TIME
AND PLACE PREPOSITIONS
TIME
|
PREPOSITION |
USE |
EXAMPLES |
|
at |
used with specific times |
-The train will arrive at 9:00. -He comes to work at 8:00. |
|
on |
used with days of the week and dates |
-I met my boyfriend on Monday evening. -We began school on September 1st. |
|
in |
used with months and years |
-We have our exams in June. -I was born in 1960. |
|
for |
used to introduce a duration |
-I have lived in Montreal for 5 years. |
|
since |
used to indicate the beginning of an action that continues to the
present |
-He has played piano since he was 6 years old. -She has attended this college since 1994. |
PLACE
|
in |
used for places with boundaries |
-I work in Montreal. -He has a brother in England. -My son is playing in the park. |
|
at |
used for places with no boundaries, and also used for buildings
when it is not important whether the action is specifically inside the
building |
-There are some people waiting at the bus-stop. -He will meet you at the airport. -My son is at school now. |
|
to/from |
replaces IN or AT with verbs of movement (exception:
in the case of "arrive" we never use TO) |
-I went to New York last week. -He came to the party last night. -They will arrive in Montreal on Thursday. - Where are they arriving from? -They are arriving from California. |
OTHER PREPOSITIONS TO WATCH OUT FOR
|
by |
used to express means (especially of transportation) |
-He comes to work by bicycle. -She went to Europe by boat. EXCEPTIONS:-I go to school on foot. -We went to the store in his car. |
|
with |
used for tools and weapons |
-She killed him with a lead pipe. -He ate his dinner with chopsticks. |
|
idioms: |
-listen to -look at (regarder) -look for (chercher) |
-I listen to CKOI every morning. -We looked at some photos. -This summer, I'll look for a job. |
© Copyright 2001 by Eric Squire