WREN & MARTIN's English grammar-0 MCQs on the relations expressed by prepositions of time
10 MCQs on the relations expressed by prepositions of time
1. Which preposition correctly expresses the relation of time in the sentence: "She was born _______ the morning of the 15th of April." A) in B) at C) during D) on
✅ Answer: D) on "On" expresses the relation of time for specific days, dates, and named periods. "On the morning of the 15th of April" — a specific named morning on a specific date. "On" is used for days (on Monday), dates (on 5th May), and specific named occasions (on Christmas Day, on the morning of the exam, on my birthday). It is the most precise of the three primary time prepositions.
2. "The children have been playing in the garden _______ three hours." A) since B) at C) on D) for
✅ Answer: D) for "For" expresses the relation of duration — a period or length of time. "For three hours" tells us how long the children have been playing. "For" is always followed by a length of time (for two days, for a week, for several years). "Since" would require a specific starting point (since 3 o'clock), not a duration.
3. "She has been working at this company _______ she graduated from university." A) for B) during C) until D) since
✅ Answer: D) since "Since" expresses the relation of a specific point in time from which something began and continues to the present. Graduating from university is the specific starting point from which her employment began. "Since" is always used with the perfect tense and a specific point in time — never with a duration or period.
4. "The famous scientist made his greatest discovery _______ the nineteenth century." A) at B) on C) for D) in
✅ Answer: D) in "In" expresses the relation of time for longer periods — months, years, decades, centuries, and seasons. "In the nineteenth century" — a long period of time. "In" is used for months (in July), years (in 2020), seasons (in winter), decades (in the 1990s), and centuries (in the nineteenth century). It is used for the least precise time references.
5. "The train departs _______ exactly half past nine — do not be late." A) in B) on C) for D) at
✅ Answer: D) at "At" expresses the relation of time for precise clock times, fixed points, and specific moments. "At half past nine" is an exact clock time — a precise moment. "At" is used for clock times (at 9 a.m.), fixed points (at noon, at midnight, at dawn, at dusk), and specific moments (at the end, at the beginning, at the time). It expresses the most precise time reference.
6. "He fell asleep _______ the long and rather boring lecture on economics." A) for B) since C) at D) during
✅ Answer: D) during "During" expresses the relation of time meaning at some point within a period; throughout the course of an event or activity. He fell asleep at some point within the course of the lecture. "During" is always followed by a noun referring to a period or event — never by a gerund or clause. It answers the question "When did it happen?" by naming the event within which it occurred.
7. "You must submit your assignment _______ Friday — no extensions will be given." A) in B) on C) at D) by
✅ Answer: D) by "By" expresses the relation of time meaning not later than; at or before a specific deadline. "By Friday" means the assignment must be submitted on or before Friday — it sets a deadline. "By" is one of the most important time prepositions for expressing deadlines and limits. It must not be confused with "on Friday" (a specific day) or "until Friday" (continuously up to Friday).
8. "She practised the piano every single day _______ the annual concert." A) during B) for C) at D) until
✅ Answer: D) until "Until" (also written "till") expresses the relation of time meaning continuously up to a specific point; as far as a particular moment. She practised every day continuously right up to the moment of the concert. "Until" describes an action that continues without interruption up to a specific end point. It differs from "by" — "by" sets a deadline while "until" describes continuous action up to a point.
9. "The whole village celebrated _______ midnight when the new year finally arrived." A) by B) until C) during D) past
✅ Answer: D) past "Past" expresses the relation of time meaning beyond a specific time; after a particular point has been exceeded. "Past midnight" means beyond the hour of midnight — the celebration continued after that point had passed. "Past" is used to indicate that a time reference point has been exceeded or gone beyond: past noon, past bedtime, past the deadline.
10. "The harvest festival is celebrated every year _______ the autumn season." A) at B) on C) by D) in
✅ Answer: D) in "In" correctly expresses the time relation for seasons — in spring, in summer, in autumn, in winter. The harvest festival happens within the period of the autumn season. "In" is the only correct preposition for seasons in English. "At" and "on" do not apply to seasons, and "by" sets a deadline — none of which suit this context.
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