Prepositions of TIME 👉 IN / ON / AT / BY 👈 Common English Grammar Mistakes

Hello! This is Emma from mmmEnglish,

你好！這是來自mmmEnglish的Emma，

back with another lesson

回到另一課

on the mmmEnglish YouTube channel.

在mmmEnglish YouTube頻道上。

Now a few weeks ago

幾個星期前

I made a video lesson using articles in English.

我用英文文章做了一個視頻課。

If you missed it, you can watch it up here.

如果你錯過了，你可以在這裡觀看。

But in that video, I said that

但在那段視頻中，我說過

articles are one of the

文章是其中之一

biggest problems for English students

英國學生面臨的最大問題

because they are the cause of

因為他們是原因

so many grammar mistakes!

這麼多語法錯誤！

And it's true!

這是真的！

As a University English teacher,

作為一名大學英語老師，

I saw these mistakes all the time!

我一直看到這些錯誤！

But

coming very close behind mistakes with articles

但

與文章的錯誤非常接近

are mistakes with prepositions.

是介詞的錯誤。

Now, prepositions are words

現在，介詞是單詞

like these

像這些

in, on, at,

in，on，at，

by

通過

with

同

for

對於

over under

過了

of

的

to

至

There are many of them in English

其中有很多是英文的

and like articles,

和文章一樣

prepositions are difficult to understand.

介詞很難理解。

Sometimes the reasons why you should choose one

有時你應該選擇一個原因

over another,

it's not really obvious.

在另一個，

這不是很明顯。

And sometimes there are

有時也有

exceptions and differences depending on

異常和差異取決於

who you actually talk to

你實際上和誰說話

whether they speak American English or

他們說美式英語還是美國英語

British English.

英式英語。

So what's the secret to these prepositions?

那麼這些介詞的秘訣是什麼？

How can you possibly know

你怎麼可能知道

when and how

何時以及如何

to use them correctly?

正確使用它們？

Well, the answer might not be one that you like.

嗯，答案可能不是你喜歡的答案。

There's no simple rule,

沒有簡單的規則，

there's no one answer.

沒有人回答。

Prepositions need to be learnt in context

介詞需要在上下文中學習

with the other words that they're used with.

換句話說，他們一起使用。

Trying to understand

試著去理解

why we say

為什麼我們說

"in the car" and

“在車裡”和

"on the bus"

“在公交車上”

will only end in tears and frustrations!

只會以眼淚和挫折結束！

By learning the phrase

通過學習這句話

"in the car"

“在車裡”

together, all together

所有在一起

will make it easier to remember it

會讓它更容易記住它

and also to get it right every time.

並且每次都要正確。

You're not thinking about which preposition

你沒有考慮介詞

but you're remembering the phrase.

但你記得那句話。

All of the words together.

所有的話都在一起。

Now last week I talked about these prepositions

上週我談到了這些 介詞

in, on, at

in，on，at

and by.

並通過。

But all when they're used to talk about place

但是當他們習慣談論地方的時候

or the position of something.

或某事的立場。

Let's meet at the library.

我們在圖書館見面吧。

He's in the kitchen.

他在廚房裡。

I'll see you on the bus.

我會在公交車上看到你。

He's waiting by the car.

他正在等車。

If you missed that lesson,

如果你錯過了那一課，

you can catch it up here.

你可以在這裡趕上

But today we're going to focus on these

但今天我們將專注於這些

same prepositions

相同的介詞

but for when they give information about time.

但是當他們提供有關時間的信息時。

I'll be there in five minutes.

我會在五分鐘後到達那裡。

I'll meet you at 3pm

我會在下午3點見到你

on Thursday.

星期四。

We need to be there

我們需要在那裡

by noon.

到中午。

So first,

let's go over the main points

首先，

讓我們回顧一下要點

that we need to remember.

我們需要記住。

"At" is used in reference

“At”用於參考

to specific times on the clock

到時鐘的特定時間

or points of time in the day.

或當天的時間點。

"In" usually refers to

“在”通常是指

periods of time.

一段時間。

And "on" is used

並且使用“on”

with dates and named days of the week.

包含日期和一周中指定的日期。

And "by" is used

並且使用“by”

specifically with an end point of time

特別是在結束時間點

and it means

這意味著

no later than.

不遲於。

Let's start with "at".

讓我們從“at”開始吧。

Use "at" for very specific times.

在非常特定的時間使用“at”。

Clock times for example.

例如，時鐘時間。

The train arrives at 3:30.

火車3點30分到達。

The party starts at midnight.

派對從午夜開始。

The meeting will finish at 5:30.

會議將於5:30結束。

I'll be there at noon

我會在中午到你那兒

or at midday

或者在中午

at midnight

在午夜

at dawn

黎明時分

at dusk.

黃昏。

All of these words refer to

所有這些詞都指的是

specific time

特定的時間

but we can also use "at" with

但我們也可以使用“at”

other specific times of the day, like

當天的其他特定時間，如

He doesn't like driving at night.

他不喜歡晚上開車。

I'm going shopping at lunchtime.

我午餐時間去購物。

I read my daughter a story at bedtime.

我在睡前讀了我女兒的故事。

Let's talk about it at dinner tonight.

我們今晚在晚餐時談談吧。

So there, I just called the time

所以，我只是打電話給時間

dinner.

晚餐。

It's not the meal name there,

這不是那裡的飯菜名稱，

I'm using the time.

我正在使用時間。

We'll talk about it at dinner

我們將在晚餐時談論它

time, tonight.

時間，今晚。

But often it's not spoken.

但往往沒有說出來。

One thing that you must be careful about is with

你必須要注意的一件事是

morning, afternoon

上午下午

evening and night.

傍晚和晚上。

We say "at night"

我們說“晚上”

but for all of these other times of the day

但對於所有這些其他時間

we say

我們說

"in the morning"

“在早上”

"in the afternoon"

“下午”

"in the evening"

“晚上”

So

- and don't forget the article as well, right?

所以

- 並且不要忘記這篇文章吧？

Now there's also some really common

現在還有一些非常普遍

fixed expressions

修正表達式

that use the preposition "at"

使用介詞“at”

when you're referring to

當你提到的時候

a specific point in time.

一個特定的時間點。

She's working at the moment.

她現在正在工作。

So when you're talking about

所以當你談論的時候

an action that is happening around the present moment,

在當下發生的行動，

you're not using "in the moment"

你不是在使用“在當下”

- all the Italians out there!

- 那裡的所有意大利人！

In the moment, I'm working on a very interesting project.

目前，我正在開展一個非常有趣的項目。

No!

沒有！

It's "at the moment"

這是“目前”

At the moment,

在這一刻，

I'm working on a very interesting project.

我正在做一個非常有趣的項目。

She's a little busy at present,

她現在有點忙，

can I get her to call you back?

我可以讓她給你回電話嗎？

It's quite formal

這是非常正式的

but "at present" means at this time.

但“目前”意味著此時。

I finish the course at the end of April.

我在4月底完成了課程。

So "at the end of" or "at the

所以“在結尾”或“在...

start of" a period of time

開始“一段時間

is also a common way

也是一種常見的方式

to refer to a

引用一個

specific point in time.

具體時間點。

Note that if you say something happened in the middle

請注意，如果你說中間發生了什麼事

of a period of time,

一段時間，

you need to use the preposition

你需要使用介詞

"in".

“在”。

But I'll talk more about that in a moment.

但我馬上就會談到這個。

We arrived at the same time.

我們同時到達。

So we use "at the same time"

所以我們“同時”使用

to say that two separate actions

說兩個單獨的行動

happened simultaneously

同時發生

- at one time.

- 一次。

Okay let's talk about the preposition "in".

好的，我們來談談介詞“in”。

"In" is used for periods of time,

“In”用於一段時間，

so seasons or months

所以季節或月份

or even longer periods of time

甚至更長的時間

like centuries or decades or years.

像幾個世紀，幾十年或幾年。

I was born in 1986.

我出生於1986年。

He'll visit them in October.

他將在十月訪問他們。

The ski resort is closed in summer.

滑雪勝地在夏季關閉。

He grew up in the seventies.

他在七十年代長大。

That's the period of time between 1970 and 1980.

那是1970年到1980年之間的一段時間。

It happened in the 16th century.

它發生在16世紀。

Don't worry,

別擔心，

it all happened in the past.

這一切都發生在過去。

Just as we use "in" for periods of time

正如我們在一段時間內使用“in”一樣

we also use it for periods of time

我們也會使用它一段時間

during the day

白天

when we're not being specific.

當我們不具體時。

So...

所以...

They're leaving in the evening.

他們晚上要離開了。

The baby sleeps in the afternoon.

寶寶在下午睡覺。

I work most productively in the morning.

我早上工作效率最高。

But compare this to

但比較一下

I start work at 9am.

我上午9點開始工作。

So there's specific time and there's kind of general time.

所以有特定的時間，有一般的時間。

We can also use "in" to describe

我們也可以用“in”來描述

the amount of time needed to do something.

做某事所需的時間。

So again, we're talking about a

所以，我們再談論一個

period of time.

一段的時間。

A period of time.

一段時間。

They managed to complete the job in two weeks.

他們設法在兩週內完成了這項工作。

You can drive around the island in a day.

您可以在一天內駕車遊覽島嶼。

We can also use "in" to explain

我們也可以用“in”來解釋

when something will happen in the future.

什麼時候會發生什麼事情。

I'll be ready in five minutes.

我會在五分鐘內做好準備。

He's gone away but he'll be back in a couple of days.

他已經走了，但他會在幾天后回來。

You can collect your parcel in a week.

您可以在一周內領取包裹。

Now remember I told you earlier

現在記得我早些時候告訴你的

that if you're using the expression

如果你正在使用表達式

at the end of or at the start of something

在某事的結尾或開始時

you need to use the preposition "at".

你需要使用介詞“at”。

At the start of July.

在七月初。

Return it to me at the end of the day.

在一天結束時歸還給我。

But, if you're referring to the middle of a period of time

但是，如果你指的是一段時間的中間

your preposition needs to be "in"

你的介詞需要“在”

"in the middle"

“在中間”

In the middle of June .

六月中旬。

Or it's too hot to go out in the middle of the day.

或者在一天中旬太熱了。

Okay, here's another really common fixed expression.

好的，這是另一個非常常見的固定表達式。

"In time"

“及時”

You'll hear it all the time!

你會一直聽到它！

We made it in time.

我們及時做到了。

Luckily, we arrived just in time.

幸運的是，我們及時趕到了。

This means that you weren't late

這意味著你沒有遲到

or you arrived just before the event started.

或者你是在活動開始前到達的。

Don't confuse this with

不要混淆這個

"on time"

“準時”

which is another fixed expression

這是另一個固定的表達

Please arrive on time.

請準時到達。

This means at the starting time,

這意味著在開始時，

not later.

不遲。

If you're told to arrive on time,

如果你被告知按時到達，

don't be late!

不要遲到！

The teacher told them to arrive on time.

老師告訴他們準時到達。

And even though they slept in,

即使他們睡了，

they arrived just in time!

他們及時趕到了！

Now let's explore

現在讓我們來探索吧

more about this preposition now.

現在更多關於這個介詞。

"On"

“上”

In English we can use this preposition for

在英語中我們可以使用這個介詞

specific descriptions of time.

具體的時間描述。

Most commonly with days of the week

最常見的是一周中的幾天

and parts of days of the week.

和一周中的部分時間。

She's working on Monday.

她星期一工作。

That's a specific and a unique time.

這是一個特定的，獨特的時間。

She usually works on Mondays.

她通常在星期一工作。

By using the plural form there,

通過在那裡使用複數形式，

I'm suggesting that this is a regular event.

我建議這是一個常規活動。

It happens every week.

它每週都會發生。

We're going to the theatre on Wednesday evening.

我們星期三晚上去劇院。

Let's have a coffee on Friday morning.

我們週五早上喝杯咖啡。

It's his birthday on Saturday.

這是他週六的生日。

So note that in spoken English

請注意，用英語口語

"on" is often omitted in context like this.

在這樣的上下文中經常省略“on”。

She's working Monday.

她星期一工作。

So don't be confused if

所以如果不要混淆

suddenly when someone says a sentence like this

當有人說出這樣的句子時突然

you can't hear the preposition.

你聽不到介詞。

In spoken English, it's often dropped.

在英語口語中，它經常被丟棄。

"On" is also used with dates.

“開”也用於日期。

The interview is on the 29th of April.

採訪時間是4月29日。

He was born on February 14th.

他出生於2月14日。

It's also used with special days.

它也用於特殊的日子。

She was born on Valentine's Day.

她出生在情人節。

We're moving house on Christmas Eve.

我們在聖誕節前夕搬家。

I have an exam on my birthday.

我的生日考試了。

But here's another little exception

但這是另一個小例外

that you need to keep in mind.

你需要記住。

When you're talking about festivals and

當你在談論節日和節日時

about special periods of time,

關於特殊時期，

you can use "at".

你可以使用“at”。

So, are you going home at Christmas?

那麼，你聖誕節回家嗎？

So that's talking about the time around Christmas.

所以這是在談論聖誕節前後的時間。

If you're referring to the specific day,

如果你指的是具體的一天，

you need to use "on".

你需要使用“開”。

On Christmas Day.

在聖誕節。

On New Year's Eve.

在新年前夜。

What are you doing on New Year's Day?

你在新年那天做什麼？

What are you doing at New Year's?

你在新年做什麼？

Now this question is more general,

現在這個問題比較籠統，

you're referring to the period of time

你指的是一段時間

around this holiday

這個假期

usually there is a few days where

通常有幾天在哪裡

everyone's not working and

每個人都不工作

they're relaxing and hanging out so

他們在放鬆和閒逛

"on Year's Day" means specifically that day

“年度日”特指那一天

but if you say

但如果你說

"at New Year's"

“在新的一年”

you just mean the time around that day.

你只想說那天的時間。

Another fixed expression

另一個固定表達

that can be a little bit confusing is

這可能有點令人困惑的是

"at or on the weekend".

“在周末或週末”。

What are you doing on the weekend?

你周末在做什麼？

is more common in American English and

在美國英語和英語中更為常見

What are you doing at the weekend?

這個週末你會做什麼？

is more common in British English.

在英國英語中更常見。

But either way, you'll be understood.

但是無論哪種方式， 你會被理解的。

Both of them mean the same thing.

它們都意味著同樣的事情。

But it's good to know that there are

但是知道有這個很好

two different ways to express this.

兩種不同的表達方式。

And lastly, "by" .

最後，“通過”。

Our last little preposition

我們最後的小介詞

is very useful to give information about time.

提供有關時間的信息非常有用。

You can use "by" with the end time of an activity.

您可以將“by”與活動的結束時間一起使用。

The show should be finished by 9pm.

節目應該在晚上9點結束。

It means no later than.

這意味著不遲於。

So when it's used with a specific time,

所以當它在特定時間使用時，

it can mean on or before that time.

它可能意味著在那個時間或之前。

Please return these books by Friday.

請在星期五之前歸還這些書。

That means no later than Friday.

這意味著不遲於星期五。

So let's recap.

讓我們回顧一下。

Let's go over everything that we learnt in this lesson

讓我們回顧一下我們在本課中學到的一切

because it was a lot to take in!

因為它吸引了很多！

"At" is generally used in reference to

“At”通常用於指代

specific times on the clock

時鐘上的特定時間

or specific points of time in the day.

或當天的特定時間點。

"In" generally refers to longer periods of time.

“在”中通常指更長的時間段。

"On" is used with dates or named days.

“開”用於日期或命名日期。

And "by" is used with times and named days

並且“by”與時間和命名日一起使用

but specifically telling us an end time.

但具體告訴我們一個結束時間。

Well that's it for this lesson!

那就是這一課！

I hope that it's been good revision for you

我希望這對你來說是一次很好的修改

to remind yourself about the correct way to

提醒自己正確的方法

use these really common English prepositions

使用這些真正常見的英語介詞

that give more information about time.

提供更多有關時間的信息。

Now if you've got any questions at all,

現在，如果你有任何問題，

put them in the comments below

把它們放在下面的評論中

and I will try to answer them as soon as I can.

我會盡快回答他們。

If you really love

如果你真的愛

the mmmEnglish Channel and you enjoy my lessons,

mmmEnglish頻道，你喜歡我的課程，

then please make sure you

那麼請確保你

subscribe just here or here.

訂閱此處或此處。

And check out

並檢查

some of the other lessons that I've prepared.

我準備的其他一些課程。

This playlist here is full of grammar videos

這個播放列表中充滿了語法視頻

and this one here will

這一個會在這裡

help you to practice your speaking skills.

幫助您練習口語技巧。

Thanks for watching and I will see you in the next lesson.

感謝收看，我會在下一課中見到你。

Bye for now!

暫時再見！