PREPOSITIONS OF TIME EXERCISE 3 (ESL)
A2–B1 · IntermediateThis prepositions of time exercise practices before, after, during, and until in 15 sentences. Choose the word that best fits each sentence. It offers more practice with the same four prepositions covered in exercise 2.
Need a refresher? Review the grammar ↓
Write the correct time preposition (before, after, during, until) to complete each sentence.
Finished this series? Try For or Since? – Exercise 1 →
Grammar review
Prepositions of time — trickier cases and fixed expressions
Once you know the basic at/on/in rules, the harder cases involve fixed expressions and prepositions used with specific time concepts.
FOR vs SINCE vs AGO:
for = duration: “I’ve lived here for three years.”
since = starting point: “I’ve lived here since 2021.”
ago = time before now (no preposition before it): “She called two hours ago.”
BY vs UNTIL:
by = no later than a deadline: “Finish it by Friday.”
until/till = continuing up to a point: “I worked until midnight.”
DURING vs WHILE:
during = preposition (followed by a noun): “During the film, she fell asleep.”
while = conjunction (followed by a clause): “While I was watching, she fell asleep.”
FROM…TO / FROM…UNTIL:
“The shop is open from 9 to 5.”
Once you know the basic at/on/in rules, the harder cases involve fixed expressions and prepositions used with specific time concepts.
FOR vs SINCE vs AGO:
for = duration: “I’ve lived here for three years.”
since = starting point: “I’ve lived here since 2021.”
ago = time before now (no preposition before it): “She called two hours ago.”
BY vs UNTIL:
by = no later than a deadline: “Finish it by Friday.”
until/till = continuing up to a point: “I worked until midnight.”
DURING vs WHILE:
during = preposition (followed by a noun): “During the film, she fell asleep.”
while = conjunction (followed by a clause): “While I was watching, she fell asleep.”
FROM…TO / FROM…UNTIL:
“The shop is open from 9 to 5.”
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