Prepositions of Time: A Complete Guide

Prepositions of Time: A Complete Guide

Prepositions of time are words that link nouns, pronouns, and phrases to show when an action takes place. These prepositions help us to specify a particular time in the past, present, or future. Understanding prepositions of time is crucial to forming clear and accurate sentences in English. Let’s explore these essential prepositions in detail.

What Are Prepositions of Time?

Prepositions of time indicate when something occurs, is planned, or is expected. These prepositions help us express time-related details, such as specific hours, days, dates, or periods.

Common Prepositions of Time

1. At

   • Used for specific points in time, such as exact hours, holidays, and events.

   • Example: I will meet you at 5 PM.

   • Example: She arrived at Christmas.

2. On

   • Used for days and dates.

   • Example: The concert is on Monday.

   • Example: I will visit my family on New Year’s Day.

3. In

   • Used for longer periods like months, years, centuries, and long periods.

   • Example: She was born in January.

   • Example: The project will be completed in 2025.

4. For

   • Used to express a period of time.

   • Example: He stayed for two hours.

   • Example: They have lived here for five years.

5. Since

   • Used to specify the starting point of an action in the past, often with the present perfect tense.

   • Example: She has been working here since 2010.

   • Example: I haven’t seen him since last summer.

6. By

   • Used to indicate a deadline or a specific time in the future.

   • Example: The report must be finished by tomorrow.

   • Example: We need to leave by 6 PM.

Rules for Using Prepositions of Time

1. At is used for specific times of day, holidays, and festivals.

   • Example: Let’s meet at 3 o’clock.

   • Example: The party is at Christmas.

2. On is used for days, dates, and specific days in a month.

   • Example: The wedding is on Saturday.

   • Example: We traveled on Christmas Eve.

3. In is used for months, years, seasons, and long periods.

   • Example: I’ll see you in September.

   • Example: We moved in 2005.

4. For is used to specify a duration of time.

   • Example: He worked for two hours.

   • Example: We’ve known each other for ten years.

5. Since is used with the present perfect or past perfect to indicate the starting point of an action.

   • Example: I have lived here since 2012.

   • Example: She has been studying English since last year.

6. By is used to refer to a specific time when something is expected to happen or is completed.

   • Example: I need to finish this by Friday.

   • Example: The bus will arrive by 7 AM.

Common Mistakes with Prepositions of Time

Mistake 1: Using “at” for dates

• Incorrect: I will meet you at Christmas Day.

• Correct: I will meet you on Christmas Day.

• Explanation: Use "on" for specific days and dates, not "at."

Mistake 2: Using “since” with the past tense

• Incorrect: I stayed here since last year.

• Correct: I stayed here from last year.

• Explanation: “Since” should be used with the present perfect tense to indicate a point in time. Use “from” with the past tense to specify when something started.

Mistake 3: Confusing “in” with “at”

• Incorrect: The event is at July.

• Correct: The event is in July.

• Explanation: Use “in” for months, years, centuries, and long periods, not “at.”

Mistake 4: Using “for” instead of “since”

• Incorrect: She has been working here for 2005.

• Correct: She has been working here since 2005.

• Explanation: Use “since” to indicate a starting point and “for” to express a duration.

4 Exercises on Prepositions of Time

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition:

   • I have been studying English ______ 2015.

   • We are planning to visit Paris ______ summer.

   • The train arrives ______ 8 PM.

   • I worked on the project ______ two hours yesterday.

2. Choose the correct preposition:

   • We will go on vacation (in/on/at) January.

   • I’ve been waiting (since/for) 10 minutes.

   • She left (at/on/in) the afternoon.

   • I will meet you (in/at/on) the weekend.

3. Correct the mistakes in these sentences:

   • I have lived here since three years.

   • We will leave at 9 PM by tomorrow.

   • The meeting is in Monday.

   • She has been working for 9 AM.

4. Fill in the blanks with “for,” “since,” or “by”:

   • He has been studying English ______ five years.

   • I have known her ______ childhood.

   • We need to finish the task ______ tomorrow.

   • They have been living here ______ two weeks.