Prepositions of Time

🗓️ Prepositions of Time: “On,” “At,” and “In”

🗓️ Using “On” 🗓️

The preposition “on” is used for specific days and dates. Think of it as pinpointing an exact spot on the calendar!🗓️

When to Use “On”:

🔹 Days of the week: on Monday, on Friday, on Saturday
🔹 Dates: on July 6th, on December 28th
🔹 Specific days: on my birthday, on New Year’s Day

Examples:

• 🌙 Ramadan starts on a different day each year.
• 📅 She has a meeting on Monday.
• 🎂 My birthday is on July 20th.
• 🏫 School starts on September 1st.
• 🍕 We always eat pizza on Fridays.
• 🎄 They visit family on Christmas Day.
• 🎇 Fireworks are beautiful on New Year’s Eve.
• 🎓 Graduation is on June 15th.
• 💼 He starts his new job on Monday morning.
• 🛍️ There’s a sale on Black Friday.
• 🌟 The event is on the last Saturday of the month.
• 👻 We dress up on Halloween.
• 🗳️ Elections are held on the first Tuesday of November.
• 🏈 The game is on Sunday afternoon.
• 🌅 Let’s meet on the morning of June 5th.
• 🍳 She cooks breakfast on Saturdays.
• 🌸 The festival begins on May 1st.
• 🧹 We clean the house on the weekend.
• 📖 The book club meets on the second Thursday of each month.
• 🎤 The concert is on Friday night.
• 🌐 The website launches on December 1st.
• 🍂 The leaves change color on autumn days.
• 🚴 He rides his bike on Sundays.
• 💃 They dance tango on weekends.
• 🛍️ She goes shopping on her birthday.
• 📺 The show airs on Wednesday evenings.
• 🚗 We go for drives on sunny days.
• 🌙 The eclipse will happen on July 27th.
• 🎈 The party is on April 3rd.
• ✈️ We fly to Paris on Tuesday.
• 🏖️ They relax at the beach on hot days.
• 🛠️ Repairs will be done on the weekend.
• 🏆 The award ceremony is on March 12th.
• 🍇 Harvest starts on September 10th.
• 🎵 The album releases on October 5th.
• 🌐 The conference is on Monday and Tuesday.
• 🍻 Oktoberfest begins on September 22nd.
• 📸 The photoshoot is on Thursday afternoon.
• 🌹 Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14th.
• 🌊 We surf on windy days.
• 📬 Mail arrives on weekdays.

⏰ Using “At” ⏰

The preposition “at” is used to refer to specific points in time. Think of it as pointing to a spot on the clock! 🕒

When to Use “At”

🔹 Exact times: at 3 PM, at noon
🔹 Meal times: at breakfast, at lunchtime
🔹 Specific periods: at night, at the moment

Examples:

• 🕒 The meeting starts at 2 PM.
• 🌙 He goes to bed at midnight.
• ☕ Let’s have coffee at noon.
• 🍽️ Dinner is served at 7 PM.
• 🏫 The class begins at 9 AM.
• 📺 The news airs at 6 PM.
• 🌃 Stars appear at night.
• 🐓 The rooster crows at dawn.
• 🌅 She jogs at sunrise.
• 🎒 Kids leave school at 3:30 PM.
• 🚍 The bus arrives at quarter past eight.
• 🛌 He naps at lunchtime.
• 🎭 The play starts at half past seven.
• 🏠 She gets home at five o’clock.
• 📞 Call me at any time.
• 🍳 We eat breakfast at 8 AM.
• 🚪 The store opens at 10 AM.
• 🎉 The party begins at 9 PM.
• ⏳ The sale ends at midnight.
• 🌌 The movie starts at dusk.
• 🎤 The show is at the moment.
• 🎄 Santa comes at Christmas.
• 🛫 The flight departs at 6 AM.
• 💡 The idea came at midnight.
• 🐱 Cats are active at night.
• 🌟 Make a wish at 11:11.
• 📚 Study hard at exam time.
• 🌊 The tide changes at noon.
• 🎁 Open gifts at your birthday.
• ⛪ Bells ring at noon.
• 🕯️ Light candles at sunset.
• 🚶‍♂️ Walk the dog at 6 PM.
• 🛏️ Sleep tight at bedtime.
• 🎂 Blow candles at the party.
• 🌮 Eat tacos at lunchtime.
• 📰 Read the paper at breakfast.
• 🚿 Shower at night.
• 📖 Read stories at bedtime.
• 🕗 Be there at 8 sharp.
• 🏃‍♀️ Run at dawn.
• 🛎️ Check out at noon.
• 🍻 Cheers at happy hour.

🗓️ “On” and “At” with “the Weekend” 🗓️

When talking about the weekend, usage differs between US and UK English:

• 🇺🇸 In US English, we say “on the weekend”.
• 🇬🇧 In UK English, we say “at the weekend”.

Examples:

• 🇺🇸 We relax on the weekend.
• 🇬🇧 They play football at the weekend.
• 🇺🇸 She visits friends on the weekend.
• 🇬🇧 He goes hiking at the weekend.
• 🇺🇸 I sleep in on the weekend.
• 🇬🇧 We have brunch at the weekend.
• 🇺🇸 They host parties on the weekend.
• 🇬🇧 She reads books at the weekend.
• 🇺🇸 He watches movies on the weekend.
• 🇬🇧 I garden at the weekend.
• 🇺🇸 We go shopping on the weekend.
• 🇬🇧 They take trips at the weekend.
• 🇺🇸 She paints on the weekend.
• 🇬🇧 He plays golf at the weekend.
• 🇺🇸 I catch up on chores on the weekend.
• 🇬🇧 We visit family at the weekend.
• 🇺🇸 They go fishing on the weekend.
• 🇬🇧 She cycles at the weekend.
• 🇺🇸 He barbecues on the weekend.
• 🇬🇧 I write at the weekend.
• 🇺🇸 We hike on the weekend.
• 🇬🇧 They play rugby at the weekend.
• 🇺🇸 She bakes on the weekend.
• 🇬🇧 He relaxes at the weekend.
• 🇺🇸 I swim on the weekend.
• 🇬🇧 We have picnics at the weekend.
• 🇺🇸 They explore on the weekend.
• 🇬🇧 She knits at the weekend.
• 🇺🇸 He plays music on the weekend.
• 🇬🇧 I attend workshops at the weekend.
• 🇺🇸 We go to concerts on the weekend.
• 🇬🇧 They sail at the weekend.
• 🇺🇸 She volunteers on the weekend.
• 🇬🇧 He photographs at the weekend.
• 🇺🇸 I cook new recipes on the weekend.
• 🇬🇧 We attend markets at the weekend.
• 🇺🇸 They play sports on the weekend.
• 🇬🇧 She rests at the weekend.
• 🇺🇸 He jogs on the weekend.
• 🇬🇧 I study languages at the weekend.

📅 Using “In” 📅

The preposition “in” is used for longer periods, like months, years, seasons, and parts of the day. Think of it as being inside a larger time frame. 🗓️

When to Use “In”

🔹 Months: in August, in December
🔹 Years: in 2020, in 1995
🔹 Seasons: in summer, in winter
🔹 Parts of the day: in the morning, in the afternoon

Examples:

• 🌅 She jogs in the morning.
• ☕ I drink tea in the afternoon.
• 🌆 They relax in the evening.
• 🌙 Stars shine in the night sky.
• 🌻 Flowers bloom in spring.
• ☀️ We swim in summer.
• 🍁 Leaves fall in autumn.
• ❄️ It snows in winter.
• 📚 She graduates in 2023.
• 🗓️ The event is in October.
• 💼 He got the job in 2010.
• 🎓 They met in college.
• 🌍 The Olympics were held in 2016.
• 🎬 The movie releases in June.
• ✈️ We’re traveling in December.
• 🚀 Man landed on the moon in 1969.
• 🏰 They built the castle in the Middle Ages.
• 💡 Electricity was invented in the 19th century.
• 👶 She was born in 1990.
• 🌐 The internet became popular in the 1990s.
• 🌊 We surf in the summer.
• 🏖️ Vacations are best in August.
• 🎄 We decorate in December.
• 🎤 The concert is in two weeks.
• 🌟 Make a wish in the evening.
• 📖 I read books in my free time.
• 🌸 Cherry blossoms bloom in April.
• 🌍 Earth Day is celebrated in April.
• 🌞 Days are longer in summer.
• 🍂 It’s windy in the fall.
• 🛌 We rest in the afternoon.
• 🎈 Birthdays are fun in childhood.
• 💐 Gardens are colorful in spring.
• 🍁 Harvest happens in autumn.
• 🍉 Eat watermelon in summer.
• 🎭 Festivals occur in August.
• 🌄 Sun rises early in June.
• 🌃 Nights are longer in winter.
• 🌧️ It rains a lot in April.
• 🐻 Bears hibernate in winter.
• 🌅 Beautiful sunsets happen in the evening.
• 🛍️ Sales start in January.

🕰️ Using “Past” and “To” 🕰️

When telling time, “past” and “to” describe minutes after or before the hour. Think of navigating the clock face! 🕰️

🌟 How to Use “Past” and “To”:

🔹 “Past” means after the hour.
🔹 “To” means before the hour.

Examples with ”Past”:

🕒 It’s five past ten (10:05).
🕓 It’s quarter past three (3:15).
🕔 It’s twenty past six (6:20).
🕕 It’s half past nine (9:30).
🕗 It’s ten past eleven (11:10).
🕘 It’s twenty-five past eight (8:25).
🕙 It’s fifteen past two (2:15).
🕚 It’s five past five (5:05).
🕛 It’s ten past twelve (12:10).
🕑 It’s twenty past one (1:20).

Examples with ”To”:

🕓 It’s twenty to six (5:40).
🕕 It’s quarter to seven (6:45).
🕖 It’s ten to nine (8:50).
🕗 It’s five to four (3:55).
🕘 It’s twenty-five to ten (9:35).
🕙 It’s fifteen to eleven (10:45).
🕚 It’s thirty to twelve (11:30).
🕛 It’s twenty to one (12:40).
🕐 It’s five to three (2:55).
🕑 It’s ten to four (3:50).

⏳ Prepositions Showing Duration

To express the duration or time span of an activity, we use prepositions like “from… to…”, “between… and…”, “until”, “since”, “for”, and “during”. Let’s explore how to use each of them! 🕰️

📅 Using “From… to…”:

This structure indicates when an activity starts and ends.

Examples with ”From… to…”:

📚 She studies from 6 PM to 8 PM.
🌞 We work from Monday to Friday.
🛍️ The store is open from 9 AM to 9 PM.
🌐 The conference runs from June 1st to June 5th.
🎨 The exhibition is open from March to May.
💡 He brainstormed from morning to evening.
🏖️ They vacationed from July to August.
🎭 The play runs from today to next Sunday.
🌙 Ramadan lasts from April to May.
📺 The show airs from 8 PM to 9 PM.
🌳 The park is open from dawn to dusk.
📖 The course goes from beginner to advanced.
🚗 We drove from New York to Boston.
🚴 He cycles from home to work.
🏫 School runs from September to June.
⏳ The project lasts from May to December.
🌊 The tide is low from 2 PM to 4 PM.
💼 She worked from 2010 to 2020.
🍂 Autumn spans from September to November.
🎓 The semester is from January to April.
🏋️‍♀️ Gym hours are from 6 AM to 10 PM.
🌇 The festival is from Friday to Sunday.
📆 The sale runs from today to next week.
📝 The exam is from 9 AM to 12 PM.
🎈 The fair is open from May to September.
🎼 The concert lasts from 7 PM to 10 PM.
🚀 The mission is planned from 2025 to 2030.
🌙 The eclipse occurs from 10 PM to 11 PM.
🖼️ The gallery is open from Tuesday to Saturday.
🚂 The train runs from city to city.
🛏️ Quiet hours are from 10 PM to 7 AM.
🍽️ Dinner service is from 6 PM to 9 PM.
🎥 The film festival is from April to June.
⛵ The boat sails from dawn to dusk.
🌄 The retreat is from Monday to Thursday.
🎯 The campaign runs from January to March.
🌐 Online classes are from 8 AM to 3 PM.
📚 Library hours are from 9 AM to 5 PM.
🏞️ The park is closed from December to February.
⛈️ Monsoon season is from June to September.
🌸 Cherry blossoms bloom from March to April.

🤝 Using “Between… and…”:

Similar to “from… to…”, it indicates the start and end of a time period.

Examples with “Between… and…”:

🕗 The store is open between 8 AM and 8 PM.
📞 Call me between 6 PM and 9 PM.
🌞 We work between Monday and Friday.
🎓 The course runs between September and December.
🚇 Trains run between stations A and B.

⏳ Using “Until”:

“Until” is used to express when an ongoing action or situation ends.

Examples with “Until”:

📖 She will study until midnight.
🌅 We waited until sunrise.
🏢 The office is open until 6 PM.
🍴 The kitchen serves food until 10 PM.
🎉 The party lasts until dawn.
🌧️ It rained until noon.
💼 He’s on leave until next week.
🚌 Buses run until midnight.
🎬 The show goes on until further notice.
🎮 I’ll play until dinner time.

⏰ Using “Since”:

“Since” indicates the starting point of an ongoing action or situation.

Examples with “Since”:

🌟 I’ve known her since 2010.
📱 They’ve been online since this morning.
🍁 It’s been raining since yesterday.
💡 We’ve been waiting since noon.
🎓 She has studied English since childhood.
🚭 He hasn’t smoked since last year.
🏡 They lived here since June.
💻 I’ve worked remotely since March.
🌞 The sun has been shining since morning.
🎉 We’ve been celebrating since the announcement.

⏱️ Using “For”:

“For” expresses the duration of an action.

Examples with “For”:

📖 She studied for three hours.
🚗 We drove for five miles.
🍿 They watched movies for the entire weekend
🌙 I slept for eight hours.
📞 He talked for two hours.
🏃‍♂️ She ran for 30 minutes.
🎸 He played guitar for years.
🌳 They’ve lived here for a decade.
🛍️ She shopped for the whole afternoon.
🎈 The balloon floated for days.

🕰️ Using “During”:

“During” is used to express when something happens within a period.

Examples with “During”:

🌃 She woke up during the night.
🎭 We laughed during the play.
📖 He took notes during the lecture.
⛈️ It rained during our vacation.
🎥 They met during the filming.
🌞 I stayed indoors during the heatwave.
💼 She was promoted during her tenure.
🎉 We celebrated during the festival.
🛌 He rested during the afternoon.
🚴‍♂️ They got lost during the race.

⏲️ Other Prepositions of Time ⏲️

✅ Using “By”:

“By” is used to indicate a deadline or time before which something will happen.

Examples with “By”:

📝 Submit the report by Friday.
🚗 We’ll arrive by noon.
📚 Finish the book by tomorrow.
🎂 She will turn 30 by next year.
🏠 They plan to move by August.
🕒 Be here by 3 PM.
🎉 Let’s decide by tonight.
📦 The package should arrive by Thursday.
🚀 The launch is scheduled by end of the month.
💡 We need ideas by the meeting.

⏮️ Using “Before”:

“Before” is used to talk about something that happens prior to a certain time or event.

Examples with “Before”:

🌅 I wake up before sunrise.
🚪 She arrived before me.
🍽️ Let’s eat before the movie.
💼 Finish your work before leaving.
📞 Call me before 10 PM.
🎉 They left before the party ended.
🏫 Study before the exam.
🎁 Buy gifts before Christmas.
✈️ Check in before the flight.
⏰ Set the alarm before sleeping.

⏭️ Using “After”:

“After” is used to refer to an event that follows another event.

Examples with “After”:

🌇 We can relax after work.
🍿 Let’s watch a movie after dinner.
🎓 She traveled after graduation.
🎉 They celebrated after winning.
🌧️ The sun came out after the rain.
💤 He slept after the long day.
📚 I’ll read after studying.
🛍️ She shopped after getting paid.
🌊 We swam after sunset.
🚗 He drove home after the meeting.

🌟 Conclusion 🌟

Mastering prepositions of time enhances your ability to express when things happen and for how long. With practice, these will become a natural part of your English communication. Keep exploring, and time will be on your side! ⏰✨