1. One point in time - on (with: days - may be omitted informally); at (with noon, night, midnight; with the time of day); in (with other parts of the day, with months, with years, with seasons).
2. Extended time - since, for (sometimes omitted informally), by, from-to (or from-until), during, (with) in.
1. They are getting married __________ Friday __________ 6 o'clock.
2. Exactly __________ midnight we were awakened by the sound of sirens.
3. The reception will be __________ Sunday __________ four __________ the afternoon.
4. Spring begins __________ March 21, and summer __________ June 21.
5. The last time I saw him was __________ the spring of 1966.
6. The event took place __________ August.
7. He came to this country __________ August 5, 1968.
8. He came to this country __________ 1968.
9. World War Two lasted __________ 1939 __________ 1945.
10. He has not felt well __________ a long time, ever __________ has crash.
11. They never go out __________ night __________ the week.
12. We'll be ready to leave __________ an hour from now.
13. We'll have finished all the work __________ the time you get her.
14. __________ tomorrow, the worst of the storm should be over.
15. __________ the storm, all the lights were out __________ several hours.
16. He has been away from home __________ January 12.
17. The temperature is below zero. __________ a few hours the pond should be frozen over.
18. He had been away form home __________ two weeks.
x--I knew I was going to rest, but I didn't want to rest--not now!
x--The date was set for May 5, and now that it was March . . . .
--Now fourteen and a freshman in high school [October, 1967], Jeff learned his lesson well from this experience. [written October, 1967]
x--Now fourteen and a freshman in high school [October, 1967], Jeff learned his lesson well from this experience. [written April, 1973]
x--Then fourteen and a freshman in high school, Jeff learned his lesson well from this experience [November, 1967]. [written April, 1973]
--This morning was quieter memorable. [written on the same day]
x--This was in the past, and tomorrow was the first day of school.
x--That was in the past, and tomorrow was the first day of school.
x--It was May 10, 1942. They were to sail tomorrow.
--The sun broke through the clouds [this morning]. We knew that today [May 10, 1942] the rain would cease. [written May 10, 1942]
x--The sun broke through the clouds [this morning]. We knew that today [May 10, 1942] the rain would cease. [written October, 1964]
--Here we were, ready to sail within an hour [May 10, 1942] {yesterday we hadn't even thought about sailing to England}, and they suddenly cancelled our orders. [written May 10, 1942]
x--Here we were, ready to sail within in an hour [May 10, 1942] {yesterday we hadn't even thought about sailing to England}, and they suddenly cancelled our orders. [written October, 1964]
x--Here we were, ready to sail within an hour [May 10, 1942] {the day before we hadn't even thought about sailing to England, and they suddenly cancelled our orders. [written October, 1964]
--The girls are excited. Recently they received that special invitation they had wished for.
x--The girls were excited. Recently they had received that special invitation they had wished for.
c--I knew I was going to rest, but I didn't want to rest--not then (not just then).
x--The date was set for May 5, and since it was March . . . .
c--Then fourteen and a freshman in high school [October, 1967], Jeff learned his lesson well form this experience. [written April., 1973]
c--Then fourteen and a freshman in high school, Jeff learned his lesson well from that experience.
--That morning was quite memorable. [written on a different day]
x--That was in the past, and tomorrow was the first day of school.
c--That was in the past, and the next day was the first day of school.
c--It was May 10. 1942. They were to sail the next day.
c--The sun broke through the clouds [that morning]. We knew that that day [May 10, 1942] the rain would cease. [written October, 1964]
c--Here we were, ready to sail within an hour [May 10, 1942] (the day before we hadn't even thought about sailing to England, and they suddenly cancelled our ordes. [written October, 1964]
c--There we were, ready to sail within an hour [May 10, 1942] {the day before we hadn't even thought about sailing to England}, and they suddenly cancelled our orders. [written October, 1964]
c--The girls were excited. A short time/few minutes before they had received that special invitation they had wished for.
Watch for other such time-related words as you write, especially as you write in the
past tense--particularly from a distance of time. Learning to use language precisely
results in great personal satisfaction.