Prepositions Of Time Exercises

Understanding Prepositions of Time

Mastering prepositions of time is essential for clear communication in English. These small words—primarily “at,” “in,” and “on”—help specify when something happens. Though they appear simple, their correct usage follows specific patterns that can be challenging for language learners.

Prepositions of time connect time expressions to other parts of a sentence. Using the wrong preposition can change the meaning or make your sentence sound unnatural to native speakers. Regular practice with targeted exercises helps develop an intuitive understanding of these important grammatical elements.

Let’s explore various exercises to strengthen your grasp of time prepositions.

Basic Rules for Time Prepositions

Before diving into exercises, let’s review the fundamental rules for the three main prepositions of time:

Using “At”

Use “at” for:
– Specific times: at 3 o’clock, at noon, at midnight
– Meal times: at breakfast, at lunch, at dinner
– Holiday periods: at Christmas, at Easter
– Night: at night
– Weekend: at the weekend (British English)
– Expressions like: at present, at the moment

Using “In”

Use “in” for:
– Months: in January, in February
– Seasons: in summer, in winter
– Years: in 2023, in 1999
– Centuries: in the 21st century
– Parts of the day: in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening
– Periods of time: in an hour, in a week
– Expressions like: in the past, in the future

Using “On”

Use “on” for:
– Days of the week: on Monday, on Tuesday
– Dates: on April 15th, on Christmas Day
– Specific day + part of day: on Friday morning, on Sunday evening
– Special days: on my birthday, on New Year’s Eve
– Weekend: on the weekend (American English)

Time Prepositions Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete each sentence with the correct preposition: “at,” “in,” “on,” or “–” (no preposition).

Sentence	Correct Preposition
1. My birthday is _____ May 15th.	on
2. I usually wake up _____ 7 o’clock.	at
3. They got married _____ 2019.	in
4. She always goes shopping _____ Saturday mornings.	on
5. We’re meeting _____ noon to discuss the project.	at
6. The museum is closed _____ Mondays.	on
7. I prefer studying _____ the morning.	in
8. The store opens _____ 9 AM every day.	at
9. We’re going on vacation _____ August.	in
10. The concert starts _____ 7:30 PM _____ Friday.	at, on

Exercise 2: Correcting Common Mistakes

Identify and correct the preposition errors in these sentences:

Incorrect Sentence	Correction
1. I was born in 1992 at July.	I was born in 1992 in July.
2. Let’s meet on 5 o’clock.	Let’s meet at 5 o’clock.
3. She always calls me in the night.	She always calls me at night.
4. We’re having a party at Sunday.	We’re having a party on Sunday.
5. The shop is closed in Sundays.	The shop is closed on Sundays.
6. I’ll see you on the morning.	I’ll see you in the morning.
7. The train arrives in 3:45 PM.	The train arrives at 3:45 PM.
8. We celebrate our anniversary on April.	We celebrate our anniversary in April.

Exercise 3: Multiple Choice Prepositions

Choose the correct preposition for each sentence:

1. The meeting is scheduled _____ next Tuesday.
a) in
b) at
c) on
d) during

2. My grandfather was born _____ the 1940s.
a) on
b) at
c) in
d) during

3. We always exchange gifts _____ Christmas.
a) in
b) at
c) on
d) during

4. The library closes _____ 8 PM.
a) in
b) at
c) on
d) by

5. I prefer to exercise _____ the morning.
a) in
b) at
c) on
d) during

6. The conference will be held _____ May 15th.
a) in
b) at
c) on
d) during

7. Let’s meet _____ noon for lunch.
a) in
b) at
c) on
d) by

8. The flowers bloom _____ spring.
a) in
b) at
c) on
d) during

Exercise 4: No Preposition Needed

Sometimes, no preposition is required. Identify which sentences need a preposition and which don’t:

Sentence	Preposition Needed?
1. I’ll see you _____ tomorrow.	No preposition needed
2. We met _____ last week.	No preposition needed
3. She’s arriving _____ next month.	No preposition needed
4. They got married _____ yesterday.	No preposition needed
5. I’ll call you _____ tonight.	No preposition needed
6. We’re meeting _____ this evening.	No preposition needed
7. The store opens _____ today.	No preposition needed
8. I’m going to the dentist _____ Wednesday morning.	Preposition needed (on)

Exercise 5: Mixed Prepositions Practice

Complete the paragraph by filling in the correct prepositions of time:

Sarah arrived _____ (1) London _____ (2) June 15th. She had a meeting scheduled _____ (3) 9 AM _____ (4) the next morning. _____ (5) the afternoon, she planned to visit some museums and then meet friends for dinner _____ (6) 7 PM. She would stay in London until Friday and return home _____ (7) the weekend. She was excited because _____ (8) Christmas, she would travel to Paris for a holiday.

Answers:
1. in
2. on
3. at
4. on
5. In
6. at
7. on/at (depending on British/American English)
8. at

Special Cases and Exceptions

While the basic rules cover most situations, English has several exceptions and special cases for time prepositions:

Expressions Without Prepositions

Some time expressions don’t require prepositions:
– Yesterday, today, tomorrow
– This/next/last week/month/year
– Tonight, this morning/afternoon/evening
– Now, then

British vs. American English Differences

Time Expression	British English	American English
Weekend	at the weekend	on the weekend
Days with dates	on Monday, 5 June	on Monday, June 5
Time of day	half past five	five thirty

Idiomatic Expressions

Some time expressions have fixed prepositions that must be memorized:
– in time (not late)
– on time (punctual)
– at the moment
– in a minute/second
– at the same time
– in the meantime
– on occasion

Advanced Exercise: Context-Based Prepositions

Choose the correct preposition based on the context:

1. I’ll meet you _____ the corner _____ noon.
2. The movie starts _____ 8 PM _____ Saturday night.
3. She was born _____ 1985 _____ March.
4. We always celebrate _____ New Year’s Eve _____ midnight.
5. The conference runs from Monday to Friday _____ next week.
6. I prefer to study _____ night rather than _____ the morning.
7. The store is closed _____ Sundays _____ winter.
8. The train arrives _____ 3:15 PM _____ platform 5.

Answers:
1. at, at
2. at, on
3. in, in
4. on, at
5. next (no preposition)
6. at, in
7. on, in
8. at, on

Tips for Mastering Prepositions of Time

1. Learn patterns rather than individual cases – Understanding the general rules helps you apply them to new situations.

2. Practice regularly – Consistent practice with varied exercises helps develop an intuitive feel for correct usage.

3. Read extensively – Exposure to natural English in books, articles, and other materials reinforces correct preposition usage.

4. Listen to native speakers – Pay attention to how prepositions are used in natural conversation.

5. Create your own examples – After learning a rule, make several sentences using that pattern.

6. Use mnemonic devices – For example, “AT a specific point (time), IN a longer period, ON a specific day.”

7. Focus on problem areas – Identify which prepositions consistently give you trouble and create targeted practice.

When No Preposition Is Needed

Remember that many time expressions don’t require prepositions:

– Next/last/this + time period: next week, last month, this year
– Time adverbs: yesterday, today, tomorrow, tonight
– Each/every + time period: each day, every week
– Expressions with “ago”: three days ago, a month ago

Progress Tracking Exercise

To track your improvement with prepositions of time, try this comprehensive exercise. Complete it now and then again after a few weeks of practice to see your progress:

1. We’ll meet _____ Friday _____ 3 PM.
2. My birthday is _____ December.
3. I was born _____ 1995.
4. She always goes swimming _____ the morning.
5. The meeting is scheduled _____ next Monday.
6. Let’s have dinner _____ 8 o’clock.
7. I’ll see you _____ Christmas Day.
8. The store closes _____ midnight.
9. They got married _____ June 12th, 2020.
10. We’re having a party _____ the weekend.
11. I usually study _____ night.
12. The concert is _____ Saturday night.
13. She’ll arrive _____ noon.
14. We’re going on vacation _____ summer.
15. The class starts _____ 9 AM _____ Monday morning.

Final Thoughts on Time Prepositions

Prepositions of time might seem challenging at first, but with consistent practice and exposure, they become second nature. The key is to recognize patterns rather than trying to memorize every possible combination.

Remember that while rules are helpful, there are exceptions and idiomatic expressions that simply need to be learned through exposure to the language. Reading, listening, and regular practice will gradually build your confidence and accuracy with these essential grammatical elements.

As you continue to practice, you’ll find that choosing the correct preposition becomes more intuitive, allowing you to express time relationships clearly and naturally in your English communication.