Master Prepositions of Time: The Ultimate Guide with 100+ Examples

Mastering prepositions of time is essential for clear and accurate English communication. These small words—like in, on, and at—govern how we speak about days, months, years, and precise moments. This guide provides a complete overview with 100 examples, key rules for exams, and practical tips to help you use them confidently in writing and speech.

Introduction to Prepositions of Time

Navigating the intricacies of English grammar can be challenging, yet mastering prepositions of time is a fundamental step toward fluency. These words are the keystones that connect actions and events to specific moments, durations, or deadlines. Understanding the correct usage of in, on, at, and other temporal prepositions is not only crucial for daily conversation but also a common testing point in academic and competitive examinations. This comprehensive guide will clarify the rules, provide extensive examples, and equip you with the knowledge to use them with precision.

Important Tips for Students & Exam Candidates

1. The Core Trio: Remember the general rule: Use AT for a precise time, ON for days and dates, and IN for longer periods like months, years, and centuries.
2. Exceptions to Memorize: Be aware of common exceptions. We say at night, at the weekend (UK), on the weekend (US), in the morning/afternoon/evening, but on Monday morning.
3. No Preposition: Do not use a preposition with words like last, next, every, this, today, yesterday, tomorrow. Example: “I saw her last Tuesday” (not “on last Tuesday”).
4. “By” vs. “Until”: For exams, distinguish between by (deadline, at or before a time) and until (continuation up to a point). “Submit the report by Friday” vs. “I worked until midnight.”
5. “For” vs. “Since”: Use for to indicate a duration of time (for two hours). Use since to indicate the starting point of a period that continues to the present (since 2020).

100 Examples of Prepositions of Time

• AT: at 9 PM, at noon, at midnight, at sunrise, at the moment, at present, at bedtime, at dinnertime, at the same time, at the age of 25.
• ON: on Monday, on January 1st, on my birthday, on Christmas Day, on the weekend (US), on that day, on time, on schedule, on the following morning, on a rainy afternoon.
• IN: in January, in 2023, in the 21st century, in the summer, in the past, in the future, in a minute, in two weeks, in the meantime, in the modern era.
• BY: by tomorrow, by next week, by the end of the day, by 5 o’clock, by then, by now, by February.
• UNTIL/TILL: until Friday, until recently, wait till tomorrow, work until 6 PM.
• SINCE: since yesterday, since last year, since 1995, since childhood, since the beginning.
• FOR: for an hour, for a long time, for several days, for the past week, for ages.
• DURING: during the movie, during the war, during my vacation, during the meeting.
• FROM…TO: from 9 to 5, from Monday to Friday, from start to finish.
• BEFORE/AFTER: before sunrise, after the lesson, after a while, before the deadline.
• WITHIN: within a week, within an hour, within the allotted time.
• THROUGHOUT: throughout the night, throughout history, throughout the year.
• PRIOR TO: prior to the event, prior to 2010.
• FOLLOWING: following the announcement, the day following his arrival.

Here are sentences formed using all 100 examples of prepositions of time.

Sentences Using “AT” (Examples 1-20)

1. My meeting is scheduled at 3 o’clock.
2. Let’s meet for lunch at noon.
3. The ghost story begins at midnight.
4. We will begin the hike at sunrise.
5. The beach is most beautiful at sunset.
6. I am very busy at the moment.
7. At present, we have no vacancies.
8. I read a story to my children at bedtime.
9. The family gathers at dinnertime.
10. We can discuss it at lunchtime.
11. The birds start singing at dawn.
12. The streetlights turn on at dusk.
13. I work best at night.
14. We all finished the race at the same time.
15. Technology was very different at that time.
16. She moved to London at the age of ten.
17. The report is due at the end of the week.
18. At the start of the meeting, the manager outlined the agenda.
19. I like to relax at the weekend.
20. The whole family gets together at Christmas.

Sentences Using “ON” (Examples 21-40)

21. We have a deadline on Monday.
22. I go for a run on Tuesday morning.
23. They went to the cinema on Saturday night.
24. My birthday is on January 1st.
25. I received many gifts on my birthday.
26. We have a special meal on New Year’s Day.
27. We exchange gifts on Christmas Day.
28. He plays golf on the weekend.
29. It rained heavily on that day.
30. The results will be announced on the following day.
31. We stayed indoors on a rainy afternoon.
32. We went for a walk on a cold evening.
33. The train arrived on time.
34. The project is running on schedule.
35. The event is planned on the weekend of the 5th.
36. Her visa expires on the second of March.
37. The office is closed on holidays.
38. We gave a speech on the occasion of her wedding.
39. The traffic is lighter on a weekday.
40. He exercises on a regular basis.

Sentences Using “IN” (Examples 41-60)

41. We are going skiing in January.
42. Flowers bloom in summer.
43. The company was founded in 2024.
44. Many advances happened in the 21st century.
45. Things were simpler in the past.
46. We hope to travel more in the future.
47. I drink coffee in the morning.
48. I have an appointment in the afternoon.
49. I like to read in the evening.
50. I will be ready in a minute.
51. The cake will be done in two hours.
52. She will return in a few weeks.
53. You can wait here; in the meantime, I’ll make some calls.
54. Communication is instant in the modern era.
55. Mammoths lived in the Ice Age.
56. Technology will change drastically in the next decade.
57. We arrived in time for the movie.
58. He woke up in the middle of the night.
59. Profits increased in the first quarter.
60. Mistakes are common in the early stages.

Sentences Using “BY” (Examples 61-70)

61. Please submit your application by tomorrow.
62. The renovation will be complete by next month.
63. Have the files ready by the end of the day.
64. The shop closes by 5 PM.
65. I hope to have an answer by then.
66. He should have called by now.
67. Please confirm your attendance by February.
68. Payment must be received by the due date.
69. Dinner will be cold by the time you arrive.
70. I need the data by Friday at the latest.

Sentences Using “UNTIL/TILL” (Examples 71-80)

71. The library is open until Friday.
72. I lived in Paris until recently.
73. The decision is pending, so wait till tomorrow.
74. I will work until 6 PM today.
75. He persevered until the end.
76. I slept until noon on Saturday.
77. The office is closed until further notice.
78. The market is open from morning until night.
79. Goodbye until then.
80. Keep the book till next week.

Sentences Using “SINCE” (Examples 81-90)

81. It has been raining since yesterday.
82. I haven’t seen her since last year.
83. They have been married since 1990.
84. I’ve loved music since childhood.
85. He has been involved since the beginning.
86. I’ve had this headache since Monday morning.
87. A lot has changed since last we met.
88. Security has been tight since the incident.
89. I’ve been waiting since 3 o’clock.
90. I haven’t seen him for ages.

Sentences Using “FOR” (Examples 91-100)

91. We talked on the phone for an hour.
92. I’ve known her for a long time.
93. He will be away for several days.
94. It has been cold for the past week.
95. She studied law for two years.
96. Please wait for a moment.
97. Let’s sit and rest for a while.
98. He held his breath for the duration of the dive.
99. The situation will continue for the foreseeable future.
100. This tradition has existed for centuries.

FAQs: Prepositions of Time
Q1: What is the most common mistake with prepositions of time?
A: The most frequent error is confusing the core trio: using “on” instead of “at” for precise times (e.g., “on 3 PM”) or using “in” for days (e.g., “in Monday”). Remember: AT clock, ON day, IN longer period.

Q2: When do we use no preposition with time expressions?
A: No preposition is used with this, last, next, every, today, tomorrow, yesterday. For example: “See you next Monday,” “She called yesterday afternoon.”

Q3: What’s the difference between “in time” and “on time”?
A: “On time” means punctual, at the scheduled time. “In time” means early enough, not late, often for an event or deadline (e.g., “in time for the movie”). “The train arrived on time (at 10:00). We got there in time to board it.”

Conclusion: Prepositions of Time
Achieving proficiency with prepositions of time significantly enhances the clarity and correctness of your English communication. While the rules have standard patterns, paying close attention to common exceptions and contextual usage is key. By studying the examples and tips provided here, you can build a strong foundation that will serve you well in everyday writing, professional correspondence, and competitive examinations. Consistent practice is the final ingredient to mastering these essential grammatical tools.

Disclaimer on Prepositions of Time: This guide is for educational purposes. Grammar usage can have regional variations and contextual nuances. Always refer to specific style guides or exam syllabi for authoritative requirements.

Also Read: The Complete Guide: How to Use All and Whole Correctly

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