1.at,on,in
a)at用来表示时间时,通常指时间的某一点。例如:atfiveo’clock,atnoon,atmidnight.
b)on用来表示某一段时间,特指某天或某天的上午、下午或晚上。例如:onSunday,onSaturdaymorning.
c)in也可用来表示一段时间,但多指长于一天或不到一天的时间段。例如:inJanuary,insummer,in1988,inthemorning,intheevening.
2.in与during
a)during用来表示一段时间,其意义大致相当于in的用法。一般来说,凡是能用in的地方,也可以用during.例如:Hecametoseemeduringmyabsence.
Don’tgotoseehiswifeinhisabsence.
b)during与in的区别在于during强调时间的延续性,而in则只是一般指某一时间。试比较:TheyvisitedmanycitiesduringtheirstayinChina.Hergrandpawaskilledinthewar.
3.in,for,during
a)“in+时间”与“for+时间”都可表示一段时间,但“for+时间”表示“有多久”,而“in+时间”则表示“在何时”。例如:Weworkedthereforthewinter.Theyworkedthereinwinter.
以上两例中,inwinter强调“在冬季”,不一定包括整个冬季时间,而forthewinter则强调“整个冬天”。
b)for用来表示一般时间,常跟具体的时间段。例如forafewdays,for3weeks,forfivemonths等
4.since与aftersince与after
都可以用来引导表示从过去某一点开始的时间段词组。它们的不同之处在于:
a)since引导的词组所表示的时间一直延续到说话时为止,因而要与现在完成时连用。例如:Hehasbeentheretwicesince1982.Ihavedonenothingsincesixo’clock.
b)after引导的词组所表示的时间是纯系过去,并不延续到说话时,因此要和一般过去时连用。例如:Hewenthomeafterschool.
5.till,until与to
a)介词till/until常用于“from.……till/until”结构中,表示“一个动作的终结”。介词to常用在“from.……to”的结构中,用来表示“一个阶段的终结”。两者在这种结构中意义十分接近。例如:TheAmericansstayedherefromJunetoSeptember.Hestudiesfrommorningtill/untilnighteveryday.
b)to可用在表示钟点的词前。我们说It’ssixtofive.但不能说It’ssixtill/untilfive.反之在某些能用till/until的场合,却不能用to.例如:在“not.……until”结构中,我们说Ididn’tgotobedtill/untilteno’clock.却不能说Ididn’tgotobedtoteno’clock.
c)till与until也有细微区别。till常用在非正式文体或口语中,而until则常用于正式文体及比较正式的场合。另外,在句首多用until.
6.by与before
a)by表示时间时,意思是“到……以前”、“不迟于”、“到……时(为止)”。例如:bysuppertime,bytheendoflastterm
b)before表示时间,意为“在……以前”。例如:beforeliberation,thedaybeforeyesterday
c)by与before的区别在于,by短语表示时间,强调“终止点”,而before短语表示时间,强调“起始点”。例如:Yoursonwillbeallrightbysuppertime.
句中的bysuppertime表示从说话时到晚饭前这段时间。而before构成短语则表示从某一时间或事件之前,例如:Thepoorchildrencouldn’tgotoschoolbeforeliberation.
强化练习:
()1.Childrengetgifts____Christmasand____theirbirthdays.
A.on;onB.at;onC.in;inD.in;on
()2.----Thereisnothing____tomorrowafternoon,isthere?
-----No.Wecanhaveagameoftabletennis.
A.onB.inC.outD.up
()3.Alotofstudentsinourschoolwereborn____March,1981.
A.inB.atC.onD.since
()4.Hesuddenlyreturned____arainynight.
A.onB.atC.inD.during
()5.Mygrandfatherwasborn____Oct.10,1935.
A.onB.inC.atD.of
()6.Thetrainisstarting___fiveminutes.
A.inB.atC.forD.still
()7.Mikedoeshisexercises____seven_____theevening.
A.on;toB.at;inC.by;ofD.at;on
()8.Childrenwakeupveryearly____themorningofChristmasDay.
A.inB.onC.forD.at
()9____acoldwintermorning,Imetherinthestfeet.
A.InB.OnC.AtD.For
()10Ithappenedtobeverycold____themorningofoursportsmeeting.
A.atB.onC.withD.of
()11.Whydidyougetupsoearly___thismorning.
A.onB./C.atD.in
()12.HewenttoShanghai___September3,1991andcameback___acoldmorninglastyear.
A.in;onB.on;inC.on;onD.in;ia
()13.Lucywasborn____thenightofMay12,1984.....
A.onB.inC.atD.to
()14.MrsBrowncametoChina____1996.

A.onB.ofC.to,D.in
()15___themorningofNovember20,1915,theworkerscametoChicagotoshowtheirmourningofJoeHill.
A.OnB.InC.OnD.At
()16.Annmoved___Hangzhou___September,1992.
A./;inB.to;inC.to;onD,in;in
()17.Theystartedoff___anautumnafternoon.
A.duringB.atC.inD.on
()18.Heoftengoes____school____sixthirty____themorning.
A.for;to;inB.to;at;inC.to;for;atD,for;at;to
()19.Hearrived___Shanghai___9:30___March5.
A.at;in;atB.to;on;atC.in;on;atD.in;at;on
()20.TheEnglishteachertoldmetogetthere____halfpastten.
A:inB.atC.onD.of
答案:BAAAAABBBBBCADBADBDB