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In, on and at (time)

A Saying when

Look at these examples.

IN ON AT

We bought the flat in 1994. The race is on Saturday. The film starts at seven thirty.

In + year/month/season On + day/date At + clock time/meal time
in 1988 on Wednesday at three o'clock

in September on 15 April at lunch (-time)

in winter on that day at that time

in the 21st century at the moment

In + a week or more On + a single day At + two or three days
in the Easter holiday on Easter Monday at Easter/Christmas

in the summer term on Christmas Day at the weekend

(US: on the weekend)

In + part of day On + day + part of day
in the morning on Friday morning

in the evening on Tuesday evening

Look at these examples with night.

/ woke up in the night. I cant sleep at night.

(= in the middle of the night) It happened on Monday night. (= when it is night)

But we do not use in, on or at before every, last, next, this, tomorrow and yesterday. We go to Greece every summer. My brother came home last Christmas. I'll see you next Friday. I leave school this year. The party is tomorrow evening. The group set off yesterday morning.

B In time or on time?

IN TIME ON TIME

In time means 'early enough'. On time means 'at the right time', 'on schedule'.

We'll have to hurry if we want to be in time for The plane took off on time.

the show. I hope the meeting starts on time.

We got to the airport in time to have a coffee Rachel is never on time. She's always late.

before checking in. I was about to close the door when just in time I

remembered my key. (= at the last moment)

C Other uses of in

We can use in for the time it takes to complete something.

/ did the crossword in five minutes. Could you walk thirty miles in a day'?

We can also use in for a future time measured from the present. Your photos will be ready in an hour. (= an hour from now) The building will open in six weeks/in six weeks' time.

88 On Friday, etc without the


120 Exercises

1 Saying when (A)

Read the information about John F. Kennedy and then answer the questions. Begin each answer with in, on or at.

John F. Kennedy was born into a famous American family. His date of birth was 29 May 1917. The year 1961 saw him become the 35th President of the US. Kennedy was killed as he drove in an open car through the streets of Dallas, Texas. Friday, 22 November 1963 was a sad day for America. It was 12.30 when a gunman opened fire and shot the President dead.

► When was John F. Kennedy born? On 29 May 1917.

1 When did he become President? ....................

2 When was he killed? …………………….

3 What time was he shot? …………………..

2 Saying when (A)

Mark is arranging a business meeting. Decide if you need in, on or at.

If you do not need a preposition, put a cross (X).

Mark: I'm sorry I was out when you called (►)/ yesterday afternoon, Alice. Look, I'm free (►)o« the

fifteenth of March. Can we meet then?

Alice: I'm pretty busy (1)………………next week, I'm afraid. I can't see you (2)………… Friday.



Mark: I'd like to have a meeting (3)............. this month if possible.

I'll be very busy (4) …………..April.

Alice: I'm going away (5)............... Easter, so how about the week after?

Shall we meet (6)................ the twenty-seventh? That's a Wednesday.

Mark: I've got an appointment (7)…………. ... the morning but nothing (8)………….. the afternoon.

Let's meet (9)................... Wednesday afternoon (10).................. half past two.

3 In time or on time? (B)

Put in the right phrase: in time or on time.

► If the plane is late, we won't get to Paris in time for our connecting flight.

1 We were up very early,..................................... to see the sun rise.

2 How can the buses possibly run ................................. with all these traffic jams?

3 The post goes at five. I'm hoping to get this letter written.................

4 The coach will be here at 12.13 if it's ...................................

4 In, on or at? (A-C)

Complete the conversations using in, on or at.

► Andrew: You only bought that book on Saturday. Have you finished it already?
Jessica: I read it in about three hours yesterday evening.

1 Vicky: Will the bank be open.................... half past nine?

Daniel: Yes, it always opens absolutely .......... time.

2 Sarah: We're leaving……………. half past, and you haven't even changed.
Mark: It's OK. I can easily shower and change……………. ten minutes.

3 Laura: Your mother's birthday is ................... Monday, isn't it?

Trevor: Yes, I just hope this card gets there ................. time.

4 Harriet: If we ever go camping again, it's going to be ………….. summer, not autumn.
Mike: Never mind. We'll be home …………….two days, and then we'll be dry again.


121 For, since, ago and before

FOR SINCE AGO

Mark has spent three hours It was two o'clock when Mark Three hours have passed since

playing a computer game. started the game. He's been Mark and Sarah got up from

He's been sitting there for playing since two o'clock. the lunch table. They finished

three hours. their lunch three hours ago.

B For and since with the present perfect

We often use for and since with the present perfect to talk about something continuing up to the present.

FOR SINCE

We use for to say how long something has We use since to say when something began,
continued.

I've been waiting for forty minutes. I've been waiting since ten past six.

We've known about it for two days. We've known about it since Monday.

Melanie has been living here for a year now. Melanie has been living here since last year.

We can also use for with other tenses.

I'm staying in England for a year. We swam for quite a long time. We can often leave out for (but not from some negative sentences).

We've had this car (for) six months. I haven't seen Vicky for a day or two.

C Ago with the past

We can use the adverb ago to talk about a past time measured from the present.

Six months ago means six months before now.

I passed my driving test six months ago. NOT since six months

Vicky wrote to the company weeks ago. David first met Melanie a long time ago.

Have you seen Emma? ~ Yes, just a few minutes ago.

We put ago after the phrase of time, not ago-six months

D Before with the past perfect

We use before (not ago) with the past perfect, e.g. had done.

I bought a car in August. I'd passed my driving test three months before.

(= in May, three months before August)

Vicky finally received a reply to the letter she had written weeks before.


121 Exercises

1 For and since (A-B)

Put in for or since.

Daniel: How long have you been learning English?

Ilona: Well, I studied it ->for five years at school, and I've been having evening

classes (1) ………………last summer. That's when I left school.

Daniel: And you're staying here (2)................... three months?

Ilona: That's right. I've been here (3)…………… the end of April. I'm going to

London (4) ................ a week before I go home.

2 For and since (A-B)

Look at the pictures and say how long people have been there.

Use these phrases: at his desk, in bed, in the garden, in the shop, on the road

She's been in the shop for half an hour.

1 ....................................................................................................................................... …

2 …………………………………………………………………………………..

3 ..............................................................................................................................................

4 ............................................................................................................................................

3 For, since or ago? (A-C)

Put in a phrase with for, since or ago.

► I got here an hour ago. ~ What! You mean you've been waiting for an hour ?

1 The phone last rang at four o'clock. ~ So you've had no calls ………………... ..?

2 I haven't been to the dentist for ten years. ~ You last went to the dentist…………………......?

3 I last saw Rachel on Monday. ~ Haven't you seen her ................. ……………. ...?

4 We've had six weeks without rain. ~ Yes, it hasn't rained.................. ……………….

5 It's three years since Laura got married. ~ Really? Has she been married…………………………?

6 It's eight months since my brother had any work. ~ He lost his job....... …………………...?

7 Mrs Miles was taken ill three weeks ago. ~ You mean she's been ill……………………………, and
nobody's told me!

4 Ago or before? (C-D)

Put in ago or before.

► This film looks familiar. Didn't we see it at the cinema about two years ago ?

1 The road was wet when the accident happened. It had stopped raining only half an hour………….

2 My telephone is working now. They repaired it a week .…………………..

3 A young man threw himself off this bridge last year. His girlfriend had left him two days .………….



Date: 2014-12-22; view: 1355


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