Prepositions of Time
Prepositions of Time: The following table contains rules for some of the most frequently used prepositions in English:
Preposition in English | Usage | Example |
• On | Days of the week | On monday |
• In | Months / seasons/ Time of day Year After a certain period of time (when?) | In august / in winter In the morning In 2006 In an hour |
• At | For night For weekend A certain point of time (when?) | At night At the weekend At half past nine |
• Since | From a certain point of time (past till now) | Since 1980 |
• For | Over a certain period of time (past till now) | For 2 years |
• Ago | A certain time in the past | 2 years ago |
• Before | Earlier than a certain point of time | Before 2004 |
• To | Telling the time | Ten to six (5:50) |
• Past | Telling the time | Ten past six (6:10) |
• To / Till / Until | Marking the beginning and end of a period of time | From monday to/till Friday |
• Till / Until | In the sense of how long something is going to last | He is on holiday until friday. |
• By | In the sense of at the latest Up to a certain time | I will be back by 6 o'clock. By 11 o'clock, Ihad read five pages. |
• By, next to, beside | Left or right of somebody or something | Jane is standing by / next to / beside the car. |
• Under | On the ground, lower than (or covered by) something else | The bag is under the table |
• Below | Lower than something else but above ground | The fish are below the surface |
• Over | Covered by something else Meaning more than Getting to the other side (also across) | • Put a jacket over your shirt • Over 16 years of age • Walkover the bridge |
• Above | Higher than something else, but not directly over it | A path above the lake |
• Across | Getting to the other side (also over) Getting to the other side | • Walk across the bridge • Swim across the lake |
• Through | Something with limits on top, bottom and the sides | • Drive through the tunnel |
• To | Movement to person or building Movement to a place or country For bed | • Go to the cinema • Go to London / Ireland • Go to bed |
• Into | Enter a room / a building | •Go into the kitchen / the house |
• Towards | Movement in the direction of something (but not directly to it) | •Go 5 steps towards the house |
• Onto | Movement to the top of something | • Jump onto the table |
• From | In the sense of where from | • A flower from the garden |