Recently, while conducting an English grammar exercise with my Primary 6 students, I noticed that several of them struggled with selecting the correct preposition of time for the word ‘sunrise’. This prompted me to revisit the concept of prepositions of time with my upper primary students, although mastering these concepts ideally begins in lower primary. In this post, I delve into what prepositions of time are and explore why the seemingly simple two-letter prepositions ‘in’, ‘on’, and ‘at’ often cause confusion.
What are prepositions of time?
Prepositions of time usually show a relationship between two words in a sentence. The three most commonly used prepositions of time are ‘in’, ‘at’ and ‘on’. These three primary prepositions of time are crucial for understanding temporal relationships in English.
1. Preposition of time – ‘In’
‘In’ is used in more general expressions of time.
Examples with months, years, seasons and longer periods of time
I was born in 2009. I will visit my grandmother in April.
Examples with periods of time during the day
We will leave in the morning. I like to relax in the evenings.
Example of describing the amount of time
We will complete this in a week’s time.
Example of indicating something in the future
They are away now and will return in a few days.
2. Preposition of time – ‘On’
‘On’ is used for more specific expressions of time.
Example with days of the week
Let’s watch a movie on Friday.
Example with dates
The English SA1 will be on 3rd May.
Example with special days (with the word day)
We will open our presents on Christmas day.
3. Preposition of time – ‘At’
‘At’ is used for a very specific time.
Example with clock times
I will meet Mary at 10.30 am.
Example with specific times of the day or mealtimes
We sit down together as a family at dinnertime. Mrs. Tan reads to her son at bedtime.
Examples with expressions referring to specific points in time
I will finish my PSLE at the end of October At present, we do not have any stock of the Nintendo Switch.
Each of these prepositions plays a distinct role in clarifying temporal relationships in sentences, thereby enhancing clarity and precision in communication.
Please check our collection of articles on English Paper2 components to further help your child mastering the English language.
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