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Prepositions of Time

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Prepositions of time — understanding and using in, on, at, since, for, and more to talk about time.

Prepositions of time are words that show the relationship between a time expression and the rest of the sentence. The most common prepositions of time are in, on, and at, but there are also others like since, for, before, after, and more. Using them correctly helps you talk about when something happens with accuracy.
  • Show the relationship between a time expression and an event
  • Use simple rules and examples to pick the right preposition
  • Understand common time expressions that follow each preposition

In, On, At

These are the three most basic prepositions of time. Each one is used with different types of time expressions.

In

Use in for longer periods: months, years, centuries, centuries, and parts of the day.
  • in July
  • in
  • in the morning
  • in the 21st century

On

Use on for specific days and dates.
  • on Monday
  • on July 4th
  • on my birthday
  • on New Year’s Eve

At

Use at for precise times, holidays without “day,” and special expressions.
  • at 7:00 a.m.
  • at midnight
  • at noon
  • at Christmas

Activity: Choose the Correct Preposition

Complete each sentence with in, on, or at.
  1. Friday
  2. 3:00 p.m.
  3. July
  4. New Year’s Day
  5. the evening

Since vs. For

Use since and for to talk about how long something has happened, especially with the present perfect tense.

Since

Use since for a specific starting point in time.
  • I have lived here since 2010.
  • She has worked here since Monday.
  • We have been friends since childhood.

For

Use for for a duration of time (how long).
  • I have lived here for ten years.
  • She has worked here for three days.
  • We have been friends for a long time.

Activity: Complete with Since or For

Choose since or for to complete each sentence.
  1. I have studied English five years.
  2. She has been away Monday.
  3. We have lived in this city 2010.
  4. He has worked here two months.
  5. They have known each other a decade.

Before, After, and Other Prepositions

Before

Use before to talk about something happening earlier than a certain time.
  • I eat breakfast before 7 a.m.
  • Finish your homework before dinner.
  • She arrived before the meeting.

After

Use after to talk about something happening later than a certain time.
  • We’ll go out after dinner.
  • He called me after the movie.
  • Finish your work after 5 p.m.

By

Use by to mean “no later than” a certain time.
  • Please submit your report by Friday.
  • We need to leave by 6 p.m.
  • She promised to call by noon.

Until / Till

Use until or till to talk about something continuing up to a certain time.
  • I will wait until 8 p.m.
  • She worked till midnight.
  • Stay here until I return.

Activity: Fill in the Blank

Choose the correct preposition: before, after, by, until.
  1. Finish the project Friday.
  2. We went out dinner.
  3. I will wait 7 p.m.
  4. She left the meeting.
  5. Call me noon.

Time Expressions with Prepositions

Many time expressions always use the same preposition. Here are some common ones:

In

  • in a minute/hour/day/week/month/year
  • in the past/future
  • in the morning/afternoon/evening

On

  • on time (meaning “not late”)
  • on the weekend (more common in American English)
  • on Monday morning

At

  • at the moment
  • at the same time
  • at sunrise/sunset
  • at Christmas/Easter

Summary

  • Use in for long periods (months, years, parts of the day).
  • Use on for specific days and dates.
  • Use at for exact times and special moments.
  • Use since for a starting point in time, for for a duration.
  • Use before and after to talk about order.
  • Use by for deadlines, until/till for something that continues up to a point.
  • Learn common time expressions with prepositions.
Next Up: Conjunctions

Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025

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