A1Prepositions

Prepositions of Time

What is it?

Prepositions of time show WHEN something happens. Key rules: IN for longer periods (months, years, seasons, parts of day): "in June" / "in 2024" / "in the morning"; ON for specific days and dates: "on Monday" / "on July 4th"; AT for specific times: "at 5pm" / "at night" / "at noon". Other important ones: FOR (duration - how long): "for 2 hours"; SINCE (starting point): "since Monday"; DURING (throughout a period): "during the meeting"; BEFORE/AFTER (sequence): "before lunch" / "after school". Remember: NO preposition with "next/last/this/every" → next Monday ✓ (not: on next Monday*).

How to form it

Subject	Positive	Negative	Question
IN (longer periods)	in June, in 2024, in summer, in the morning, in an hour (future)	not in	When?
ON (specific days/dates)	on Monday, on July 4th, on Christmas Day, on my birthday	not on	When?
AT (specific times)	at 5pm, at night, at noon, at midnight, at the moment, at Christmas	not at	When?
FOR (duration)	for 2 hours, for 3 days, for a week, for a long time	not used	How long?
SINCE (starting point)	since Monday, since 2020, since last week, since 9am	not used	From when?
DURING (throughout)	during the meeting, during summer, during the day, during class	not used	While/throughout?

• IN: months, years, seasons, centuries → in June, in 2024, in summer, in the 21st century
• IN: parts of the day → in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening (BUT: at night)
• IN + time period = future → in an hour (= one hour from now), in 5 minutes
• ON: days of week, dates → on Monday, on July 4th, on New Year's Day
• AT: specific times → at 5pm, at midnight, at noon, at sunrise
• AT: special times → at night, at the weekend (UK), at Christmas (point in time)
• FOR: duration (how long) → for 2 hours, for 3 weeks, for a year
• SINCE: starting point (when it began) → since Monday, since 2020, since 9am
• DURING: throughout a period → during summer, during the meeting
• NO preposition with next/last/this/every → next Monday, last week, this year

When to use it

1
IN — months, years, seasons, centuries
"in June" / "in 2024" / "in summer" / "in winter" / "in the 21st century" / "in 1990"
2
IN — parts of the day (BUT: at night)
"in the morning" / "in the afternoon" / "in the evening" (BUT: "at night")
3
IN — future time period
"in an hour" (one hour from now) / "in 5 minutes" / "in a few days" / "I'll see you in 2 hours."
4
ON — days of the week, dates
"on Monday" / "on Tuesday morning" / "on July 4th" / "on my birthday" / "on Christmas Day"
5
AT — specific times
"at 5pm" / "at 7:30" / "at noon" / "at midnight" / "at sunrise" / "at sunset" / "at the moment"
6
AT — special times (night, weekend, Christmas)
"at night" / "at the weekend" (UK) / "at Christmas" (point) vs "on Christmas Day" (specific day)
7
FOR — duration (how long)
"for 2 hours" / "for 3 days" / "for a week" / "for a long time" / "I studied for 2 hours."
8
SINCE — starting point (present perfect)
"since Monday" / "since 2020" / "since last week" / "I've lived here since 2015."
9
DURING — throughout a period
"during the meeting" / "during summer" / "during the day" / "during class" / "during the film"
10
NO preposition with next/last/this/every/tomorrow/yesterday
"next Monday" (not: on next Monday*) / "last week" / "this year" / "every day" / "tomorrow" / "yesterday"

Common mistakes

in Monday

on Monday

Use ON for days of the week, not IN.

at June / at 2024

in June / in 2024

Use IN for months and years, not AT.

on 5pm

at 5pm

Use AT for specific times, not ON.

in night

at night

Exception: use AT night, not IN night.

on next Monday

next Monday (no preposition)

Don't use prepositions with next, last, this, every.

since 2 hours (duration)

for 2 hours (duration) OR since 2pm (starting point)

Use FOR for duration (how long), SINCE for starting point (when it began).

Quick reference

IN: months/years/seasons → in June, in 2024, in summer
IN: parts of day → in the morning, in the afternoon (BUT: at night)
IN: future time → in an hour, in 5 minutes (from now)
ON: days/dates → on Monday, on July 4th, on Christmas Day
AT: specific times → at 5pm, at noon, at midnight, at night
FOR: duration → for 2 hours, for 3 days (how long)
SINCE: starting point → since Monday, since 2020 (from when)
NO preposition: next Monday, last week, this year, every day

Natural conversation example

Planning a meeting

Tom

Can we meet on Monday?

Lisa

What time? In the morning or afternoon?

Tom

How about at 10am? I have a meeting at noon.

Lisa

Perfect! I'm free for 2 hours.

Tom

Great! I've wanted to discuss this since last week.

Lisa

Me too! We can talk during coffee.

Tom

See you next Monday at 10!

Practice Exercises

Complete with time prepositions.

1.
My birthday is June. (month)
2.
The meeting is Monday. (day)
3.
I wake up 7am. (time)
4.
I studied 2 hours. (duration)
5.
I've lived here 2020. (starting point)
6.
I sleep night. (time)

Prepositions of Place All Topics Verbs and Prepositions

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