Time prepositions and verb tense

PREPOSITIONS

PREPOSITION CLUSTERS

Ahead of

Apart from

In front of

Next to

Out of

Up to

\

The woman is sitting in front of the tree.

She is looking at a book.

The other woman is sitting beside her.

They are sitting on the ground.

They are sitting among the trees.

Behind them is a lake.

Prepositions of time

IN is used for longer periods of time:

• years
• months
• parts of the day (except ‘at night’)
• seasons
• longer periods of time
• in = after

ON is used for days:

• specific day
• part of a day
• dates
• on time=not late

AT is used for any specific time:

• time of the clock
• any specific points of time in a day
• a holiday period
• with time expressions that include the word ‘time’

During (a whole period of time OR between the beginning and the end of a period of time)

I will be away during (all of) August.

I will visit them(some time) during my stay in Italy.

I will be able to edit my essay during this week.

Within (at some point inside a length of time)

You have to return the book (some time) within the next week.

From…to/until

He worked from 9 to/until 5.

Practice

1. I like to watch TV _____ the evening.

2. My favourite program is on _____ 8: 30 ______ Wednesday evening.

3. My ESL class begins ______ noon, so I am always at school _____ the afternoon.

4. My birthday is _____ the winter. Actually, I was born _____ January ____ 1983.

5. _____ my birthday, I usually have a party.

6. I will see you _______ exactly two weeks.

7. Carlos arrived in Canada _____ April 2^nd, 1999.

8. _____ a rainy day I like to stay at home and read a book. ]

9. _______ the 1980s he worked in the movie industry.

10. _______ lunch time my friends and I usually go out.

11. _________ my summer holiday, I plan to go to Vancouver.

12. A lot of people like to visit friends and family _______ Christmas time.

13. You can return the book any time _______ the next two weeks.

14. ______ the moment I am very busy, but I will be able see you _______ next week.

15. Life _______ the 21 century is fast.

Time prepositions and verb tense

Ago (counting time back) past tense

We met two years ago.

By (before) future perfect, past perfect

By 2009, she will have finished her Master’s degree.

By 1990, she had finished her Master’s degree

For (length of time/duration of span) any tense

I’ve known him for 15 years.

I haven’t seen you for ages.

He is here for two months.

They stayed in France for 3 weeks.

We’ll stay there for a while.

In (after) future tense

I will see you in two weeks.

I’ll see you in a minute.

Since (beginning point of span) present perfect tense

They have lived here since 1980.

Until (end point of an action) future tense, past tense

I will wait until tomorrow.

I waited until 8 o’clock yesterday morning.

Time expressions beginning with this, that can be used without a preposition.

Next, last, one, some are used without a preposition.

I did nothing (on) that day.

(During)this week I am going to have to work really hard.

I’ll see him next Friday.

I saw him last Friday.

One day I will go to Iceland.

Some day you will understand why I did this.