Dropping Prepositions of Time
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In previous lessons you learned how to use the right prepositions with
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You also saw that sometimes you do not use the preposition or you can drop the preposition. Let’s look at those situations.
Video Activity
Watch Dropping prespositions of time and take good study notes.
Note. The video supports the information on this page. You can study the page and watch the video in any order.
No Preposition with Time Adverbs
Do not use a preposition of time with time adverbs: today, tomorrow, tonight, and yesterday, next or last (for example, Monday, Tuesday, Christmas, etc.).
Examples dropping the preposition of time
”Tomorrow” and “yesterday” do not take a preposition
- I stayed home yesterday.
- What are you planning to do tomorrow?
No Preposition with before “next” or “last”
Compare the following pairs of sentence:
- What are you planning to do on Saturday.
- What are you planning to do next Saturday?
- I woke up early in the morning yesterday.
- I woke up early yesterday morning.
- I went to a party on Saturday.
- I went to a party last Saturday.
Other Expressions
Drop the preposition when you use
Drop the preposition with time expressions containing “the:”
- the following,
- the previous,
- the day before yesterday,
- and similar expressions.
Compare these example sentences
Examples
- Let’s watch a movie on Saturday.
- Let’s watch a movie on the weekend.
- Let’s watch a movie this Saturday.
- Let’s watch a movie this weekend.
- Let’s watch a movie the day after tomorrow.
More sentences
- Where were you on Christmas?
(on that day)
- Where were you last Christmas? (no preposition)
- Where will you be next Christmas? (no preposition)
Dropping “On” with Day of the Week and Dates
You can use “on” with days and dates, but you can drop the preposition, too.
Compare these example sentences
Example 1
- My birthday is on September 3.
- My birthday is September 3.
Example 2
- What are you planning to do on Saturday?
- What are you planning to do Saturday?
Example 3
- Valentine’s Day is on February 14 every year.
- Valentine’s Day is February 14 every year.
Attention!
You must use a preposition with holidays.
- I was in New York City on Valentine’s Day last year.
- We have a day off on Christmas.
But you must drop the preposition if you use, for example, “this” with days.
- I have to go to work on Saturday.
- I have to go to work this Saturday.
But you must drop the preposition in
- I have to go to work this Saturday.
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