What is a Preposition of Time?

S2-SA1-0071

Grade Level:

Class 1

NLP, Law, History, Social Sciences, Literature, Journalism, Communication

Definition

What is it?

A preposition of time is a small word that tells us WHEN something happens. It connects a noun or pronoun to the rest of the sentence and shows its relationship with time. Common prepositions of time include 'at', 'on', and 'in'.

Simple Example

Quick Example

Imagine your favourite cricket match starts. You would say, 'The match begins AT 7 PM.' Here, 'at' tells us the exact time the match starts. If the match is ON Sunday, 'on' tells us the day.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

Let's find the prepositions of time in these sentences:

1. My school picnic is IN December.
2. We meet our friends ON Saturdays.
3. The train arrived AT 10 AM.

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Step 1: Look at the first sentence: 'My school picnic is IN December.' Ask: When is the picnic? Answer: December. The word connecting 'picnic' to 'December' is 'in'. So, 'in' is a preposition of time.

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Step 2: Look at the second sentence: 'We meet our friends ON Saturdays.' Ask: When do we meet friends? Answer: Saturdays. The word connecting 'meet' to 'Saturdays' is 'on'. So, 'on' is a preposition of time.

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Step 3: Look at the third sentence: 'The train arrived AT 10 AM.' Ask: When did the train arrive? Answer: 10 AM. The word connecting 'arrived' to '10 AM' is 'at'. So, 'at' is a preposition of time.

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Answer: The prepositions of time are 'in', 'on', and 'at'.

Why It Matters

Understanding prepositions of time is super important for clear communication, whether you're writing a news report or planning an event. Lawyers use precise prepositions to define deadlines, and journalists use them to report exact timings of events. Clear language helps in careers like law, journalism, and even event management.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Using 'in' for specific times, e.g., 'The shop closes IN 9 PM.' | CORRECTION: Use 'at' for specific times, e.g., 'The shop closes AT 9 PM.'

MISTAKE: Using 'at' for days of the week, e.g., 'My birthday is AT Friday.' | CORRECTION: Use 'on' for days of the week, e.g., 'My birthday is ON Friday.'

MISTAKE: Using 'on' for months or years, e.g., 'India became independent ON 1947.' | CORRECTION: Use 'in' for months or years, e.g., 'India became independent IN 1947.'

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: Fill in the blank: We have a holiday ____ Diwali. | ANSWER: on

QUESTION: Which preposition of time is correct for '____ the morning'? (a) at (b) on (c) in | ANSWER: (c) in

QUESTION: Rewrite the sentence with the correct preposition: 'The flight will depart ON 8:30 AM IN Monday.' | ANSWER: The flight will depart AT 8:30 AM ON Monday.

MCQ

Quick Quiz

Which sentence correctly uses a preposition of time?

I will meet you in 5 o'clock.

The festival starts on October.

We go to school on weekdays.

My exams are at summer.

The Correct Answer Is:

Option C is correct because 'on' is used for days of the week ('weekdays'). Option A should be 'at 5 o'clock'. Option B should be 'in October'. Option D should be 'in summer'.

Real World Connection

In the Real World

When you book a train ticket on the IRCTC app, you see exact departure and arrival times. The app uses prepositions like 'at' to show 'Departure AT 10:00 AM' and 'Arrival ON Monday'. This helps you plan your journey accurately and avoid missing your train!

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

PREPOSITION: A word connecting a noun or pronoun to other words in a sentence | TIME: The continuous progress of existence and events | EXACT: Precise; accurate | RELATIONSHIP: The way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected | CONNECT: To join together

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Great job learning about prepositions of time! Next, you can explore 'Prepositions of Place'. Knowing these will help you describe not just when things happen, but also where they happen, making your sentences even clearer and more descriptive.