Prepositions of Time: by, until, since, for, during, within (B1)

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

0 / 15 answered

Your score

0 / 150%

Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

Please submit your application Friday.

Correct answer: by

"By Friday" = no later than Friday; a deadline. "Until Friday" = continuing up to Friday (used with ongoing states, not one-off submissions). "By" signals the latest possible moment for a completed action.

She studied in France two years before returning home.

Correct answer: for

"For two years" = a measured length of time. "For" answers "How long?" and is used with a number + time unit. "Since" answers "Since when?" and requires a starting point, not a duration.

He has been working at the same company 2018.

Correct answer: since

"Since 2018" = from a specific point in the past up to now. "Since" is used with perfect tenses and a starting point (a year, a date, an event). "For" would need a period: "for six years".

The shop stays open nine o'clock every evening.

Correct answer: until

"Until nine o'clock" = continuing up to that point (then it stops). "Until" signals the end point of an ongoing state or activity. "By nine o'clock" would mean the shop closes no later than nine — a deadline, not a stopping point.

There were several power cuts the storm last night.

Correct answer: during

"During the storm" = at some point(s) within a named period or event. "During" is used with noun phrases (the storm, the meeting, the night). "For the storm" would need a measurement; "while" would need a clause.

You can borrow the car, but I need it back six o'clock.

Correct answer: by

"By six o'clock" = returned no later than six (a deadline for a completed action). "Until six o'clock" would mean the car is available to use up to six — implying it must be returned after six, which is the opposite meaning.

She hasn't spoken to him the argument last month.

Correct answer: since

"Since the argument" = from that event up to now. "Since" can take an event noun as its starting point (since the argument, since the meeting, since childhood). "For" would need a duration: "for a month".

The package will be delivered three working days.

Correct answer: within

"Within three working days" = inside that time limit; before it expires. "Within" emphasises that it will happen before a period ends. "In three days" = at the end of three days; "by" needs a fixed point, not a span.

Please switch off your phones the performance.

Correct answer: during

"During the performance" = within/throughout the event. "During" collocates with named events and periods. "For the performance" = for the duration (less natural with a request to stop action). "While" would need a clause with a verb.

I am going to stay in Edinburgh the whole summer.

Correct answer: for

"For the whole summer" = for a period of time (a measured span). "For" can be used with past, present, or future tenses to express duration. "Since the whole summer" is incorrect — "since" needs a past starting point with a perfect tense.

Don't send the email I give you the final approval.

Correct answer: until

"Until I give you the final approval" = not before that point; waiting up to that moment. "Until" with a negative verb means "not before". "By" would imply a deadline — "don't send by" is not standard for this meaning.

Our customer service team will respond to your query 24 hours.

Correct answer: within

"Within 24 hours" = inside the 24-hour window; before it runs out. "By 24 hours" is not natural — "by" needs a specific fixed point, not a span. "Within" is the standard phrasing for service-level commitments.

They have known each other they were children.

Correct answer: since

"Since they were children" = from that time up to now. "Since" can be followed by a clause (since + subject + verb) or a noun/noun phrase. The present perfect ("have known") signals that "since" is the correct preposition/conjunction here.

The builders promise to finish the renovations the end of next month.

Correct answer: by

"By the end of next month" = completed no later than that point. "Until the end of next month" would mean the work continues up to that point — but whether it is finished is unspecified. "By" asserts completion before a deadline.

I have been waiting here over an hour — where are you?

Correct answer: for

"For over an hour" = a measured duration (how long). "Since over an hour" is incorrect — "since" cannot precede a duration like "an hour". "Since" needs a named point: "since one o'clock". "For" is correct here because a span (an hour) is given, not a starting point.

Please answer at least one question first.

Found an error in this exercise? Let us know.

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

0 / 15 answered

Your score

0 / 150%

Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

Please submit your application Friday.

Correct answer: by

She studied in France two years before returning home.

Correct answer: for

"For two years" = a measured length of time. "For" answers "How long?" and is used with a number + time unit. "Since" answers "Since when?" and requires a starting point, not a duration.

He has been working at the same company 2018.

Correct answer: since

"Since 2018" = from a specific point in the past up to now. "Since" is used with perfect tenses and a starting point (a year, a date, an event). "For" would need a period: "for six years".

The shop stays open nine o'clock every evening.

Correct answer: until

There were several power cuts the storm last night.

Correct answer: during

You can borrow the car, but I need it back six o'clock.

Correct answer: by

She hasn't spoken to him the argument last month.

Correct answer: since

The package will be delivered three working days.

Correct answer: within

Please switch off your phones the performance.

Correct answer: during

I am going to stay in Edinburgh the whole summer.

Correct answer: for

Don't send the email I give you the final approval.

Correct answer: until

Our customer service team will respond to your query 24 hours.

Correct answer: within

They have known each other they were children.

Correct answer: since

The builders promise to finish the renovations the end of next month.

Correct answer: by

I have been waiting here over an hour — where are you?

Correct answer: for

Please answer at least one question first.

Found an error in this exercise? Let us know.