Generally, prepositions of time connect words and phrases in a sentence.
Prepositions of time are used to say when an event happens.
This can be for days of the week, months of the year, hours, seasons, or periods.
Sentence Structure: preposition + noun/noun phrase
Examples of prepositions of time.
On: this is for dates and days.
In: this is used for months and years.
At: this is used for a precise time.
On weekends, she goes to dancing practice.
Generally, he doesn’t work on Mondays.
Kindergarteners don’t have lessons in August.
Do you know my wedding is in June?
At midnight, I always watch a film.
Exception: American and British English have slight differences.
Prepositions of time exercise
On Sundays, we go to Church.
Last week, on Tuesday, we went to the park.
Next year, in March, we will celebrate our wedding anniversary.
Did you know in November, I will turn 34?
My aunt comes to visit my Mum on Saturday evenings.
What day of the week will you graduate?
Do you do anything specific on Mondays?
What days of the week do you go for choir rehearsals?
When does winter start in your country?
This September, what will you do on the second weekend?
When are you going on vacation?
What day of the week do you go grocery shopping?
At lunchtime, Paula and I will go to the nearby restaurant. Do you want to join us?
Tomorrow at 3 pm, there will be a meeting in the conference room.
Since 2 am, I haven’t been able to sleep again.
Practical exercise
Use the times below and make sentences with prepositions of time.
- At: Used for specific points in time, such as at 3 o’clock, at noon, at night.
- In: Used for longer periods of time, months, seasons, years, centuries, etc., such as in January, in summer, in 2023.
- On: Used for days and dates, such as on Monday, on December 25th.
- By: Indicates a specific time or date at the latest, such as by 5 PM, by tomorrow.
- Before: Indicates that something happens earlier than another event, such as before lunch, before the meeting.
- After: Indicates that something happens later than another event, such as after breakfast, after the movie.
- During: Used for a period that something happens within, such as during the day, during the concert.
- For: Indicates the duration of an action, such as for two hours, for a week.
- Since: Indicates the starting point of a specific time, such as since 2001, since last night.
- From…to/till/until: Indicates a range of time, such as from Monday to Friday, from 9 AM till noon, until sunset.
These prepositions help provide context and clarity when discussing time-related events and periods.
Check out this link for more practical English exercises, or join the English club.
