Prepositions of Time- Pairwork Guessing Game

By: Alex Case

Level: All Levels

Theme: Time

Study Area: Prepositions

Download Lesson Plan (PDF) 447 KB

Page: /

Lesson Plan Content:

Prepositions of time pairwork guessing game

with useful phrases for telephoning, meetings and emails

Choose one of the sections below and read out one example sentence with the word in bold missing. Your partner can guess just once what the missing word is. If they are wrong, read out another example from the same section with the same missing word. Continue until they guess the right word, with only one guess per hint. Your partner must guess exactly the word there, even if other words are correct in the gap(s). If you run out of sentences before your partner guesses the answer, please make up your own example sentences with the same missing word until your partner is correct.

When your partner guesses correctly, read out the ones that they got wrong with the missing word in (to help them remember those phrases and the missing words), then switch roles and guess the missing word from your partner’s sentences. Continue taking turns guessing and giving hints until your teacher stops the game, going back to the same section again later if you like.

When your teacher stops you, ask about any sentences that you don’t understand, other words which you think could also go in the gaps, meanings of and differences between the prepositions, etc.

Swap worksheets with your partner and play the same game, making sure you start with the most difficult sections and most difficult examples (as they have seen those sentences before).

Student A

Useful phrases for doing the activity

Ø “I’m sorry, can you say that again (a little more slowly)?”

Ø “Sorry, did you say…. or…?”

Ø “Can you repeat the first part/ middle part/ last part?”

Ø “I guess the missing word is…”

Ø “I’m not sure. Can you give me another hint/ another example?”

Ø “That’s right. Well done. It’s your turn to read one out”

Ø “I think that is also correct, but that’s not the word I’ve got here. Another one from the same section is…”

Ø “That’s close, but not quite what I’ve got here. Here’s one more with the same missing word…”

Ø “No, that’s not possible because… I’ll give you another example…”

Ø “Sorry, you’re only allowed to guess once per hint. I’ll read out another one”

after

Are you available the day after tomorrow?
My meeting finishes at five p.m, so we can go out for a drink after that, if you like.
Do you have to go straight back to your office after this (meeting)?
We forecast that income will creep up next year and accelerate the year after
If you can’t make it next week, how about the week after next?
Can you give me a hand with the presentation the day after tomorrow?

at

If you have any further questions, please feel free to phone again at any time.
What are you working on at the moment?
So, you must tell me more about that later, but I have another meeting at midday, so we should probably get started, if that is okay.
Unfortunately I will be travelling to Libya at just that time. How about later in the week?
I really like your office. It looks lively around here. Is there much to do at night?

by

Could you let me know by close of business on Friday?
I’ll make sure I’m at the airport by the time you arrive, so I’ll meet you in arrivals.
Well, I’d love to chat more, but we have to leave this room by eleven thirty (at the latest), so let’s get down to business, shall we?
I’m afraid I haven’t made much progress, but I should finish by the end of next week.
As you can see from this line graph, we expect to double our market share by (the end of) 2025.

in

I’m sorry but I’m busy all morning. Do you have any time in the afternoon?
We’re considering having a press conference in three days’ time. Can you come?
I hope we have the chance to do business again in the near future.
We had a few blips in the recent past, but demand has stabilised recently.
Anyway, I have another meeting in 10 minutes, so we’ll have to stop there, if that’s okay.
Anyway, I’m phoning about the meeting in

on

See you on
I’m afraid the office is closed on Independence Day. How about the day after that?
Are you free to meet on Friday afternoon?
Everything will be closed on Christmas Day, so make sure you buy food by Xmas Eve.
The AGM will be on the thirteenth of January, so can you get the PowerPoint ready before that?
Thanks for coming all this way on such a cold day.
I’d like to meet on Monday the nineteenth of April, if that is convenient with you.
I’m writing about our meeting on

until

I recommend the restaurant on the second floor of your hotel. It’s very reasonable and it’s open until eleven p.m. every day.
Anyway, we only have this room until two, so shall we make a start, if you don’t mind?
I don’t think we can finish it but I’ll continue working on it until the thirty first.

within

We expect sales to fully bounce back within the next quarter.
Sorry for the delay. I’ll do it as soon as I can, and definitely within two days.

(nothing)

I’m sorry, I’m busy – tomorrow. How about the day after tomorrow?
I finished it – this morning. Do you have another project for me?
That’s fine. Speak to you – later, then.
Do you fancy coming to our Xmas party – tonight?
Are you doing anything – tonight?
That a pity. We’ll definitely let you know sooner – next time.
Thank you for your email – yesterday.
We don’t seem to be getting anywhere. Let’s sleep on this and try again – next Monday.
Okay, I’ll pass your message onto him. I’m sure he will get back to you – soon.
No, that’s okay, thanks. I’ll just call again – later. Thanks for your help.

Student B

Useful phrases for doing the activity

Ø “I’m sorry, can you say that again (a little more slowly)?”

Ø “Sorry, did you say…. or…?”

Ø “Can you repeat the first part/ middle part/ last part?”

Ø “I guess the missing word is…”

Ø “I’m not sure. Can you give me another hint/ another example?”

Ø “That’s right. Well done. It’s your turn to read one out”

Ø “I think that is also correct, but that’s not the word I’ve got here. Another one from the same section is…”

Ø “That’s close, but not quite what I’ve got here. Here’s one more with the same missing word…”

Ø “No, that’s not possible because… I’ll give you another example…”

Ø “Sorry, you’re only allowed to guess once per hint. I’ll read out another one”

ago

It’s a lovely area. I was last here ten years ago, but it hasn’t really changed.
I’m sorry, he left the office just a few minutes ago. Do you have his mobile number?
Sales plateaued a few years ago, but have stayed quite stable since then, with no big dips.
Thank you very much for your email two days ago.
Harry? It’s Alex. Graham introduced us two weeks ago.

at

I’m afraid she’s in a meeting at the moment. Would you like to leave a message?
My plane lands at a quarter to six in the morning, so can we meet an hour after that?
That’s fine, but my next meeting starts at a quarter past three, so I’ll need to finish before then.
We’ll discuss that at the end of the quarter, then I’ll let you know what we decide.
I’ll be happy to answer any questions at the end of the presentation.

before

Did you see the (big/ Man U and Man City) match the day before yesterday?
I don’t know if you remember me, but we met here the year before
How are you getting on with the project you were given the month before last?
We still have five minutes left, so is there any other business before we bring the meeting to a close?
That sounds perfect, but I just need to check with my boss before I can sign.

for

Can I borrow your dictionary for a few minutes?
I’m going to York for a few days, so can we meet at the end of next week?
Actually, we’ve known each other for It’s great to see you again, Jules.
I’m here in Osaka for the next four days. Is there anything I should do while I’m here?
I’m only here for three days. What sightseeing spots do you most recommend?

in

I’ll check with my boss and get back to you in the next two days.
Okay, see you in a few minutes, then.
I’m just about to get on the train, so can you call again in about an hour when I get off?
I’ll send you an update in April, probably on the 15^th.
We’re planning to launch the new product in winter 2021, and we predict that income will rocket straightaway.
My firm was founded in Birmingham in 1789 but it only grew slowly for the first century.

since

There was a little dip in profits two years ago, but profits have recovered since
Long time no see! I’ve haven’t seen you since the last trade fair. How have you been?
Long time no see. How have you been since we last met?
I am sorry it has been so long since my last email.

yet

I’m afraid I haven’t finished the report yet. Can we extend the time limit by two days?
Have they delivered the raw materials yet?

(nothing)

Would you like to join us for dinner – this evening?
Do you have many more meetings – today?
I look forward to meeting you – next week.
I met your colleague Joao Fern – last year. Does he still work in your department?
Are you doing anything special – this weekend?
Have you been busy – this week?
You won’t regret it. I’ll email you a map – later (today).
Thanks for your email – this morning.
I’m sorry but she’s out of the office. She should be back – this afternoon.
Speak to you – this evening, then.

Definitions of prepositions of time grammar presentation

Match the prepositions of time (and no preposition) above to these meanings. Some prepositions above have more than one meaning so can go in more than one place below, and not all the prepositions above are used. Ones divided by a dash (–) have opposite meanings.

a point in time, e.g. “_______ half past two in the afternoon”, “_______ the moment” or “__________ the end”

at some time within a longer period of time, e.g. “_____________ the 20^th century”, “___________ 1997”, “__________ spring” or “___________ March”

a day and/ or date, e.g. “________ Christmas Day”, “__________ Monday the seventeenth of July”, “______________ July fourth” or “__________ Tuesday”

with “this”, “last” and “next” and similar expressions, e.g. “________ this week”, “__________ last month”, “_________ tonight”, “___________ the day before yesterday” or “__________ tomorrow”

before now, so always past, e.g. “two days ______” meaning “the day before yesterday” – after now, so always future, e.g. “_________ two days” meaning “the day after tomorrow”

before another time (not now), so past or future both possible, e.g. “two days _________ (that)” – after another time (not now), so past or future both possible, e.g. “two days ________” or “two days ________ (that)”

a deadline, with the point in time which you should finish before, e.g. “Can you find out and let me know __________________ five p.m. on Friday (at the latest), because….?”

a deadline, with the length of time that you should finish before, e.g. “I’m sorry, I haven’t finished yet, but I should be able to finish __________________ two weeks (maximum)”

from a point in time until now, e.g. “I’ve been working here __________ 2007”

a length of time, e.g. “I’ve been working here ______________ twelve years”, “I’ll be staying in New York ____________ two days”.

Test each other on the prepositions of time above:

Read out the definition and a blanked example for your partner to complete
Read out just a blanked example for your partner to complete
Read out completed blanked examples and see if your partner can make a suitable explanation of the meaning and/ or use of that preposition of time
Read out the explanation and help your partner make at least two suitable examples

Brainstorming stage

First of all without looking above, write as many suitable phrases as you can in each gap below. Many phrases not above as also possible.

Starting emails

Starting conversations/ Meeting people (again)

Small talk

Ending the small talk and getting down to business (looking at the meeting agenda, giving the reason for the call, etc)

Dealing with phone calls for other people

Talking about trends/ changes (forecasts, etc)

Giving advice/ Recommendations

Requests/ Asking for help

Offers/ Giving help

Talking about progress (checking progress, promising future progress, etc)

Making arrangements (fixing meetings, making and replying to invitations, etc)

Ending phone calls

Ending meetings

Mentioning future contact

Use the key words below to help, look at the phrases above, then check with the answers.

Starting emails

ago on since –

Starting conversations/ Meeting people (again)

ago before for

Small talk

after ago at since –

Ending the small talk and getting down to business

at by in until

Dealing with phone calls for other people

ago at –

Talking about trends/ changes (forecasts, etc)

after ago in since within

Giving advice/ Recommendations

for on until

Requests/ Asking for help

after by for on

Offers/ Giving help

at

Talking about progress (checking progress, promising future progress, etc)

before by until within yet –

Making arrangements (fixing meetings, making and replying to invitations, etc)

after at by for in on –

Ending phone calls

at in – .

Ending meetings

before in –

Mentioning future contact

in on –

Prepositions of time roleplays

Choose one example sentence from above, think of and explain a suitable situation to use that sentence, then roleplay that situation with your partner (just saying what you would write if it’s an emailing situation).

Roleplay the situations, using the list of phrases above to help. For emailing ones, just say what you would write.

Meet someone who you’ve met before and just chat
Meet someone who you haven’t met for a long time and catch up with their news
Meet someone who you’ve met before, chat, and then start a business meeting with them
Meet someone who you’ve met before and chat, including recommending places to go
Meet someone who you’ve met before, chat, and end with an invitation
Have a business meeting including a PowerPoint presentation with line graphs
Make arrangements (e.g. fix a meeting) by phone
Make arrangements (e.g. fix a meeting) by email
Ask for advice by phone
Ask for advice by email
Make a request by email
Make a request by phone
Hold a progress check meeting
Phone someone and ask to speak to someone else (who is not there)
Take part in a job interview, including discussion of your past, present and future
Take part in a performance review with your boss, including setting goals

Do the same with just the lists of prepositions to help, then with no help.

Different ways of saying times presentation

Write at least one other way of saying each time below. Some can take the same preposition of time, but some need different prepositions.

in two days
in two years
in two weeks
in three days
now/ presently/ currently
at noon
at eight o’clock in the evening
before Saturday
soon
recently
see you Monday
on July 4^th
in the afternoon on Friday
on the twenty fifth of December
on January 13^th
eleven o’clock in the evening
within the next three months
later today
at five forty five a.m.
at three fifteen
the day before yesterday
two years ago
two months ago
for three or four minutes

Look above for ideas, then compare your answers below. Sometimes two or more answers are possible, so please check if you wrote something different.

Test each other on the expressions below:

Read out one of the paired phrases and the NOT… X phrase and see if your partner can repeat back the correct version
Read out one expression and see if your partner can say something with same meaning
Choose one of the lines with more than two expressions with the same meanings, read out two, and see if your partner can say something else with the same meaning

Differences between prepositions of time

Explain the different meanings of these pairs of prepositions of time expressions:

in two days/ two days after (that)
in two days/ two days later
by Saturday/ before Saturday
on Christmas Day/ at Christmas
in three months/ within three months
two years ago/ two years earlier
two years ago/ two years before (that)
I need it until Friday/ I need it by Friday

Choose one of the pairings below and tell your partner what both words are. Then choose a sentence with one of those two words from above for your partner to guess the missing word from. If they are wrong, explain why it’s a mistake.

at/ on
on/ in
on/ - (= nothing)
in/ -
ago/ before
in/ after
in/ within
by/ within
for/ since

Try to do the same with these pairings, making up your own example sentences:

yet/ already

Prepositions of time opposites

Write opposites of the expressions below:

tomorrow
last week
the day before yesterday
two days ago
two day earlier/ two days before (that)
in a week
in the distant past
in the near future/ soon
I have already done it

--------------------------------fold, cover or cut------------------------------