Prepositions and Time Conjunctions: Complete Guide with Practice Tests

Prepositions and time markers: before, after, until, when, as soon as – A practical guide for English learners

Prepositions in English are essential for expressing ideas correctly. Additionally, time markers (or conjunctions) like before, after, until, when, as soon as help clarify when actions occur, which is vital for language coherence. If you want to improve your English skills and understand how these constructions are used, this article will help you navigate the rules and nuances.

What are prepositions?

Prepositions are words that show the relationship between other words in a sentence, usually used to indicate place, time, or direction. For example:

• at the station
• on the phone
• in the morning

Prepositions in English: Key rules

• Prepositions of place: in, on, at — each used differently depending on the context.
  • I live on the third floor.
  • I met her at the party.
• Prepositions of time: in, on, at are also crucial for expressing time.
  • We arrived at the station five minutes late.

More examples for better understanding

Prepositions of place (in, at, on)

• Use in for:
  • Countries and cities (in England, in London)
  • Enclosed spaces (in the room)
  • General locations (in the street)
• Use at for:
  • Specific addresses (at 123 Main Street)
  • Points of arrival (at the station)
  • Events (at a party)
• Use on for:
  • Surfaces (on the table)
  • Floors (on the third floor)
  • Transportation (on the bus)

Prepositions of time (in, at, on)

• Use in for:
  • Months (in January)
  • Seasons (in summer)
  • Years (in 2024)
• Use at for:
  • Specific times (at 5 o’clock)
  • Parts of the day (at night)
• Use on for:
  • Days of the week (on Monday)
  • Dates (on June 1st)

Time markers (conjunctions): before, after, until, when, as soon as

• Before is used to indicate that an action happens before a specific event. It suggests that one action precedes another.
  • I’ll have a bath before I go to work.
  • Clean your room before you go out.
• After means that an action occurs following another. It indicates the sequence of events.
  • I’ll go home after the lesson ends.
  • After you finish work, we can meet.
• Until refers to the end of an action that continues up to a certain point or the duration of an action until a specific moment.
  • I’ll study English until I speak it perfectly.
  • I’ll wait until you come back.
• When is used to indicate the time something happens.
  • When I win a lot of money, I’ll buy you a Ferrari.
• As soon as suggests the immediacy of one action following another.
  • Call me as soon as you hear any news.
  • Call me as soon as you arrive.

Tips for English learners

1. Memorize prepositions and time markers along with examples. This will help you better understand when to use them.
2. Practice using these constructions in sentences daily.
3. Use exercises to reinforce your understanding of these crucial topics.

Test your understanding with 30 questions on prepositions and time markers

Take our interactive quiz to test your knowledge of prepositions and conjunctions.

More practice in the article: Practice. Before, after, until, when, as soon as. Prepositions