Prepositions are essential components of any language, acting as the glue that connects different parts of a sentence. For English language learners, understanding how to use prepositions, especially those related to time expressions, can be particularly challenging but equally rewarding. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide on the usage of prepositions in time expressions, helping you to gain a better grasp of their functions and applications.
Basic Prepositions of Time: At, On, and In
When discussing time in English, three basic prepositions are commonly used: at, on, and in. Each of these prepositions serves a unique purpose and is used in different contexts.
At
The preposition at is used for precise times, specific points of time, and holidays without the word “day.”
– At 3 o’clock
– At noon
– At midnight
– At sunrise
– At sunset
– At Christmas
– At New Year
Example sentences:
– “I will meet you at 7 PM.”
– “She usually wakes up at dawn.”
– “They celebrate at New Year every year.”
On
The preposition on is used for days and dates.
– On Monday
– On my birthday
– On January 1st
– On weekends
– On Christmas Day
– On New Year’s Eve
Example sentences:
– “I have a meeting on Tuesday.”
– “Her birthday is on June 5th.”
– “Let’s go out on the weekend.”
In
The preposition in is used for longer periods of time, such as months, years, centuries, seasons, and parts of the day.
– In June
– In 2021
– In the 18th century
– In the summer
– In the afternoon
– In the morning
– In the evening
Example sentences:
– “We are going on vacation in December.”
– “The company was founded in 1999.”
– “She prefers to work in the mornings.”
Complex Time Expressions
While at, on, and in cover a lot of ground, English also uses other prepositions and phrases to express more complex time relationships.
From… to/until
The phrase from… to/until is used to express the duration between two points in time.
– From Monday to Friday
– From 9 AM to 5 PM
– From dawn until dusk
Example sentences:
– “The library is open from 8 AM to 8 PM.”
– “She worked from morning until night.”
By
The preposition by is used to indicate a deadline or the end of a specific time period.
– By 5 PM
– By next week
– By the end of the month
– By tomorrow
Example sentences:
– “Please submit your report by Friday.”
– “He needs to finish the project by the end of the day.”
For
The preposition for is used to indicate the duration of an action or event.
– For three hours
– For two weeks
– For a decade
– For ages
Example sentences:
– “They have been traveling for a month.”
– “She waited for an hour.”
During
The preposition during is used to indicate a specific period of time in which an action takes place.
– During the meeting
– During the summer
– During the 1990s
– During the night
Example sentences:
– “He fell asleep during the movie.”
– “They went hiking during their vacation.”
Since
The preposition since is used to indicate the starting point of an action that continues into the present.
– Since 1995
– Since last year
– Since this morning
– Since childhood
Example sentences:
– “She has lived here since 2010.”
– “They have been friends since high school.”
Before and After
The prepositions before and after are used to indicate a time relative to a specific point.
– Before 9 AM
– Before the meeting
– After lunch
– After midnight
Example sentences:
– “We should leave before it gets dark.”
– “He called me after the event.”
Special Cases and Exceptions
While the rules above cover the majority of cases, there are always exceptions and special cases in any language. Here are a few to be aware of:
Expressions without Prepositions
Certain time expressions do not require prepositions.
– Last night
– Next week
– This afternoon
– Every day
Example sentences:
– “I saw her last night.”
– “We are going on a trip next week.”
Idiomatic Expressions
English has many idiomatic expressions that involve time, and these often don’t follow the standard rules for prepositions.
– In the nick of time (just in time)
– At the eleventh hour (at the last possible moment)
– On time (punctual)
– In time (early enough)
Example sentences:
– “We arrived in the nick of time.”
– “She finished the project at the eleventh hour.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even advanced learners can make mistakes with time prepositions. Here are some common pitfalls and how to avoid them.
Confusing At, On, and In
Remember that at is for precise times, on is for days and dates, and in is for longer periods.
Incorrect: “I will meet you in 5 PM.”
Correct: “I will meet you at 5 PM.”
Using By Incorrectly
Ensure that by is used to indicate a deadline.
Incorrect: “He will arrive by 3 hours.”
Correct: “He will arrive in 3 hours.”
Omitting Prepositions
Do not forget to include the necessary prepositions.
Incorrect: “We are meeting Friday.”
Correct: “We are meeting on Friday.”
Practice Makes Perfect
The best way to master prepositions for time expressions is through practice. Here are some exercises to help reinforce what you’ve learned.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the correct prepositions: at, on, in, by, for, during, since, before, or after.
1. She will arrive ____ 3 PM.
2. They have lived here ____ 2015.
3. We went to the park ____ the afternoon.
4. The class starts ____ Monday.
5. He has been working on the project ____ two weeks.
6. You need to finish your homework ____ tomorrow.
7. She was born ____ the 1990s.
8. We usually go skiing ____ the winter.
Exercise 2: Correct the Sentences
Identify and correct the mistakes in the following sentences.
1. I will see you on 5 PM.
2. They have been traveling since three months.
3. We are going to the beach in Sunday.
4. She finished the assignment by two hours.
Conclusion
Understanding and correctly using prepositions for time expressions is crucial for effective communication in English. By learning the rules and practicing regularly, you can avoid common mistakes and enhance your fluency. Remember that language learning is a gradual process, and it’s okay to make mistakes along the way. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll find that using prepositions for time expressions becomes second nature.
Happy learning!
