Prepositions of Time

Complete the sentence: The final bell rings ___ 3:15 PM, so don't be late.

• in

• on

• at

• for

Answer explanation

Use 'at' for specific, exact times on the clock. 'In' is for longer periods like months, and 'on' is for days and dates.

Complete the sentence: Our team has a big game ___ Saturday afternoon.

• at

• in

• on

• by

Answer explanation

Use 'on' when you are talking about a specific day of the week, even when you add a part of the day like 'afternoon'. 'In' is used for 'in the afternoon' by itself, but not with a day.

Complete the sentence: My family usually goes camping ___ the summer.

• on

• in

• at

• since

Answer explanation

Use 'in' for longer periods of time like seasons (summer, winter), months, and years. 'On' is for specific days, and 'at' is for precise times.

True or False: The sentence 'We have a history presentation in Friday' uses the correct preposition of time.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is false. For specific days of the week, you must use the preposition 'on'. The correct sentence would be 'We have a history presentation on Friday.'

Complete the sentence: My older sister has been studying for her driver's test ___ three weeks.

• since

• for

• from

• during

Answer explanation

Use 'for' to talk about a duration or period of time (how long something lasts). 'Since' is used to mark the starting point of a period that continues to the present.

Which sentence correctly uses a preposition to show when something happened?

• I was born on 2010.

• My birthday is in May 10th.

• I have practice at Monday.

• The party is on my birthday.

Answer explanation

Use 'on' for specific days and dates, like 'my birthday'. You should use 'in' for years ('in 2010'), 'on' for full dates ('on May 10th'), and 'on' for days of the week ('on Monday').

True or False: Both sentences are correct: 'We decorate the house *at* Christmas.' and 'We open presents *on* Christmas Day.'

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is true. 'At' is used for a general holiday period (the whole season of Christmas), while 'on' is used for a specific day within that holiday (Christmas Day).

Complete the sentence: The coffee shop is open ___ 7 AM ___ 6 PM every day.

• since...for

• between...until

• from...to

• at...at

Answer explanation

Use the combination 'from...to' (or 'from...until') to show the beginning and end of a specific time range. The other combinations don't correctly express a start and end point.

Complete the sentence: My phone buzzed with notifications ___ the entire movie.

• during

• throughout

• over

• within

Answer explanation

'Throughout' means something happened continuously from the beginning to the end of a period. 'During' means it happened at some point within that period, but not necessarily for the whole time.

If you need to get to the concert no later than 8:00 PM, which sentence is the most precise instruction?

• You need to get there until 8:00 PM.

• You need to get there by 8:00 PM.

• You need to get there for 8:00 PM.

• You need to get there in 8:00 PM.

Answer explanation

Use 'by' to set a deadline, meaning 'at or before' a certain time. 'Until' describes how long an action continues, which doesn't fit the meaning of arriving at a specific point.