-
at — used with specific points in time
“The store will open at eight o’clock.”
“She left for the office at 3:15.” -
in — used with periods of time
“The war ended in 1918.”
“Cathy should be back in fifteen minutes.”
“Those flowers bloom in the late spring.” -
on — used with days and dates
“Our daughter was born on June 6, 1975.”
“The game will be played on Monday.”
“We stayed up late on New Year’s Eve.” -
during — happening in or over a period of time
“I took notes during the meeting.”
“During the morning, it rained.”
“He feel asleep twice during the play.” -
by — at or before a point in time
“You should be here by 6:00.”
“This report has to be done by Friday.”
“By 8:30, he was very drunk.” -
until — up to a certain time
“You have until 5:00 to do that work.”
“I can wait until you decide.”
“Until he arrives, we can’t begin.” -
from…to — between two points of time
“We waited for him from 2:30 to 3:30!”
“It is very cold from October to March.”
“Wendi works from Monday to Friday.” -
before — taking place at an earlier time
“Before you talk to him, get some advice.”
“He came to America before the Civil War.”
“If I get home before 7:00 we can go to a movie.” -
after — taking place at a later time
“After you talk to him, come and see me.”
“I cleaned up the room after everyone left.”
“Friday comes after Thursday.” -
for — lasting a period of time
“Philip spoke to us for three hours.”
“The valley was flooded for ten days.”
“I plan to live in Chicago for the rest of my life.” -
in — after a period of time (2nd meaning)
“We will begin in ten minutes.”
“He is going to retire in four years.”
“The election will be held in a few months.” -
since — starting from a point in time
“We’ve been working since he left.”
“He has been talking since 7:00.”
“Since 1955, the population of this city has doubled!”