PREPOSITION OF TIME

A Sample sentences

Ш We expect to receive a reply to our request in two weeks.

Ш The delegation will arrive at our headquarters at 10.30 sharp.

Ш Our records show that we despatched the goods on 25 July.

B Form

We can divide prepositions of time into:

1 time-when prepositions, which answer the question: 'When did it happen?'

at in on by during before after between

The meeting started at 9 o'clock. (point of time when the meeting started)

2 time-duration prepositions, which answer the question: 'How long did it last?'

from... to... up to until till for

The meeting lasted until 12 o'clock.

C Uses

1. At, in, on and by:

At + clock time at 6 o'clock On + days of the week on Monday on Thursday afternoon In + parts of the day in the morning/afternoon/evening but: at night

On + dates on 3rd May (spoken: on the third of May) In + months and years in May in 1992 By + a deadline It must be finished by 1 January.

Note: in time = in sufficient time with time to spare and on time = punctually.

2. By and until/till:

We use by for an action which happens at or before a deadline:

We plan to complete testing by 1 January.

We use until or till for an action which continues up to a deadline:

We plan to continue testing until/till 1 January.

3. Omission of time preposition:

a) before this, last and next when we use the above words in relation to now: this evening; last week

b) in phrases beginning with yesterday and tomorrow:

yesterday afternoon; tomorrow morning

c) in expressions indicating the time frame:

I travel abroad 60 days a year. (not: in a year)

The plane flies at 200 kilometres an hour. (not: in an hour)

but The equipment can fill 200 bottles (in) an hour.

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