Prepositions of Time Usage

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