Using Preposition for Time and Place

The preposition of time and date are by, at, in, on, during, for, since, from, after, before. They are used in a variety of situations expressing different shades of meaning. We must, therefore, know where and when to use a particular preposition of time and date.

a)       By means ‘not later than a given time’; as—

You must be back by four o’clock.

He must finish this work by ’10 o’clock’.

b)       At indicate exact point of time; as—

I got up at six o’clock in the morning.

He went to the tea party at six o’clock in the evening.

c)       In indicates a period of time; as—

He works in the morning.

This project will be completed in 1995.

d)       On indicates a day, or a part of a day, considered as a unit, on which some events occurred; as—

The meeting was held on the 15th of July, 1990.

We met him on the occasion of his marriage.

e)       During means ‘throughout the length of a period of time’;

Europe was in the throes of war during 1914 to 1918.

During also means at some point in a period time; as—

We returned to the base camp during the night.

f)        For indicates a period of time thought of as a whole; as—

I was detained for five hours.

I waited for you for four hours.

g)       Since denotes some point of time; as—

I have not seen him since March last.

He has not met me since Monday last.

h)       From is used before a noun or a phrase  denoting some of point of time; it is used with other tenses except the perfect tense; as—

He started his work from the 1st of August.

Our examination will commence from 15th the April 1992.

i)        After is used in reference to the past space of time; as—

I met him after a long time.

He came after a long gap.

j)        Before refers to a point of time; as—

The sun will rise before six o’clock.

He will come before five o’clock.

Caution: ‘But at night indicates in or during the night, e.g., I came home late at night. The child is very restless of night. We sleep better in the day than at night. (Also, by than by night)

k)       On time means exactly at the appointed hour, punctually; as—

He is on time.

The 10.30 train arrived on time.

But in time means ‘not late’; as—

                We were in time for the train.

Thus in English, different prepositions are used with different expressions of time and date. Here is a chart. It will help you know which prepositions to use.

Rules

1.         In before: months, years, seasons, special expressions.

Example: in March, in 1930, in July, in February, in the morning, in the last century, in winter.

2.         On before: days of the week, dates.

Example: On Friday, on Saturday, on April 5th, on 24th October.

3.         At before the time of day special expression.

Example: at 4.30, at night, at 4.00 pm, at noon, at afternoon.