PREPOSITION OF TIME

prepo-time-prepared by nguyenhuuquoc. PREPOSITION OF TIME 1. General remarks about prepositions of time: The prepositions at, on and in refer not only to place, but also to time. We can refer to approximate time with approximately, about, around, round or round about: The accident happened at approximately 5.30. The accident happened (at) about / around 5.30. For other preposition of time such as during, for, from, since, till, functioning in adverbial phrases. 2. Time phrases with 'at': Exact time: at 10 o'clock; at 14 hundred hours ( 14.00); at twenty-one hundred hours. Meal times: at lunch time; at tea time; at dinner time. Other points of time: at dawn; at noon; at midnight; at night. Festivals: at Christmas; at Easter; at Christmas-time. Age: at the age of 27; at 14. + time: at this time; at that time. At is often omitted in questions with What time . ? and in short answers to such questions: What time do you arrive? — Nine o'clock in the morning. The full question and answer is formal: At what time do you arrive? — At nine o'clock in the morning. 3. Time phrases with 'on': Days of the week: on Monday; on Fridays. Parts of the day: on Monday morning; on Friday evening. Dates: on June 1st; on 21st March. Day + date: on Monday, June 1st. Particular occasions: on that day; on that evening. Anniversaries, etc.: on your birthday; on your wedding day. Festivals: on Christmas Day; on New Year's Day. In everyday speech on is often omitted: * I'll see you Friday. See you June 21st. Prepositions (and the definite article) must be omitted when we use last, next and this, that: * I saw him last/ this April. I’// see you next/ this Friday. 4. Time phrase with ‘ in’: Parts of the day: in the evening; in the morning. M o n t h s : in March; in September. Years: in 1900,-,in 1984; in 1998. Seasons in (the) spring; in (the) winter. Centuries: in the 19th century, in the 20th century Festivals: in Ramadan; in Easter week. Periods of time: in that time; in that age; in the holidays, 5. 'In' and 'within' to refer to stated periods of time: In and, more formally, within, sometimes mean 'before the end of a stated period of time”, which may be present, past or future: I always eat my breakfast in ten minutes. I finished the examination in (within) an hour and a half. When we refer to the future in phrases like in ten days (or in ten days' time), we mean 'at the end of a period starting from now'; -s apostrophe or apostrophe -s + time is optional. The material will be ready in ten days/ in ten days' time. However, when we mean 'within a period of time, not starting from now', we cannot use -s apostrophe (s’ )+ time. Compare: 1 prepo-time-prepared by nguyenhuuquoc. Sanderson will run a mile in four minutes. (That's how long it will take him to do it.) Sanderson will run a mile in four minutes' time. (That's when he'll start running.) 6. “ On time” and “ in time”: - “ On time” means “ at exactly the right time: * The buses are very unreliable. They never arrive on time. * In my school, the classes always start on time. - “ In time” means “ early enough to do something” * He discovered the fire in time to stop it spreading. (= early enough to stop it) * I hope my legs get better in time for the football match on Saturday. (= early enough for the match). 7. “ At the end” and “ in the end”: - At the end means 'at the point where something stops'. ( At the end of something) * We're going on holiday at the end of this week. * At the end of the film I felt very sad. - In the end means 'finally' or 'after some time'. * We couldn't decide what to do yesterday evening. In the end we decided to stay at home. * At first, I didn't like him, but in the end we became good friends. 8. In, during, for, while: 8.1. In and during: We can use both during and in to refer to a period of time, often with the same meaning. * We were in Rome during/ in the summer. It snowed during/ in the night. We prefer during to say that something continues all through a period. * We were in Rome during the whole of the summer. (Not: . in the whole of the summer.) We use during, not in, to refer to an activity e.g. a visit or a meal (rather than a period of time). * We visited the Colosseum during our visit to Rome. (Not: . in our visit to Rome.) * During lunch I explained my plans. (Not: In lunch . ) 8.2. During, for and while: During says when something happens; for says how long something continues. Compare: * It snowed during the morning. I It snowed for four hours. * We were in Rome during the summer. We were in Rome for ten days. While has the same meaning as during. We use during + noun; but while + clause. Compare: * He broke his arm during the fight. It started to rain during the picnic. * He broke his arm while they were fighting. It started to rain while they were having a picnic. 9. By, until, from .to/ until, before, after: 9.1. By and until - We use until (or till) to mean 'up to the time when'; we use by to mean 'not later than'. Compare: * I'll stay until Sunday lunchtime. I'll have to leave by Sunday lunchtime. ( = up to Sunday lunchtime) (= not later than Sunday lunchtime) * He'll be out till 10 o'clock. ( = up to 10) He'll be home by 10 o'clock. (= not later than 10) 2 prepo-time-prepared by nguyenhuuquoc. 9.2. From . to/ until: * The shop opens from 8.30 to 5.30 every day. * I'll be on holiday from Monday until/till Friday next week. 9.3. Before and after: * I'll be home before 6 o'clock. After dinner we went for a walk. 10. For, since, ago and before: 10.1. We use for with a period of time to say how long something continues in the past, present or future. * We were in Rome for ten days last August. * They usually go on holiday for two weeks every summer. * I'll be in Manchester for the next three days. * We often use for and since with the present perfect to talk about things that have continued over a period. Compare: * I've been watching TV for two hours. I've known her for three months. We use for when we mention the length of the period e.g. two hours, six months. 10.2. * I've been watching TV since 7 o'clock. I've known her since November. We use since when we mention the starting point of the period e.g. I o'clock, April. 10.3. Ago is an adverb meaning 'before now'. * It's 10 o'clock now. Sue left two hours ago. (= Sue left at 8 o'clock.) Ago comes after an expression of time. * She left a few minutes ago. Six months ago they moved to Manchester. Note the question How long ago .? e.g. How long ago did she leave? We use ago with a past tense, not the present perfect. 10.4. Compare ago and for: * I went to New York two weeks ago. (= two weeks before now) * I went to New York for two weeks. (= I spent two weeks there) EXERCISES 1. Add at, on or in where necessary: 1. Kate doesn't normally work .weekends, but she had to work .last Saturday, 2. We are leaving . tomorrow morning, but we'll be back three weeks' time. 3. Did she send you a card your birthday? 4. . what time does the meeting start Monday? 5. I can normally get home from work .about half an hour Friday evenings. 6. They went on holiday to Spain .Easter and then again the summer. 7. The bridge was built the 16th century. 8. Do you enjoy driving .night? 9. I’m taking my driving test . 4.30 July 3rd. 10. He was born .1900 and died .19 72. 11. I’ m going to a conference in Egypt .a week. 2. Complete the sentences using in time or on time. 1. I didn’t arrive to see her before she left 2. The bus service is terrible; the buses are never 3 prepo-time-prepared by nguyenhuuquoc. 3. I hope my car will be repaired for the weekend. 4. She very punctual She always arrives . 5. She didn't arrive . to say goodbye to him. 6. I don’t think I’ll be home to see the film on TV this evening. 3. Complete the sentences using at the end or in the end: 1. We were going to walk home, but . we decided to take a taxi. 2. I hated school at first, but .I quite enjoyed it. 5. I looked everywhere for my wallet and 3. They're going to Italy of next week. found it in my jacket. 4. At first, he didn't want to come with us on 6. She's starting work of May. holiday, but .he changed his mind. 7. We were all exhausted . of the journey. 4. Complete the sentences using during, in, for or while. Sometimes more than one answer is possible. E.g. Someone broke into their flat while they were away on holiday. 1. Some people were talking in the cinema the film. 2. We've been waiting almost an hour. 3. Something woke me up . the night. 4. I was on holiday two weeks . the spring. 5. I saw Sue my visit to London. 6. They stopped work .half an hour the afternoon. 7. We visited some interesting places we were in London. 8. I'll be in France the whole of September. 5. Complete the sentences using by, until, from or to. Sometimes more than one answer is possible. Example: The film starts at 8.10, so we must be at the cinema by 8.00 at the latest. 1. I waited half past eight nine o'clock, but she didn't come. 2. They hope to finish the job Thursday next week. 3. He normally works Monday Friday. 4. How many more weeks are there your holiday? 5. If you want a ticket for the concert, let me know next Wednesday at the latest. 6. We won't start the meeting .everyone is here. 6. Complete the sentences using for, since, ago and before. Example: Tina moved away from Newcastle five years ago and she hasn't been back there since then. 1. My grandparents visited Edinburgh two weeks in 1980. They had been there five years so it wasn't completely new to them. 2. My brother has been interested in music quite a long time. He was given his first guitar 20 years . 3. John worked in a travel agency .six months in 1985. He already had some experience of the tourist industry because he had worked in a Tourist Information office In London two years 4. Patricia started working as a journalist with a newspaper in Madrid ten years . She's been working for the same newspaper ever .then. 4 . prepo -time- prepared by nguyenhuuquoc. PREPOSITION OF TIME 1. General remarks about prepositions of time: The prepositions at, on and. Easter; at Christmas -time. Age: at the age of 27; at 14. + time: at this time; at that time. At is often omitted in questions with What time . ? and in