Grammar Lesson I [B1+]

PREPOSITIONS OF TIME

The following exercise relates to Exercise I. “The Importance of the Clinical Interview”.


SEE RESOURCES APPENDIX P2.2 – PREPOSITIONS OF TIME


We use “for” to discuss how long something lasted. Also + present perfect.

  • The treatment lasted for four weeks.
  • I’ve worked here for four weeks

We use “in” for morning, afternoon, evening, seasons, months, years and eras, and a length of time in the future (e.g. 1980s, 21st century)

  • I often have back pain in the morning when I first get up.
  • My asthma gets worst in winter. I have to go in a week’s time for a lung function test.

We use “on” for specific days and dates.

  • Eat nothing on Thursday because your colonoscopy is next day, on Friday 5. July, in the morning.

We use “at” for time, and for night.

  • Your colonoscopy is at 10:00 a.m.
  • You should also check your blood sugar before going to bed at night.

We use “ago” to discuss a time in the past when something started or happened.

  • Six months ago, I had a colonoscopy.

We use “during” to discuss a wider time span or event when something happened. Also used for seasons.

  • During flu season, you must be especially careful about hand washing.

We use “since” + present perfect to discuss when something started in the past. And the event or its effect continues still.

  • I have worked in this department since February.

We use “over” + present perfect to discuss how long something has been happening – and may or may not continue.

  • Over the last six months, I have tried 3 different treatments. Nothing has worked.

We use “by” and “until” to talk about when things were, will or should be done.

  • I won’t be home until 6:00 p.m. I am operating all day.
  • The blood drive will be done by 6:00 p.m. today.

OR

  • I didn’t get home until 6:00 p.m.

SPEAKING. EXERCISE I

Practice repeating ALOUD each example sentence in the lesson above. Focus on the common collocations, RUNNING THEM TOGETHER until they flow as ONE EXPRESSION.  The collocations are underlined.


GRAMMAR. EXERCISE I

The following exercise reviews some of the prepositions of time you will meet in the next text “The Importance of the Clinical Interview”.

Instructions: Complete the statements below with the correct preposition of time.  A preposition may be used more than once of not at all! 

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