Unit 9 - Prepositions & Conjunctions of Time

1. The phone rang several times _____ dinner.
a) during
b) when

2. It began to snow _____ I was walking home
a) for
b) while

3. We visited many relatives _____ our vacation.
a) during
b) when

4. Susan has been studying English _____ five years.
a) for
b) when

5. The children have been playing video games _____ hours.
a) for
b) during

6. _____ the hike up the mountain, we saw a lot of deer.
a) During
b) While

7. I was shocked _____ I saw my picture in the newspaper.
a) during
b) when

8. _____ I got to work, I noticed my computer was unplugged.
a) For
b) When

9. A car pulled out in front of me _____ I was riding my bicycle.
a) during
b) while

10. _____ the last guests finally left the party, it was early morning.
a) For
b) When
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Answers

"a", "b", "a", "a", "a", "a", "b", "b", "b", "b"

by / from / until

Husband: When will you be coming home from shopping?
Wife: I will be home by 5 o’clock.

Joe: What are your goals in going to law school?
Sylvia: I hope to be a partner of a law firm by the time I am 35 years-old.
Joe: That’s ambitious! What will you be doing to get there?
Sylvia: Until then, I will continue to work hard and do my best.

Eric: Do you plan on studying abroad next year?
Sally: Yes, I plan on studying in Japan from late January until the beginning of May.
Eric: So are you fluent in Japanese?
Sally: Not yet, but by March I should probably be close enough to get by very well.

By

By shows a time limit for something to happen - an event must occur before a certain time is reached. For example:
- You need to finish this report by Monday.
- I'll be back by six o'clock.
- Our business will be making a profit by next March.

There are three common phrases used with by:

By the time
I want to be a successful businessman by the time I'm 30.
By the time we arrive at the station, the train will be gone.

By then
They have four months to prepare for the soccer game, so by then they should be a strong team.
The deadline for giving your essay is next Monday at 4.00. If I don't receive your essay by then, it won't be marked.

By that time
We finished work at 9.00, but by that time it was too late to go out.
I hope to go abroad next year, and by that time I'll have enough money.

Until

Until means an action or situation continues up to a certain time. For example:
- We were working last night until 2.30.
- You can stay at home until you feel better.
- Can you wait until I'm ready?

Compare until and by:
- "I'll work here until September." This means I keep working here to September, then I stop.
- "I'll work here by September." This means that I'm not working here now, but sometime between now and September I will start.

Till

Till is another form of until, the meaning is generally the same although until is usually used at the beginning of a sentence. Please note that 'til is not considered formal English and should only be used in informal writing.

From ... to/until

From ... to/until is used to mark the beginning and end of a period of time. For example:
- Western people often work from Monday to Friday, but Oriental people often work from Monday to Saturday.
- I'm staying in Saudi Arabia from the beginning of March until the end of August.
From ... to is slightly more informal than from ... until.

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Grammar Exercise

Complete the sentences using by, from, and till/until.

Example: I'll stay _____ I feel it's time to go.

a) after
b) until

The answer is: b) - until
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1. The restaurant will stay open _____ 2:00 am.
a) by
b) until

2. _____ 2:05 am, everyone will have left and the place will be empty.
a) By
b) Until

3. My wife and I hope we will have found a house _____ the end of July.
a) by
b) from

4. In the three-month period _____ May to July, house prices rose by 11%.
a) from
b) until

5. I told Mary I'd meet her at 6:15, so I’ll study in the library _____ 6:00 pm.
a) by
b) till

6. _____ Christmas time, Mary and I will have been together for seven months.
a) By
b) From

7. The Cold War lasted _____ the end of World War II until the fall of Soviet Union.
a) from
b) till

8. _____ the time the U.S.S.R. broke up, its economy was in a severe state of collapse.
a) By
b) Until

9. It wasn't _____ Thomas Malthus that anybody thought to worry about overpopulation.
a) from
b) till

10. _____ the dawn of time until the 1800s, the world's population totaled less than 1 billion.
a) By
b) From
----------

Answers

"b", "a", "a", "a", "b", "a", "a", "a", "b", "b"

before/after/as/as soon as

Husband: When is Melissa coming home?
Wife: She won’t be home until after 5 o’clock.
Husband: Ok, will she be home before dinner is ready?
Wife: She better be!

Tyler: Oh no!
Sylvia: What happened?
Tyler: As I was crossing the street, I managed to step in some dog poo.
Sylvia: Is it stuck to your shoe?
Tyler: Unfortunately,  yes. I will get rid of it as soon as I get home.

Henry: Do you want to go to get some coffee after class?
Sally: I can’t as I have to go straight to a study group after class is over.

Before

Before is used for something that occurs before a certain time. For example:
- We should finish this exercise before 4.00.
- I need to buy a present before James comes.
- Before starting any business, it's a good idea to write a business plan.

Note that when a preposition is followed by a verb, the verb ends in ing. So for example:
- Where did you live before coming to America? Correct
- Where did you live before to come to America? Incorrect

After

After is used for something that occurs after a certain time. For example:
- I'll see you after work.
- Camilla won't be home until after midnight.
- David got promoted after just two years with the company.

As - Time

As is used when two shorter actions happen together. For example:
- I dropped my keys as I left my apartment.

As is also used when two longer actions happen together. For example:
- His health improved as he exercised more.
- As time went by his English got better.

As is also used when an action happens during a background situation.
- I woke up as the sun was rising.
- She arrived as you were leaving.

As - Reason

As is often used to show one thing is the cause of another, like the word "because". For example:
- I'm going to bed early as I have to get up early tomorrow.
- As we're not busy, let's meet this afternoon for lunch.

As soon as

As soon as is used when something happens immediately after something else. For example:
- I'll give you a call as soon as I'm finished.
- As soon as they go out let's eat lunch.
- We'll send payment as soon as you fax the signed contract.

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Grammar Exercises

Complete the sentences using before, after, as, and as soon as.

Example: The eastern sky grew brighter _____ the stars started to disappear.

a) as soon as
b) as

The answer is: b) - as
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1. You will not be hungry _____ you eat.
a) after
b) before

2. _____ the sun set, the shadows lengthened.
a) After
b) As

3. Every night _____ I go to bed, I brush my teeth.
a) after
b) before

4. _____ the girl fell asleep, she had a strange dream.
a) After
b) Before

5. _____ I was building a fire, smoke kept getting in my eyes.
a) As
b) Before

6. I want to graduate from high school _____ possible.
a) after
b) as soon as

7. _____ he started the car, the engine made a strange sound.
a) As
b) Before

8. You have to pack your suitcase _____ you go to the airport.
a) after
b) before

9. Just _____ I was picking up my glasses, they fell out of my hand.
a) as
b) before

10. _____ I get my driver's license, I'm going to drive to your house.
a) as soon as
b) before
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Answers

"a", "b", "a", "a", "a", "b", "b", "b", "a", "a"