Prepositions of Time

“Prepositions of Time” help in indicating a particular time period when something has happened. It helps in discussing a time period of any incident. It allows in discussing about dates (weekly/yearly/days) or about the actual time when something takes place. There are some common preposition words in “Prepositions of Time” and “Prepositions of Time.” However, the same words are used in a different way and in different context in both the case which is easily distinguishable. The same preposition words used in “Prepositions of Time” as well as “Prepositions of Place” are At, On, and In.

Prepositions of time are one of the most important parts of speech which explain to the readers when something has taken place. It is also important reports, Simple English, Sentences, Simple Communications, etc.

The primarily used preposition words for Prepositions of Time.

At/On/In

At – This is used to discuss specific time frames such as holidays and festivals and clock times. The only exception to this is “night” where “at” is used as the prepositions. “At” is used in reference to “times.” Generally “in” is used with morning, afternoon and evening. The only exception is the word “night” where “at” is used.

For example:

• At noon
• At 8:30 in the morning
• At quarter past ten
• At night

Exception

• In the afternoon
• In the morning
• In the evening

In – Preposition Word “In” is used for discussing longer periods of times that has occurred in the past, months, seasons, centuries, years, general times of day, etc.

For example:

• In the 19th century
• In the 1900s
• In 2017
• In the winter
• In January/ December/ October

On – Preposition Word “on” is used for discussing particular days of weeks, specific days, the specific part of the days or any particular special day such as “on Christmas Eve.”

For example:

• On Monday/Tuesday/ Friday
• On June 16^th
• On my birthday
• On the weekend

For example:

• My sister was born in
• Her birthday falls in
• I met an old friend of mine during my stay in
• We will arrange a get together on the weekends.
• I have practical classes on
• Her friends are arranging a surprise birthday party on her birthday.
• I will talk to you in the morning.
• Don’t walk alone at
• I will meet you at the library.
• She met her once at the yearly seminar in
• The yearly conference is going to be held at the end of March.

Read Also: Prepositions of Movement & Direction

Other “Prepositions of Place” are:

After/Later

“After” is used with a phrase at the end but later is used alone at the end of the sentence or the phrase.

For example:

• I will talk to you later.
• I will talk to you after I reach home from the office.
• She got a fracture in her ankle during her dance recital. One month later, she was back to dance practice.
• She was back to dance practice one month after she got a fracture in her ankle during her dance recital.

Later is also used for referring to an unspecified time period in the future. The pattern is “Later + Time period.”

• I will finish the science project later this month.
• I will visit my grandparents later this week.

“After” cannot be used at the end of the sentence. Therefore, “afterwards” can be used instead of “after.”

• The cops were unable to stop the robbery, but they captured the robbers soon afterwards.
• The surgery was painful, and it was still hurting weeks afterwards.

Ago/Before

Ago is used for discussing times in the past in reference to the present time. Before used for discussing events happened in the past times in reference to another time in the past.

Examples:

• Most mammoths died out more than 10000 years ago.
• I received the parcel a week ago.
• She got married 25 years ago.
• We were talking about you a few minutes ago.
• Jane has never met Susan before.
• This topic has been discussed before.
• I have not heard about this before.
• Close all the windows before you go out of the house.
• We still have five more days before the summer vacation starts.

By/Until

“By” is used for one particular event that will occur before a definite time in the future. “Until” is used while discussing a continuous even that will continue and will stop after a particular point of time in the future.

• The professor asked the students to submit the assignment by Monday.
• She will be staying in her cousin’s house until the end of month.

During

“During” is used for indicating “when something happens.” The pattern used is “During + noun”

• I went to Paris during the summer vacation.
• She was scared during the horror movie.
• Susan was constantly writing notes during the class.
• Jane dozed off during the meeting.
• She broke her ankle during the dance recital.

“While” is used in reference to an event that is happening at the same time as something else. The pattern used is “while + subject + verb” or “while + gerund.”

• Don’t talk while eating.
• She screamed while watching the horror movie.
• She was injured while she was performing the dance recital.
• Don’t interrupt her while she is explaining the chapter.

“For” is used to in reference to how long a certain event lasts.

• I stayed in Paris for two months.
• I was staying with my relatives for past two weeks.
• I haven’t seen her for years.
• Sorry! You had to wait for half an hour.

During/in- 

Both of these prepositions of time are used when referring to something that has occurred inside a particular time frame.

• They are going on a world tour during the summer vacation.
• They will be going on a world tour in the summer vacation.

From… Till / Until/ To

These preposition words are used in the pattern “From+ Till/Until/ To.” These words are used for indicating a certain duration of time from the beginning to the end. These words can be used together for representing “Prepositions of Time” or can also be used alone for representing “Prepositions of Time”

From… Till / Until/ To

• The national park is opened every day from 9 AM to 6 PM.
• I have worked in this company from March 2004 to March 2010.
• I am working in this company from June 2004 till date.
• I have taken leave from Monday until next Wednesday.

To- It is used in reference to a particular time representing an end of a specific time period.

• It is only three weeks to New Year.
• It is only one month to my birthday.

Till/Until- These two preposition words are used in reference to “up to” a certain time.

• We have to wait here till/until she let us go.
• I am usually here until/till 6:30 PM.

Past/To- These two prepositions are referred while “telling time.” This is used to represent minutes in relation to the hour.

4:50- Ten to five

8:15- Quarter past eight.

FOR/SINCE

For-It is also used for representing a period of time.

• She has been waiting for one hour.
• Meera has lived in India for five years.
• She has been volunteering in the orphanage for ten years in a row.
• It was continuously raining for three hours nonstop.

Since is used in relation to a specific point of time. Present perfect and past perfect tenses are used in the main clause while using “since” in a sentence.

• She has been waiting here since morning.
• She is staying in this house since 2000.
• She is volunteering in the orphanage since she graduated from college.
• She is missing since Tuesday.
• It has been raining since last night.

As soon as-

This is used for referring to an event that has happened immediately after another one.

• Solve the next problem as soon as you finish the first one.
• I will give you another chocolate as soon as you finish the first one.
• I will pick you up from school as soon as possible.

As long as-

This is used in two different cases. Firstly, in reference to “the duration of time.” Secondly, in reference to a condition “on the condition that”

• I will be on time as long as the traffic in the main intersection is light.
• I tried to keep on cycling as long as I could.
• The teacher instructed the students to keep on practicing as long as they could.