Prepositions of Time: Grammar Guide

• Prepositions show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence
• Prepositions can indicate time, place, direction, and other relationships

Prepositions of Time

• Specify when something happened, happens, or will happen
• The most common are at, on, and in

At

• Used for specific times
• Example: The meeting is at 2:00 PM
• Used with certain time-related words
• Example: at night, at noon, at the weekend (in British English)

On

• Used with days of the week
• Example: I will see you on Monday
• Used with dates
• Example: Her birthday is on July 20th
• Used with specific holidays
• Example: We exchange gifts on Christmas Day

In

• Used with months
• Example: The flowers bloom in April
• Used with years
• Example: She was born in 1990
• Used with seasons
• Example: The leaves change color in autumn
• Used with periods of time (morning, afternoon, evening)
• Example: I like to drink coffee in the morning
• Used with centuries and long periods of time
• Example: The pyramids were built in ancient times

Other Time Prepositions

• Before: Indicates something happening earlier than another time
• Example: I need to leave before 7:00 AM
• After: Indicates something happening later than another time
• Example: We will eat after the movie
• During: Indicates something happening throughout a period of time
• Example: I fell asleep during the lecture
• Until/Till: Indicates something continuing up to a specific time
• Example: I will wait until 5:00 PM / I will wait till 5:00 PM
• From: Indicates the starting point of a period
• Example: I work from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• To: Indicates the end point of a period
• Example: I work from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• By: Indicates a deadline or a time no later than
• Example: Please submit your application by Friday
• For: Indicates a duration of time
• Example: I have lived here for five years
• Since: Indicates a point in the past when something started and continues
• Example: I have lived here since 2018
• Within: Indicates something happening inside a period of time
• Example: The package will arrive within three days
• Over: Indicates a period of time
• Example: Over the last few years, many things have changed

Prepositions of Place

• Specify where something is located

At

• Used for specific locations
• Example: I am at the library
• Used for addresses (when a specific address number is given)
• Example: The party is at 123 Main Street
• Used for meeting points
• Example: Let's meet at the entrance
• Used for events
• Example: I saw him at the concert

On

• Used for surfaces
• Example: The book is on the table
• Used for streets and avenues
• Example: The store is on Oak Street
• Used for floors in a building
• Example: The office is on the 3rd floor
• Used for public transportation
• Example: I am on the bus

In

• Used for enclosed spaces
• Example: The cat is in the box
• Used for cities, states, and countries
• Example: She lives in New York City
• Used for bodies of water
• Example: The ship is in the ocean
• Used for neighborhoods or general areas
• Example: I live in a quiet neighborhood
• Used for pictures or printed material
• Example: I saw it in the newspaper
• Used for rows
• Example: The students sat in a row

Other Place Prepositions

• Above: Higher than something else
• Example: The picture is above the fireplace
• Below: Lower than something else
• Example: The temperature is below freezing
• Under: Directly beneath something
• Example: The cat is under the table
• Beneath: Similar to under, but often more formal
• Example: The treasure lies beneath the sand
• Over: Above and across, or covering
• Example: He put a blanket over the baby
• Across: From one side to the other
• Example: The store is across the street
• Through: Moving inside something from one end to the other
• Example: The train went through the tunnel
• Around: Surrounding or encircling
• Example: There is a fence around the garden
• Near: Close by
• Example: The park is near my house
• By: Beside or next to
• Example: She sat by the window
• Next to: Very close beside
• Example: My house is next to the library
• Beside: Next to; at the side of
• Example: He stood beside her
• Between: In the space separating two things
• Example: The house is between the store and the bank
• Among: In the midst of or surrounded by (more than two)
• Example: She felt safe among her friends
• Behind: At the back of
• Example: The car is parked behind the building
• In front of: At the front of
• Example: The tree is in front of the house
• Opposite: Facing or across from
• Example: The bank is opposite the school
• Toward(s): In the direction of
• Example: He walked towards the door
• Inside: Within or enclosed by
• Example: The keys are inside the drawer
• Outside: On the exterior of
• Example: The dog is outside the house
• Off: Away from
• Example: The book fell off the table