Page 90 - New Grammar with a Smile 8

3. Use of prepositions to express time

♦ at a time or an age

at 5 o’clock, at dawn, at night, at the age of five
• She started school at the age of six.

♦ on a day, date, occasion
on Sunday, on 5 October 2002, on Republic Day
• We are leaving for Delhi on the morning/evening/afternoon/night of the
tenth of July.

♦ on time = exactly at the time fixed for some activity, neither early nor late.

♦ in time = not late, may be slightly before

• We reached the station in time.

♦ by 6 o’clock = not later than 6 o’clock.

• I’ll complete the work by 2 p.m.
• They’ll have built the road by the end of December.

♦ from... to/till, since, for, during

• I was busy from five to/till seven.
• He has been repairing the machine since morning/8 a.m. etc.
(point in time)
• They have served here for ten years. (period of time)

• We stay in our village during the summer holidays.
• The rain stopped during the night.
• They kept discussing the issue till/until midnight.
• He was not seen anywhere till 7 p.m.

♦ before, after
• You must rest after work.

• I don’t want to hold any meeting before lunch.

4. Use of prepositions to express movement

• She flew from Lucknow to Mumbai.
• The train is arriving at platform no. 6.
• Lord Ullin’s daughter and her husband wanted to go across the lake.

• The boatman rowed the couple through the blinding rain.

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