A2 — Elementary+50 XP available

Interactive Grammar: Prepositions of Time

Use at, in, on, since, for, during, by, and until correctly to express time relationships in English.

Grammar Explanation · Authentic Examples · Practice Exercises

Lesson progressNot started

Duration

~39 min

Exercises

Level

Elementary

Overview

Use at, in, on, since, for, during, by, and until correctly to express time relationships in English.

at / in / on

atat exact times: at 3pm, at midnight, at noon
inin months, years, seasons: in July, in 2022, in winter
onon days and dates: on Monday, on 5 March, on Christmas Day
atat fixed periods: at the weekend, at night, at Christmas

since / for / during / by

since + point in time: since 2010, since Monday (still ongoing)
for + duration: for three years, for a week
during + event/period: during the film, during summer
by + deadline: by Friday, by noon (= no later than)

Common Mistakes

❌ I arrived in Monday → ✅ I arrived on Monday
❌ She has lived here since three years → ✅ for three years
❌ We met in 5 o'clock → ✅ we met at 5 o'clock

When to use

Appointments

The meeting is on Thursday at 2pm.

Schedules

She starts in January and finishes in June.

Deadlines

Please submit the form by Friday.

Duration

They have been married for twenty years.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this lesson on prepositions cover?

Use at, in, on, since, for, during, by, and until correctly to express time relationships in English.

Which CEFR level is this lesson designed for?

This lesson is designed for Elementary (A2) learners and forms part of the Prepositions section on Grammartier.

What is the best approach for studying this grammar topic?

Start with the definition, then study the examples carefully to understand how the pattern works in context. Practise identifying the structure in authentic sentences before producing your own — this recognition-first approach builds a strong foundation for accurate, confident use.