I go for a walk in the evening.
I was very studious in my school days.
Note: In can also be used to denote at the end of a period of time.
Example:
Ramesh will return in a week.
Please return the book in a week.
‘On’ is used with specific days and dates, etc.
Example:
My neighbours play cricket on Sunday.
He is going on a tour on his birthday.
The elections will happen on May 23.
We sing the National Anthem on Independence Day.
Note: Don’t use ‘In’ and ‘On’ before today, yesterday, tomorrow, the day after, or next.
Example:
I am going to the mall tomorrow.
It rained heavily yesterday.
It is our turn next.
Note: There is also a difference between in time and on time while using them as prepositions of time. On time, means to be punctual, in time means to be before the time appointed.
Example:
She got to the movie on time.
She got to the venue in time to have a talk with the manager.
2. Within, before (when used for time)
‘Within’ denotes a period of time before expiry.
Example:
Ramesh will return within a week.
The results will be out within a week.
‘Before’ is used when we refer to a point in time.
Example:
Children finished their exams before time.
Deepali reached the restaurant before time.
3. After
‘After’ is usually used for the end of a period of time in the past.
Example:
My grandparents returned after a month.
The admissions will start after a month.
Here, we can also use ‘in’ to denote at the end of a period of time in the future.
Example:
My grandparents will return in a month.
The admissions will start in a month.
4. For, Since, During, Ago
‘For’ is used for a period of time.
Example:
I have studied with Priyanka for the last three years.
I went out of the house for a minute.
I haven't seen my friend for ten years.
I haven a meeting for one hour.
Note: ‘For’ is used with all tenses. It is followed by a period.
Example:
We lived in this city for ten years.
‘Since’ is used to denote a point in time and never for some time. It is to say that something has started. ‘Since’ is generally used with Perfect Tense.
Example:
It has been raining since 6 o’clock.
I have been in Bangalore since 2010.
I have had this problem since childhood.
She has been working with me since last January.
Note: Since can be also used as an adverb and it is followed by a point of time.
Example:
Seema left school in 1995. I haven’t seen her since.
‘During’ is used when a period of time is known, i.e., periods known by names such as Christmas, Diwali; or periods which have already been defined.
Example:
We take out woolen clothes during the winter.
People did not have cars during the middle ages.
We go to Manali during the summer.
‘Ago’ is used as an adverb for a past action at a time that is measured from the present.
Example:
I joined the training five years ago.
We came to the new house three months ago.
He left the job one month ago.
A long time ago there was a monster.
5. Till, until, by
‘Till’ means up to. It can be used with the word ‘from’ or without it.
Example:
We work till 6:00 pm.
He sat at the tea stall till closing time.
She cried till she got the toy.
The farmer worked from morning till noon.
‘Until’ means up to a time or before. We use until when the work is continued up to a time limit.
Example:
There were customers in the shop until 10 o’clock.
I will work in this department until next December.
‘By’ denotes not later than a specific time.
Example:
I wake up by 6 o’clock every day.
Tina comes home by 10 o’clock.
I want the work done by the evening.
Prepositions of Time Chart
The given below chart will give you a clear understanding on how and when to use prepositions
To get clear understanding and to know more about prepositions refer to the youtube link provided by Vedantu for FREE
Test your Knowledge on Prepositions of Time
Q1. Fill in the Blanks with Suitable Prepositions.
The mail express departs _____________ 2:00pm ____________ Bangalore.
I received his message ___________ 5 o’ clock ___________ the morning.
The movie begins ____________ an hour and I have to be there ____________ 1:00pm.
I reached the party _____________ time but there was nobody ____________ welcome me.
We travelled overnight to London and arrived ______________ 7 o’clock ___________ the morning.
The course begins _____________ 25th June and ends sometime ___________ September.
It is too late to go shopping. The shops are only open __________ 9:30pm. They will be closed ______ now.
He might not be at home ________ Tuesday morning but he will probably be there _________ the afternoon.
__________ the end we decided to go.
I am sorry but Ravi is ___________ holiday at the moment.
Here you go—Check if your answers match the ones below!
The mail express departs at 2:00 pm from Bangalore.
I received his message at 5 o’clock in the morning.
The movie begins in an hour and I have to be there by 1:00 pm.
I reached the party on time but there was nobody to welcome me.
We travelled overnight to London and arrived at 7 o’clock in the morning.
The course begins on 25th June and ends sometime in September.
It is too late to go shopping. The shops are only open until 9:30 pm. They will be closed by now.
He might not be at home on Tuesday morning but he will probably be there in that afternoon.
In the end, we decided to go.
I am sorry but Ravi is on holiday at the moment.
Takeaways from this Page
Students will learn how to use "at" for specific times, such as "at 7:00" or "at noon," to accurately express when something happens.
They will understand how to use "on" for specific days and dates, like "on Monday" or "on July 4th," to talk about events or activities.
Students will grasp the use of "in" for broader time periods, such as months, years, and seasons, like "in December" or "in the summer."
They will become familiar with common expressions using prepositions of time, such as "in the morning," "at night," or "on time," and understand how to use them in sentences.
Understanding the correct use of prepositions of time will help students construct clearer and more accurate sentences in both written and spoken English.
FAQs on Understanding Prepositions of Time
1. What Do You Understand by Prepositions?
A Preposition is a word placed before a noun, a pronoun, or a gerund to denote the relationship between a person or the thing denoted by it and something else.
2. What are the Classes of Prepositions?
The classes of prepositions are Preposition of Time and Date, Preposition of Place, Preposition of Travel and Movement, Preposition of Manner.
3. How is ‘Since’ Used as a Preposition in a Sentence?
‘Since’ is used to denote a point in time and never for a period of time. It is to say that something has started.
4. What is the usage of prepositions of time?
Prepositions of time help us to understand the timeline of an event. They are very important in storytelling and also in general communication.
5. What are the most common words that are used as prepositions of time?
The most common words that are used as prepositions of time are: on, at, in, from, to, for, since, etc.
6. Is it grammatically incorrect to start a sentence with a preposition?
There is a common belief that we can not start a sentence with prepositions. But this is a wrong conception. We can start a sentence with a preposition and it is absolutely correct grammatically. For example: After my examination, I went to a hill station.
7. Where are prepositions located in a sentence?
The prepositions are located just before the object of a sentence. The object is generally a noun or a pronoun.
8. What are prepositions of time?
Prepositions of time are words that link nouns or pronouns to a specific time in a sentence. They help describe when something happens. Common examples include "at," "on," and "in."
9. When should I use "at" for time?
Use "at" when referring to a specific time or moment. For example, "at 7:00," "at noon," or "at midnight."
10. How do I know when to use "on" with time?
Use "on" for specific days and dates. For example, "on Monday," "on July 4th," or "on my birthday."
11. What’s the correct way to use "in" with time?
Use "in" for broader time periods like months, years, centuries, and parts of the day. Examples include "in December," "in 2023," or "in the morning."
12. Can I use "at," "on," and "in" interchangeably?
No, these prepositions are not interchangeable. Each one is used in specific contexts depending on whether you’re talking about a precise time, a day, or a broader time period.
13. What are some common expressions with prepositions of time?
Common expressions include "at night," "on time," "in the afternoon," "at the weekend" (British English), and "on the weekend" (American English).
14. Why do we say "in the morning" but "at night"?
This is a common usage in English. "In" is used for the parts of the day like "in the morning" or "in the evening," while "at" is used for specific times or periods like "at night."
15. How do I avoid mistakes when using prepositions of time?
The best way to avoid mistakes is to practice and memorize common uses of each preposition. Pay attention to examples and try using them in your own sentences.
16. Are there exceptions to the rules for prepositions of time?
Yes, some expressions may not follow the general rules, like "at the weekend" in British English or idiomatic expressions like "in time" vs. "on time." Learning these exceptions comes with practice.
