Table of Contents
Other prepositions of time
Introduction
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Hans was born on 25/11/80 at 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
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Other prepositions
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| Meaning | Examples |
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By |
The end of a period of time. |
I need to finish this report by Friday. [on or before Friday but no later] By the time I get home, I'll be really hungry. He'll be a qualified doctor by next summer.
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Until
Till [an informal alternative] |
Up to a point in time.
Note that 'until' is more common than 'till' at the beginning of a sentence. |
We have until tomorrow to find a replacement. We sat in the garden until it started to rain. Until recently, Louise worked in London.
I'm going to work till 6 today. I can't wait till lunchtime - I've got to eat something now.
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From...until/till/to |
Between two points in time. |
I'll be out of the office from 2 till 4. From January to March the sales figures were excellent. It rained from Saturday morning until Sunday night.
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Between...(and) |
Between two points in time. |
Some people say we shouldn't eat between meals. I'll be out of the office between 2 and 4.
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Within |
Happening inside a period of time and no later. |
We need to eat this yoghurt within two days of opening it.
She expects to be promoted within the next year.
The parcel will arrive within a week.
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Throughout |
During an entire period of time. |
People arrived throughout the day. We're going to recruit new staff throughout the year. Everyone listened attentively throughout her presentation. |
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During |
1. Throughout a period of time.
2. A more specific period.
3. An unspecified point within a period.
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This café is open during the day but not at night.
I learned a lot about computers during my time with that company.
During the company's first two years, it was very successful. During two years, the company was very successful. [use 'for'] She was born during the Second World War. I sometimes wake up during the night. He called me during the meeting.
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See also Adverbs of time.
No preposition
We don't use 'in', 'on' or 'at' for days, months etc. directly before the following words:
every
last
next
today
yesterday
tomorrow
We visit my parents every weekend. 
We visit my parents at every weekend. 
We saw them last Saturday.
We saw them on last Saturday.
We're going skiing with them next February.
We're going skiing with them in next February.
Did you see him yesterday morning or are you meeting him today?
Did you see him in the morning yesterday or in the afternoon?
Did you see him in yesterday morning?
Are you free tomorrow evening?
2. We do not use a preposition with 'this' when it refers to the present time:
I had to work late last night so I slept a little longer this morning. [today]
I'm so busy this week. [the current week]
It's my 50th birthday this September. [September of the current year]
However, when you use 'this' or 'that' in order to be very specific, we can add a preposition, although it is not necessary. For example:
I told her I couldn't attend the training (on) that morning/afternoon/day. [the morning, afternoon or day previously mentioned]
(In) that month, we're going to Paris and (in) this month we're travelling to the south. [we already know which months we're talking about or we're looking at a calendar]
See also Adverbs of time and Prepositions after expressions.
Uses and examples
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| Meaning | Examples |
|
By |
The end of a period of time. |
I need to finish this report by Friday. [on or before Friday but no later] By the time I get home, I'll be really hungry. He'll be a qualified doctor by next summer.
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Until
Till [an informal alternative] |
Up to a point in time.
Note that 'until' is more common than 'till' at the beginning of a sentence. |
We have until tomorrow to find a replacement. We sat in the garden until it started to rain. Until recently, Louise worked in London.
I'm going to work till 6 today. I can't wait till lunchtime - I've got to eat something now.
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From...until/till/to |
Between two points in time. |
I'll be out of the office from 2 till 4. From January to March the sales figures were excellent. It rained from Saturday morning until Sunday night.
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Between...(and) |
Between two points in time. |
Some people say we shouldn't eat between meals. I'll be out of the office between 2 and 4.
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Within |
Happening inside a period of time and no later. |
We need to eat this yoghurt within two days of opening it.
She expects to be promoted within the next year.
The parcel will arrive within a week.
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Throughout |
During an entire period of time. |
People arrived throughout the day. We're going to recruit new staff throughout the year. Everyone listened attentively throughout her presentation. |
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During |
1. Throughout a period of time.
2. A more specific period.
3. An unspecified point within a period.
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This café is open during the day but not at night.
I learned a lot about computers during my time with that company.
During the company's first two years, it was very successful.
She was born during the Second World War. I sometimes wake up during the night. He called me during the meeting.
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