Prepositions of time

Prepositions & Adverbs of Time

Static prepositions of time

at in on no preposition
five o’clock
7.45
midnight
Christmas
Easter September
summer
1997
the 60s
the twentieth century
Christmas tide
Easter time Tuesday
Christmas Day
May 11th yesterday
today
last week
yesterday evening
tomorrow
Do it for five o’clock Do it for September Do it for Tuesday Do it for tomorrow

General in - in a period of time
Specific at - at an exact time
Semi-specific on - at a specific time, but not a specific moment; relates to days
Semi-specific no preposition - at a specific time in a more general sense

Note: You can also use the word for to indicate time.
e.g. I want you to do it for Tuesday, I want you to do it for tomorrow.

this week
this afternoon
this evening

Linear adverbs of time (tell when)

by - It will be done by Tuesday next week.
till - I’ll be doing it till it is finished.
until - I’ll be doing it until Tuesday.
since - I’ve been doing it since last Tuesday.
from - I’ve been doing it from the beginning.
for - I’ve been doing it for a long time.
afterwards - I’ll need to see you afterwards.
before - I’ll do it before 3 o’clock.
yet - I’m not up to that page yet.
still - I still haven’t finished.
after - I’ll do it after lunch.

Prepositions + Time Phrases

Put the time phrases below into the correct preposition box.

at in on no preposition

five o’clock May 11th the twentieth century
Christmas Day Tuesday 7.45
tomorrow midnight yesterday evening
the 60s summer 1997
Christmas last week Christmas tide
September yesterday today
Easter time Easter