Page 223 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

t i m e
o f
A t , i n a n d o n : p r e p o s i t i o n sof time
and
At,
in
on:
prepositions
of time that we think
of as points.
We
use
use
at:
at with points
or periods
of time
We
We use at with points of time or periods of time that we think of as points. We use at:
of time:
exact points
with
• * with exact points of time:
at midday
• * at midday at midnight at o'clock at 8.15
at 8.15
at 3 3 o'clock
at midnight
with short holiday periods, such as Christmas, Easter, the weekend, etc.:
• ¢ with short holiday periods, such as Christmas, Easter, the weekend, etc.:
at Easter.
We
often go walking at
the weekend.
I'll
see you
• ¢ I'll see you at Easter. • ¢ We often go walking at the weekend.
is used, and this is now heard in informal
(In US and Australian English, 'on the weekend'
(In US and Australian English, 'on the weekend' is used, and this is now heard in informal
British English, too.)
British English, too.)
such as the
end of January, the beginning of
with other short periods that we think of as points,
• ¢ with other short periods that we think of as points, such as the end of January, the beginning of
the year, etc.:
the year, etc.:
end
I
month.
get
the
of the
paid
at
• * I get paid at the end of the month.
with mealtimes, such as breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc.:
• * with mealtimes, such as breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc.:
us he was getting married.
That morning at breakfast, my brother told
• ¢ That morning at breakfast, my brother told us he was getting married.
with night when we mean 'when it is night' or 'each night':
• ¢ with night when we mean 'when it is night' or ‘each night':
People can't go out on the streets at night any more, it's so dangerous.
• ¢ People can't go out on the streets at night any more, it's so dangerous.
and that when we talk about a particular night
But notice that we use in with the middle of..., and that when we talk about a particular night
But notice that we use in with the middle of...,
we use in the night:
we use in the night:
birthday some time in the middle of May, I think.
• « It's Ann's
It's Ann's birthday some time in the middle of May, I think.
I felt very restless in the night and had to take a sleeping tablet.
• ¢ I felt very restless in the night and had to take a sleeping tablet.
in the phrase at the moment (= now); but notice that we say in a moment (= in a short period of
• ¢ in the phrase at the moment (= now); but notice that we say in a moment (= in a short period of
time):
time):
John's in Korea at the moment. I'll be with you in a moment.
• ¢ John's in Korea at the moment. • ¢ I'll be with you in a moment.
B We use in:
We use in:
when we talk about longer periods of time such as seasons
the spring), months, years,
(e.g.
• ¢ when we talk about longer periods of time such as seasons (e.g. the spring), months, years,
(e.g. the 1990's
(or the 1990s)), centuries (e.g. the 16th century), and other periods
decades
decades (e.g. the 1990’s (or the 1990s)), centuries (e.g. the 16th century), and other periods
such as the week before Easter, the hours before the exam, etc.:
such as the week before Easter, the hours before the exam, etc.:
) • ¢ In the winter you can only use the road with a four-wheel drive vehicle.
In the winter you can only use the road with a
four-wheel drive vehicle.
In the days that followed her operation, she spent a lot of time in bed.
• @ • + In the days that followed her operation, she spent a lot of time in bed.
when we talk about how long it will be before something happens:
• ¢ when we talk about how long it will be before something happens:
(or,
will
be arriving at Delhi Airport,
more formally,
In a few minutes we
'Within...')
• * In a few minutes we will be arriving at Delhi Airport. (or, more formally, 'Within...')
when we
say how long something takes:
• ¢ when we say how long something takes:
He learnt how to program the computer in just a
matter of weeks.
few weeks)
(=
a
• ¢ He learnt how to program the computer in just a matter of weeks. (= a few weeks)
(see A for 'night'):
with parts of the day, such as the morning, the evening, etc.
• * with parts of the day, such as the morning, the evening, etc. (see A for 'night’):
today should
the afternoon.
in
reach 25°C
Temperatures
• ¢ Temperatures today should reach 25°C in the afternoon.
(We can often use during instead of in when we talk about periods of time. See Unit 108.)
(We can often use during instead of in when we talk about periods of time. See Unit 108.)
a
on when we talk about
use
particular
We • * We’re meeting again on Friday. day, date, or part of a particular day:
We use on when we talk about a particular day, date, or part of a particular day:
g At, in, on: pace PTET’ on rather than and • « He hasn't been here all morning. (not ...in all morning.)
It's her birthday on the 21st.
We're meeting again on Friday.
• ¢ It’s her birthday on the 21st.
on Easter Sunday.
a party
on
the last day
of the month.
We went to
I get paid on the last day of the month.
I get paid
• ¢ We went to a party on Easter Sunday.
• ¢
I've got a meeting on Monday morning.
• ¢ I've got a meeting on Monday morning.
any,
last, next, one,
some,
or
this,
each, every,
before the words all,
at, in or on
use
We rarely use at, in or on before the words all, any, each, every, last, next, one, some, this, or
We rarely
a time expression.
by
followed
Compare:
that when these are followed by a time expression. Compare:
that when these are
He hasn't been here all morning,
(not ...in all morning.)
I'll do it in the morning,
and
and
• ¢ I'll do itin the morning.
(not ...on next Friday.)
I'll
see you again on Friday,
I'm going to Oslo next Friday,
• » I'm going to Oslo next Friday. (not ...on next Friday.)
• * I'll see you again on Friday.
and
use
day before)
(the
before
or
day
tomorrow and
(the
in
at,
yesterday:
after)
We don't use at, in or on before (the day after) tomorrow and (the day before) yesterday:
We don't
(not ...on yesterday.)
beautiful yesterday,
The weather was
• * The weather was beautiful yesterday. (not ...on yesterday.)
English.
time...?
in
At what time...?
except
prefer What
very
formal
We prefer What time...? rather than At what time...? except in very formal English.
We
At, in, on: place => IH'llII'Ll
=>