Grammar Drill 2B

Grammar Drill

Preposition of Time

What is a Preposition of Time?

• To tell the readers when things are taking place

• To discuss a specific time period : -

• A date on the calendar

• One of the days of the week

• The actual time something takes place

First Example of Preposition of Time

• On : -

• certain days of the week

• portions of days of the week

• specific dates

• special days ("on New Year's Day")

Second Example of Preposition of Time

• At : -

• Clock times

• Holidays and festivals

• An exact or a particular time

• Specific time frames including exceptions ("at night")

Third Example of Preposition of Time

• In : -

• Months or seasons or year or centuries

• Morning or afternoon or evening

• General times of day

• Longer periods of time ("in the past")

Fourth Example of Preposition of Time

• Since : -

• From a particular time in the past until a later time, or until now

Fifth Example of Preposition of Time

• For : -

• Used to show an amount of time

Sixth Example of Preposition of Time

• Ago : -

• Back in the past

• Back in time from the present

Seventh Example of Preposition of Time

• Before : -

• At or during a time earlier than

• A prior event

Eighth Example of Preposition of Time

• To : -

• Used when saying the time

• To mean before the stated time

• Until a particular time, marking end of a period of time

Ninth Example of Preposition of Time

• Past : -

• Refers to the amount of time (in minutes) past the hour

Tenth Example of Preposition of Time

• From : -

• Used to show the time when something starts

Eleventh Example of Preposition of Time

• Until / Till : -

• Means up to a certain time

Twelfth Example of Preposition of Time

• By : -

• Not later than

• At or before

A Preposition of Time

For

Four Examples of Sentences

• I am just going to bed for an hour or so

• Jackson has been on a diet for three months

• We have been supplying them for six years

• She has gone for two days

A Preposition of Time

Since

Four Examples of Sentences

• England have not won the World Cup in football since 1966

• I have been on a diet since the beginning of the year

• Joanne has been waiting since ten o'clock

• The pipe has been leaking since yesterday

TASK 1

Complete the sentences with 'for' or 'since'

Multiple Select

1) My neighbour has been keeping his food waste for composting __________ January.

• for

• since

Multiple Select

2) The school has been selling the vegetables from the Science Garden __________ for the past six months.

• for

• since

Multiple Select

3) I have been taking multigrain bread for breakfast __________ three weeks.

• for

• since

Multiple Select

4) My parents have been cultivating the fruit farm __________ the end of last month.

• for

• since

Multiple Select

5) We have been experimenting with the new manure on the farm __________ two months.

• for

• since

Multiple Select

6) It has been raining __________ Wednesday and my plants have been swept away.

• for

• since

Multiple Select

7) He lived in Oxford __________ 3 years and then he moved.

• for

• since

Multiple Select

8) The factory has been here __________ 1970s.

• for

• since

Multiple Select

9) It was the band's first live performance __________ May 1990.

• for

• since

Multiple Select

10) They have lived in Seoul __________ a couple of months.

• for

• since

TASK 2

Choose the correct preposition of time for each sentence

Multiple Choice

1) Good! So now, I am going to study __________ a few hours.

• at

• for

• since

• till

Multiple Choice

2) These batsmen should not get out __________ the tea break.

• until

• since

• before

• at

Multiple Choice

3) Robin and Susan have been waiting to see the principal __________ morning.

• by

• during

• from

• since

Multiple Choice

4) Do you normally get together with your relatives __________ Christmas?

• at

• by

• in

• to

Multiple Choice

5) I am really tired. Last night, I watched a film __________ midnight.

• by

• on

• till

• to

Multiple Choice

6) Duncan leaves for Paris __________ the 1st of January.

• on

• during

• by

• before

Multiple Choice

7) She will be meeting her friends __________ lunch.

• to

• from

• by

• after

Multiple Choice

8) All students have to hand in their homework __________ this Friday.

• after

• by

• since

• until

Multiple Choice

9) The children fell asleep __________ the journey.

• to

• till

• on

• during

Multiple Choice

10) We need to have this report ready __________ 15 minutes.

• in

• during

• since

• until

Congratulations

For you have completed today's tasks

Multiple Choice

6) Duncan leaves for Paris __________ the 1st of January.

• on

• during

• by

• before