Prepositions of Time

In English grammar, prepositions of time are words that help us specify when an action occurs, how long it lasts, and when it starts or ends.

Having a strong command of these prepositions will help you plan meetings, talk about history, describe schedules, and tell stories smoothly.

The Big Three for Time: At, On, and In

Just like with place, At, On, and In are the most common prepositions used for time. They also follow a general-to-specific funnel structure:

PrepositionUsage LevelCategoryExamples
InGeneral / BroadYears, months, seasons, centuries, parts of the dayin 2026, in May, in summer, in the morning
OnMore SpecificDays of the week, specific dates, holidays with “day”on Monday, on October 31st, on Christmas Day
AtVery SpecificPrecise times, specific moments, holidays without “day”at 7:00 PM, at noon, at midnight, at Christmas

Examples in Sentences:

  • My birthday is in October.
  • The exam will take place on Friday.
  • The train departs at 3:30 PM.

Exceptions: We say in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, but we must say at night.

Other Essential Prepositions of Time

To express relationships of duration, starting points, and deadlines, we use several other prepositions:

1. Since and For

Used to show duration or starting points, often in the perfect tenses.

  • Since: Shows the specific starting point of an action. For Example:
    She has been working here since 2020.
  • For: Shows the length or duration of time. For Example:
    They have been studying English for three years.

2. During and Throughout

Used to show that an event happens within a certain period.

  • During: Within a block of time, or at some point within an event. For Example:
    He fell asleep during the movie.
  • Throughout: From the beginning to the end of a period. For Example:
    It rained throughout the night.

3. Before and After

Used to show sequence in time.

  • Before: Earlier than a certain point. For Example:
    Wash your hands before dinner.
  • After: Later than a certain point. For Example:
    We went for a walk after lunch.

4. Until / Till and By

Used to show deadlines or end points.

  • Until / Till: Up to a certain time (how long an action continues). For Example:
    I will stay in the office until 6:00 PM.
  • By: Not later than a specific time (a deadline). For Example:
    You must finish the project by tomorrow.

Complete Sentence Examples

Here are more examples of prepositions of time in actions:

  1. We woke up at dawn.
  2. Humans landed on the moon in 1969.
  3. The store is closed on Sundays.
  4. I have not seen him since last week.
  5. They lived in London for a decade.
  6. Please don’t talk during the lecture.
  7. I will be ready in ten minutes.
  8. We must submit the assignment by Friday morning.

Next, we will explore Prepositions of Direction & Movement to learn how to express paths and motion.