Complete Grammar Guide Prepositions of Time |
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Usage: at, on, in The prepositions at, on, and in are used to show the time and date of events, activities and situations. "School will be over in June." "Let's meet at three o'clock on Monday." Grammar Focus Use at with: 1. a particular time: dawn / midday / noon / night / midnight / nine o'clock 2. the + a particular time in a week/month/year: the beginning/middle/end of _____ "We leave at the end of July." 3. a festival season: Christmas / New Year / Easter / Pentecost "They're going away at Easter." 4. a meal: breakfast / lunch / dinner "Dad didn't say anything at breakfast."
1. a day of the week: Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday "Let's meet on Thursday." 2. a particular part of a day: Friday morning / Saturday afternoon / Sunday evening "Stella is planning to stay home on Sunday evening." 3. with a particular date: July 25,1996 / 4 January / March 1st "Mina was born on March 19." (Note: "On the nineteenth of March," or "on March nineteenth" is how this date is read aloud or said in conversation.) 4. with a festival day: Christmas Day / Palm Sunday / Easter Sunday "The bells rang out on Christmas Day."
1. the + a part of a day: the morning / the afternoon / the evening "Tom works in the afternoon." 2. a month: January / February /March / April / May "School ends in June." 3. (the) seasons of the year: winter / spring / summer / autumn "We go skiing in (the) winter." 4. with specific years: 1988 / 1989 / 1990 "Princess Diana died in 1997." 5. with the + a specific century: 19th century / 21st century "In the 19th century, American women couldn't vote." 6. with a historical period of time: the Dark Ages / prehistoric times "In the Middle Ages, knights went on crusades." No preposition is used if the day/year has each, every, last, next, this before it. "Each Christmas I go to Germany." "I'll meet you in the library next Monday." "Jenny left for California last night."
Use for and since to explain how long an event, activity, situation has existed or been continuing. "I've been studying here for six weeks." "I've lived in this apartment since I was born." Grammar Focus Use for with a period of time: two days / one week / three months / four years (It can be used with all verb tenses) "Joanne went to Bermuda for a week last month." "I am in London for three weeks this time." "Jody will stay with us for two weeks next fall."
Use since with a point of time in the past: last week / the war ended / 1990 / yesterday
"Jesse has been living with us since 1995." "Joseph has been very quiet since last week."
Usage: during and while These prepositions explain a period of time in which some event, activitiy or situation took place. "During the summer, I swam almost every day." "While I was running, I sang a song to myself." Grammar Focus Use during with a noun or phrase: the war / the nineteenth century (This phrase can be used with all verb tenses: past, present, and future.) "I had fun during my schooldays." "Mr. Harrison received several phone calls during his absence." "I sit next to her during our math class.." "Larry and Phil are going to go skiing during winter break." Use while with: 1. a clause (subject + verb). This can be used with all verb tenses. "Judy will watch the children while you are in Mexico." "While we were in Rome, we did a lot of sightseeing." 2. verb + -ing (present participle). "While hiking up the mountain, Phyllis was attacked by a bear." "Paul lived in a dormitory while studying at Oxford." In this structure, the subject of the while clause must be the same as the subject of the main clause. "While hiking up the mountain, a bear attacked Phyllis" is wrong, because the bear wasn't hiking; Phyllis was hiking. The subjects of "hiking" and "attacked" are different. The verb be cannot be used with while in this way. "While being at work, I received a call" is wrong. Instead, use the subject and the verb in the correct tense: "While I was at work, I received a call." (Note: While can often be replaced by when and retain the same meaning.)
These prepositions show the timing of an event, activity or situation. "Before you go out, please clean your room." Grammar Focus Use before with: 1. the second of two actions. "Joey got his mother's permission before he went camping." "I must take attendance before we begin."
2. verb + -ing (present participle).
"Before taking the exam, Rafael read all the questions." Use after with: 1. the first action of two actions. "The baby was finally content after Mother fed her." "Why did Mrs. Rogers laugh after she read the note?" "After you finish your homework, you may play outside."
2. verb + -ing (present participle).
"After moving to the city, Sheila felt much happier." Usage: by, until, 'til These prepositions describe a time limit for the beginning and/or end of an activity. By means "before," and can be used with all verb tenses.) Until/'til explain how long an activity continues, will continue, or has continued, and can be used with all verb tenses. ('Til is a short form of until and has the same meaning.) Grammar Focus Use by with nouns. "Please return this book by next Tuesday." "I need to be at the bank by three o'clock." "By the end his trip, Philip spoke Spanish very well." Use until/'til with: 1. nouns describing time/date. "Grandpa will stay with us 'til August." "Until 1995, Jeremy lived in Brussels." 2. clauses. "Until you finish your vegetables, you may not leave the table."
This expression defines the beginning and end of a period of time. It can be used in past, present, or future. "From April to July, Sandra was dating Louis." Grammar Focus From + time/day/date/year + to + time/day/date/year can be used with all verb tenses. "From 1992 until 1996, Philip was studying in Germany." "Every day, Henrietta takes a nap from noon 'til two o'clock." "The pool will be open from May 30th to August 30th."
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