Example of Prepositions of Time in English

A preposition is a word that serves to establish a relationship between the subject of a sentence with its complements or, relating it to another noun. Although by themselves they do not make sense, by relating the parts of the sentence they provide the sense of the relationship between the subject and the complements it connects. There are four types of relationships: mode, place, time (also called circumstantial) and movement (also called direction).

The prepositions of time in English are those that help to express a relation of time on the action of the verb, or to establish a relationship between the subject and the complement or noun with which it is related.

The main prepositions of mode are: in, at, on, after, during, before, for, about, since, until, ago.

In, on, at. These prepositions are translated as en, at, at. Of the prepositions of time, these are probably the ones that cause the most confusion and errors in their use.

In We will use it when we talk about the periods of the day, the centuries, years, months and seasons of the year:

I saw her de ella, in 15th century, in spring, in 1669, in may, in the evening.

In 1992, every day I heard techno music in the night.

On We will use it with the days of the week, the days of the week together with the part of the day, and with the dates.

I birth in December 24th, 1976.

I rest a few more in Sunday morning.

For its part, at We will use it to talk about the holidays, the hours or to refer to the beginning, the course or the end of something. Sometimes these expressions work as a single preposition (at begining, at the moment, at the end):

We always stay in home at Christmas Eve day. At mid-day all begin to cook the dinner.

At the beginning of time, a great explosion occurs. At the end, perhaps may be another.

Before, during, after. These expressions mean before, during and after, respectively. They serve to relate the moment when something happens, in relation to the main action of the sentence:

Before you come here, bring some bread, please.

James bought some sodas during the mid-time.

I do my homework after the movies end.

For, about, since, until, ago. These prepositions serve to establish the time relationship between an action or act with another already performed or with a certain moment in time.

For, as a preposition of time, it is translated as during or by, in the sense of duration:

I have been runner for 10 years.

My parents had been working for 39 years.

About translates to about, approximately. Its use is similar to for, only that we use about to talk about an approximate time, while for talks about a more precise time:

I think this guy has been working here about 15 years.

Well, to be precise, he has worked for 17 years.

Since. It means from. It talks about the relationship of an event with a moment or with another event that are taken as a point of reference:

This restaurant works since 1674.

John doesn’t feel well since his accident.

Until. It means until, that is, something ends or stops when something else happens or a point in time is reached:

My work ends until June 21th, 2048.

This child will be crying until they give him candies.

Aug. It is translated as ago or since. Its use is similar to for, with amounts of time, with the difference that ago is used with expressions in times simple and is written at the end of the expression it modifies, while for is used with sentences in passive forms:

Ann works here 10 years ago.

Ann has been working here for 10 years.

I live in that house three months ago.

10 examples of sentences with prepositions of time in English

We arrive at 12:30 pm.

Jim repaired his PC one week ago.

Sara and Richie are married since 1998.

I will work on this until Friday.

My dog ​​will be in home in spring.

We see you on Saturday.

They must arrange the house before their parents arrive.

Mary, I bring you to the park after the dinner

Poor boy, he sleeps during class hours.

I begin to feel sick about one week.