Prepositions of Time: Definition, List and Useful Examples

Prepositions of time help you understand when actions take place. This article covers what prepositions of time are, provides a list of examples, and includes useful images and a video. By learning these, you can make your sentences more accurate and fluent.

Prepositions like “in,” “on,” and “at” indicate specific time frames. Each has particular uses that illustrate the relationships between events and their timing. Explore this article to expand your vocabulary and improve your grasp of time-related prepositions.

Prepositions of Time

What is a Preposition of Time?

A preposition of time is a preposition that allows you to discuss a specific time period.

Examples include:

On Monday
On a cold day
At night
At the moment
In January
In the past

List of Prepositions of Time with Examples

Learn prepositions of time with useful grammar rules and example sentences.

During

Used when something happens within the time something else is happening
We stayed at a student hostel during the conference.

For

We use for with a period of time.
I’m just going to bed for two hours or so.

Until/Till

Means up to a certain time
We’ll wait till/until half past six for you.

Since

Refers back to a point in time when something began.
The factory has been here since the 1970s.

From…to

We use from…to to show when something starts and finishes.
Her visit will extend from Monday to Thursday.

Ago

We use ago to refer to how far back in time something happened.
He left the house over an hour ago.

Before

We use before to refer to any time previous to a specific point in time.
She’s always up before dawn.

We use by when we want to say “not later than”.
He had promised to be back by five o’clock.

After

We use after when we want to say “later in time than”.
I felt fairly relaxed after taking the medicine.

We use to in telling the time, when we refer to the number of minutes before the hour.

It’s a quarter to two.

We can use to with the meaning of “until” when we are talking about time.

It’s just three days to Halloween.

Past

Refers to the amount of time past the hour.
It’s five past ten.

Between…and

We use between…and to talk about time that separates two points.
The team have a lot of work to do between now and Sunday.

Within

Refers to a span of time during which something may occur.
You should receive a reply within seven days.

Prepositions of Time IN ON AT

Prepositions of Time: IN

You use IN for general and longer periods of time.

In + Parts of the day Examples:

In the morning
In the afternoon
In the evening

In + Months Examples:

In January
In February
In December

In + Seasons Examples:

In (the) spring
In (the) summer
In (the) fall/autumn
In (the) winter

In + Years Examples:

In 1980
In 1968

In + Decades Examples:

In the 1960s
In the seventies

In + Centuries Examples:

In the 15th century
In the 21st century

In + Weeks Examples:

In a week
In 2 weeks

In + Periods of time Examples:

In the past
In the next century
In the future
In the 10 years time
In the middle ages
In a few minutes
In a moment
In an hour
In 3 hours
In six months
In a year

In + Holidays Example:

In the Easter holiday

Prepositions of Time: ON

You use ON for more specific periods of time.

On + Days Examples:

On Monday
On Thursday
On Sunday

On + Dates Examples:

On April 3rd
On 1st January 2013
On the 10th
On the first day
On the last day

On + Holidays with “day” Examples:

On New Year’s day
On Christmas day
On Easter day

On + Specific days Examples:

On my birthday
On holiday
On my wedding day
On that day

On + Day + Part of day Examples:

On Sunday morning(s)
On Friday afternoon(s)
On Monday evening(s)

On + Time Examples:

On the weekend (U.S.)
On weekdays
On time
On a summer evening
On a cold day
On my lunch break

Prepositions of Time: AT

You use AT for the most specific times.

At + Hours Examples:

At 7 am
At 12 o’clock
At 5 pm

At + Parts of the day Examples:

At night
At noon/ midday
At midnight
At bedtime
At lunch time
At dinner time
At dinner
At lunch
At sunrise/sunset
At dawn

At + Holidays without “day” Examples:

At Easter
At Christmas
At New Year

At + Time Examples:

At present
At the weekend (U.K)
At breakfast
At the moment
At this moment
At the same time
At that time