Intermediate Grammar 9.

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PREPOSITIONS - PREPOSITIONS OF TIME (Review and Expansion)
AT
We use at for the time of a day, holiday seasons, and other expressions.
Our leader will be here at 7:00 oclock.
We always take a break at noon.
Well meet you at the end of the show.
Other expressions:
at night
at lunchtime
at the moment

at sunset
at this/that time
at Christmastime

at midnight
at the same time
at the beginning/end of

ON
We use on when we talk about days of the week, a particular day, or a date.
Ill call you on Sunday morning.
My birthday is on October 2nd.
On weekdays, we have to wake up early.
Other expressions:
on Saturday
on Friday evening
on my birthday

on Christmas (Day)
on New Years Eve
on Monday afternoon

on weekends
on April (the) 1st
on the 4th of May

IN
We use in for months, years, seasons, and other expressions.
Ill be on vacation in July.
My son was born in 1998.
It often rains in (the) winter.
Other expressions:
in the morning
in the afternoon
in the evening

in the 21st century

in the Middle Ages
in 1492

in June
in (the) summer
in (the) springtime

NOTE: in is commonly used in future expressions such as: in a moment, in a little while, in
two minutes, in a few days, in four weeks, in three years, in the coming months, in
the future, etc.

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PREPOSITIONS Prepositions of time

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Intermediate Grammar 9.1

FOR
We use for before a period of time.
We stayed there for two hours.
Carmen will be in Rio for a week in February.
Ive known Julia for ages.
Other expressions:
for a month
for three days
for a week

for a long time

for centuries
for ages

for five years

for a minute
for a while

SINCE
We use since to mention the beginning of a period of time involving the Present Perfect.
Weve lived here since 2004.
Ive had this car since November.
Since works as a conjunction when it introduces a clause in the past tense:
Daisy has worked for us since she graduated.
Other expressions:
since Tuesday
since 9 oclock
since last year

since December
since January 1st
since summer

since I woke up
since she came
since they arrived

DURING
We use during to say in the middle of what something happens.
She fell asleep during the movie.
We met during our vacation trip.
You can call me at any time during the evening.
Other expressions:
during lunch
during the game
during the day

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during the night

during the fall
during Thanksgiving

PREPOSITIONS Prepositions of time

during Christmastime
during the holidays
during the celebrations

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Intermediate Grammar 9.1

NOTE: The conjunction while can be used instead of during when the time expression
includes a clause and not a noun. Compare the following examples with those above:
She fell asleep while she was watching the movie.
We met while we were on our vacation trip.
We can also invert the order of the clauses when we use while, but use a comma.
While she was watching the movie, she fell asleep.
While we were on our vacation trip, we met.

BY
We use by to say at a time no later than.
I mailed the postcard today, so they should receive it by Tuesday.
Wed better hurry. We have to be home by 8:00.
When by precedes a clause, it is not exactly a preposition but a conjunction:
By the time you get home, the kids will be in bed.

UNTIL
We use until (or till) to mention the end of a period of time or action.
I stayed up until midnight last night.
Well be out of town until next week.
Until can also be used as a conjunction when it introduces a time clause.
She has to wait until the rain stops.

FROM ...TO
We use fromto when we mention the beginning and the end of an action.
We lived in Italy from 1999 to 2005.
In the US, many people work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ill be in town from Monday to Thursday.

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PREPOSITIONS Prepositions of time

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Intermediate Grammar 9.1

BEFORE
We use before to refer to a time prior to something.
Before breakfast, I always have a glass of water.
Everybody hid before the surprise.
Before can also work as a conjunction introducing clauses:
Can you do me a favor before you go?

AFTER
We use after to refer to a time later than something.
We usually take a walk after dinner.
After his graduation, he traveled around the country.
Notice that after can also be a conjunction:
After I saw the dead body, I couldnt sleep for a week.

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PREPOSITIONS Prepositions of time

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Intermediate Grammar 9.1

PRACTICE: PREPOSITIONS OF TIME
I. Fill in the blanks with in, on, or at.
1. My little daughter was born ... on...February 29th.
2. We usually go out .Saturday night.
3. .the Stone Age, men had to hunt for food.
4. Give a call .noon, will you?
5. Do you have to work .weekends?
6. .the end of the show, everybody started clapping.
7. Will you come to my place .Christmas?
8. Americans celebrate their Independence Day .the 4th of July.
9. Im not doing anything .the moment.
10. Theyll come back .December.

II. Choose the correct alternative to complete the sentences.

1. Shes been working .... for....a year now.
a. for
b. during

c. before

2. Someone knocked on the door .I was in the shower.

a. during
b. while
c. until
3. We have to be back .Friday.
a. by
b. till

c. since

4. Dont forget to brush your teeth .every meal.

a. while
b. by
c. after
5. Ive known how to drive .I was a teenager.
a. since
b. before
c. after
6. He had to work .2am to finish the report.
a. before
b. during
c. till
7. Can you do something for me .you leave?
a. by
b. before
c. since
8. I havent seen George .he moved to the other side of town.
a. after
b. while
c. since
9. He didnt go to work .he felt better.
a. until
b. since

c. before

10. .the time I got to the airport, the plane had already left.
a. during
b. for
c. by

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PREPOSITIONS Prepositions of time

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Intermediate Grammar 9.1

ANSWERS: Practice I 9.1
Exercise I:

Exercise II:

1. on
2. on
3. in
4. at
5. on
6. at
7. on
8. on
9. at
10. in

1. for
2. while
3. by
4. after
5. since
6. till
7. before
8. since
9. until
10. by

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PREPOSITIONS Prepositions of time

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