A1 English GrammarTime Expressions
Tell time and use basic time words: today, tomorrow, yesterday, morning, evening, week, month. Learn prepositions of time (in, on, at).
1Telling Time
To tell time, use 'It's' + time. For exact hours, say 'o'clock'. For minutes, you can say the numbers directly or use 'past' and 'to'. Use 'a.m.' for morning and 'p.m.' for afternoon/evening.
Telling Time
| Time | How to Say It |
|---|---|
| 3:00 | three o'clock |
| 3:15 | three fifteen / quarter past three |
| 3:30 | three thirty / half past three |
| 3:45 | three forty-five / quarter to four |
| 3:05 | three oh five / five past three |
Examples
It's ten o'clock.
It's ten o'clock.
exact hour
The meeting is at half past two.
The meeting is at half past two.
2:30
I wake up at 7 a.m.
I wake up at 7 a.m.
morning time
It's quarter to six.
It's quarter to six.
5:45
2Days and Time Words
Learn common time words: today (this day), tomorrow (the next day), yesterday (the day before), this week/month/year, next week/month/year, last week/month/year.
Time Words
| Past | Present | Future |
|---|---|---|
| yesterday | today | tomorrow |
| last week | this week | next week |
| last month | this month | next month |
| last year | this year | next year |
Examples
I saw him yesterday.
I saw him yesterday.
the day before today
We're going on vacation next week.
We're going on vacation next week.
future
She started her job last month.
She started her job last month.
past
I have a meeting today.
I have a meeting today.
present day
3Prepositions of Time: At, On, In
Use 'at' for exact times and some expressions, 'on' for days and dates, 'in' for longer periods (months, years, seasons, parts of day). Remember: NO preposition with today, tomorrow, yesterday, this, next, last.
At, On, In for Time
| Preposition | Used With | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| at | exact time, night, weekend | at 5 o'clock, at night, at the weekend |
| on | days, dates | on Monday, on July 4th, on my birthday |
| in | months, years, seasons, morning/afternoon/evening | in July, in 2024, in summer, in the morning |
Examples
I work at 9 o'clock.
I work at 9 o'clock.
at + exact time
The party is on Saturday.
The party is on Saturday.
on + day
I was born in 1990.
I was born in 1990.
in + year
We go swimming in the summer.
We go swimming in the summer.
in + season
4Parts of the Day
Learn words for different parts of the day: morning, afternoon, evening, night. Use 'in the' for morning/afternoon/evening, but 'at' for night.
Examples
I drink coffee in the morning.
I drink coffee in the morning.
in the morning
She exercises in the afternoon.
She exercises in the afternoon.
in the afternoon
We watch TV in the evening.
We watch TV in the evening.
in the evening
I sleep at night.
I sleep at night.
at night (exception)