Preposition of Time

ALULA staff, Updated on September 22, 2023

'In' is used for months, years, seasons and part of the day.
'On' is used for specific days and dates.
'At' is used to tell the exact time.
'Before' and 'after' are used to tell a period of time relative to a given time.
'From' is used to tell the starting time. 'To', 'till', and 'until' are used to tell the ending time.
'From ... to ...' is the same thing as 'Between ... and ...'

Prepositions of time are used to show when something happens. Common prepositions of time are: 'in', 'on', 'at'. Let's look at them in detail.

'In': Months, Years, Seasons, and Part of the Day

We use 'in' for months, years, seasons and part of the day. For example, in January, in 2022, in winter, in the morning.

Examples:

I will go to school in September.
She was born in 2005.
I go to the gym in the morning.

'On': Specific Days and Dates

We use 'on' for specific days and dates, like: on Monday, on New Year's Eve.

Examples:

I have a meeting on Friday.
His birthday is on October 2nd.
We have a party on New Year's Eve.

Chart showing different prepositions of time

'At': Exact Time

We use 'at' for an exact time. Like: at six o'clock, at sunrise.

Examples:

I get up at 7:00 in the morning.
She usually arrives home at midnight.

'Before' and 'After'

We use 'before' and 'after' to indicate a period of time relative to a given time.

Examples:

I eat lunch before 12.

Lunch might be at 11 or 10.
I eat lunch after 12.

Lunch might be at 1 or 2.

'From' and 'To' / 'Until' / 'Till'

We use 'from' to talk about a starting time. We use 'to', 'till', or 'until' to talk about an ending time.

Examples:

I play games from 10 o'clock until 12 o'clock.

Play games: 10 - 12.
We eat lunch till 1 pm.

Lunch: ends at 1 pm.

'Between'

"Between ... and ..." is the same thing as "From ... to ...".

Examples:

I play games between 10 o'clock and 12 o'clock.

Play games: 10 - 12.
Our lunch time is between 12 o'clock and 1 o'clock.

Lunch: 12 - 1.

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