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ukUnit 6.2
Prepositions of Time
Prepositions
Introduction
Prepositions are small words that connect elements in a sentence. They are essential because they provide additional details about the sentence.
We use prepositions of time to locate an event in a time frame {see Common Prepositions of Time and Place, A1 level}.
Form
Prepositions of time don’t stand alone but act with other elements of the sentence to create what we can call prepositional phrases: at, on, in and by.
Example
At
- Everyday at 7.00 clock I can see the stars.
- He is going to the forest at Easter.
- At weekends we take the dogs for a walk.
On
- On Sundays, I usually relax with my friends by going to the coast.
- She was born on the 1st of September in 1997.
- The island sank on Sunday morning.
In
- I always travel to famous forests in Finland in November.
- In autumn it always rains.
- In the evening the horses started to run.
By
- Please, send me those tickets by Monday.
- She has to finish her world map by next week.
- Is Maria still in the garden? Yes, she will be back by evening.
Use
We use prepositions of time to locate an event in a specific moment or period.
At
- Exact times (the moment, sunrise, noon, night, midnight, hours);
- Special holiday periods (Christmas*, Easter…);
- Weekend*.
On
- Days of the week (Monday, Saturday, Wednesday…);
- Dates;
- Specific part of the day (on Sunday morning).
In
- Months, years, centuries;
- Seasons;
- The morning, the afternoon, the evening.
By
- Time-limited actions;
- Projects with deadline;
- Time of someone’s return.
*In American English you can find on instead of at.
Summary
Prepositions of time are used to locate the event in a time context.
The main prepositions of time are: at, on, in and by.
For example:
— “I will go to my grandparents’ house at Christmas.” = We use at to talk about special holiday periods.
— “I will go to my grandparents’ house on 25th of December.” = We use on to talk about dates.
— “I will go to my grandparents’ house in December.” = We use in to talk about months.
— “I will return from my grandparents’ house by December.” = We use by to talk about the time of someone’s return.
NOTE: In American English you can find Christmas and weekend with on instead of at.
Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.