PREPOSITIONS OF TIME EXERCISE 3 (ESL)
level: Beginner/Intermediate (A2/B1)
A third prepositions of time exercise focusing on four key time prepositions: before, after, during, and until.
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.”
Write the correct time preposition (before, after, during, until) to complete each sentence.
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PREPOSITION EXERCISES:
Prepositions: at, on, in 1 (B1/B2)
Prepositions: at, on, in 2 (B1/B2)
Prepositions of time 1 (A1/A2)
Prepositions of time 2 (A2/B1)
For or since? 1 (B1/B2)
Mixed prepositions 1 (B1/B2)
Mixed prepositions 2 (B1/B2)
Mixed prepositions 3 (A1/A2)
Prepositions after adjectives 1 (B1/B2)
Prepositions after adjectives 2 (B1/B2)
Prepositions: at, on, in 1 (B1/B2)
Prepositions: at, on, in 2 (B1/B2)
Prepositions of time 1 (A1/A2)
Prepositions of time 2 (A2/B1)
For or since? 1 (B1/B2)
Mixed prepositions 1 (B1/B2)
Mixed prepositions 2 (B1/B2)
Mixed prepositions 3 (A1/A2)
Prepositions after adjectives 1 (B1/B2)
Prepositions after adjectives 2 (B1/B2)
