Preposition of Time

Pessoal da ALULA, Atualizado em 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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