Prepositions of Time Usage | Learn English

Prepositions of time show the relationship of time between the nouns to the other parts of a sentence.

Common preposition of time: On, at, in, from, to, for, since, ago, before, till/until, by, etc. are the most common.

AT, ON, IN

AT:

At always indicates an exact and specific time.

Example:

• I started working

  at 10 AM

  .

• The movie starts

  at 6 PM

  .

• The shop closes at

  30 AM

  .

Note: Exceptions are that we say – at the weekend, at night, at Chrismas, at Easter, at the moment, etc.

On:

On generally indicates a fixed date or a day.

Example:

• I’ll see her

  on Friday

  .

• He broke a record

  on Monday morning

  .

• I have a meeting

  on 25 October

  . 

In:

In generally indicates an indefinite and unspecific time of months, seasons, years, centuries, etc.

Example:

• I will get a holiday

  in December

  .

• Murphy was born

  in 2001

  .

• I love playing cricket

  in summer

  .

Note: Some very common exceptions are – in the morning, in the evening, in the afternoon, in five minutes, in six days, in two years, etc.

FROM….TO ,  UNTIL,  SINCE,  FOR

From….to:

From….to  indicates a fixed time-span with the beginning and the end.

Example:

• I worked there

  from 2010 to 2017

  .

• I usually work

  from Saturday to Thursday

  .

• I will stay there

  from 10 AM to 6 PM.

Until/till:

Until/till indicates a specific or unspecific time/event up to a point.

Example:

• They will not return

  until Friday

  .   

• Wait for me

  until I return

  .

• I do not give up

  until I am succeeded

  .

• I will be there

  until

  Monday

  .

Since:

Since indicates a time-span beginning in a time in the past and still continuing in the present (now).

Example:

• Alex has been in the village

  since Sunday

  .

• He has been suffering from fever

  since Friday

  .

• Robin and Susan have been friends

  since childhood

  .

For:

For indicates a period of time (amount of time) in the past, present or future.

Example:

• He stayed there

  for four days

  .

• I will be staying there

  for five months

  .

• I will work with them

  for a year

  .

• He was standing there

  for a long time

  .

BEFORE, AFTER, DURING, BY

Before:

Before indicates a prior event/ period of time from a point. 

Example:

• Robin was very nervous

  before the interview

  .

• I want to leave

  before lunch

  .

• These batsmen should not get out

  before the tea break

  .

• Before going

  , close all the window.

After:

After indicates a following event/period of time from a point. This preposition is the exact opposite of before.

Example:

• Robin felt confident

  after the interview

  .

• I want to leave

  after lunch

  .

• After playing football

  , we went home.

During:

During indicates a period of time throughout the course or duration of any event or action.

Example:

• Robert was sleeping

  during the film

  .

• They don’t talk

  during dinner

  .

• I don’t usually smoke

  during office time

  .

By:

By means ‘within the extent or period of; during’ something.

Example:

• I will complete the assignment

  by

  Sunday

  .

• He will return

  by 6 PM

  .

• I will submit the list

  by 11 AM

  .

Read More: Prepositions of Places & Direction Usage

Read More: Use of Prepositions : Of, About, For, With, By