Prepositions of Time: Definition, List and Useful Examples

Prepositions of time help you understand when actions take place. This reference 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 reference to expand your vocabulary and improve your grasp of time-related prepositions.

Prepositions of Time

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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.

By

• 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.

To

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

Prepositions of Time (IN ON AT) Images

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Prepositions of Time (IN ON AT) Video