Prepositions of time

Prepositions of time are words that help us talk about when something happens. In English, the most common prepositions of time are in, on, at, for, since, during, and until. These words can be tricky because they don’t always translate directly to Spanish prepositions like en, a, or durante. This guide will explain how to use them correctly with examples to make them clear.1. INUse in for:

• Parts of the day: in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening (but note: at night).
• Months: in January, in June.
• Seasons: in summer, in winter.
• Years: in 2023, in 1995.
• Centuries: in the 21st century.
• Long periods of time: in the past, in the future.

Examples:

• I study English in the morning. (Estudio inglés por la mañana.)
• She was born in July. (Nació en julio.)
• They traveled in the summer. (Viajaron en verano.)

ON – Use on for:

• Days of the week: on Monday, on Friday.
• Specific dates: on December 25th, on my birthday.
• Specific days: on Christmas Day, on New Year’s Eve.

Examples:

• We have a test on Tuesday. (Tenemos un examen el martes.)
• The party is on July 4th. (La fiesta es el 4 de julio.)
• I’ll see you on Christmas Day. (Te encontraré el día de Navidad.)

AT – Use at for:

• Specific times: at 7 o’clock, at midnight, at noon.
• Short, specific moments: at the moment, at the weekend (British English), at Christmas (meaning the holiday moment).
• Night: at night.

Examples:

• The movie starts at 8 p.m.. (La película empieza a las 8 de la noche.)
• I go to bed at midnight. (Me acuesto a medianoche.)
• It’s quiet at night. (Es tranquilo por la noche.)

4FOR – Use for to talk about:

• Duration of time: how long something lasts.

Examples:

• I studied for two hours. (Estudié durante dos horas.)
• She lived in Spain for three years. (Vivió en España durante tres años.)

SINCE – Use since to talk about:

• The starting point of an action that continues to the present.

Examples:

• I’ve been here since Monday. (He estado aquí desde el lunes.)
• They’ve known each other since 2010. (Se conocen desde 2010.)

DURING – Use during to talk about:

• Something that happens within a period of time.

Examples:

• I read a book during the flight. (Leí un libro durante el vuelo.)
• It rained during the night. (Llovió durante la noche.)

UNTIL – Use until to talk about:

• The end point of an action or situation.

Examples:

• I worked until 5 p.m.. (Trabajé hasta las 5 de la tarde.)
• The shop is open until midnight. (La tienda está abierta hasta medianoche.)

Key Tips for Spanish Speakers

• Unlike Spanish, English prepositions of time are very specific. For example, en in Spanish can translate to in, on, or at in English, depending on the context.
• Pay attention to fixed phrases like at night (not in night) or on Monday (not in Monday).
• Practice with real-life examples to get used to the differences.

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Gap Fill Exercise: Prepositions of TimeComplete the sentences with the correct preposition of time: in, on, at, for, since, during, or until.

1. I always have breakfast _____ 7 a.m.
2. She’s been learning English _____ two years.
3. The festival happens _____ August every year.
4. We’re going to a party _____ Saturday night.
5. He worked on his project _____ the weekend.
6. I’ve lived in this city _____ 2018.
7. The movie was so boring that I fell asleep _____ the film.
8. The shop is open _____ 9 p.m. every day.
9. They met _____ Christmas Eve last year.
10. I like to go for a walk _____ the evening.

Answer Key (for teachers or self-checking):

1. at
2. for
3. in
4. on
5. during
6. since
7. during
8. until
9. on
10. in