Dropping Prepositions of Time
Video Activity
Watch Dropping prepositions of time on YouTube and take good study notes.
Note. You can read this page first or watch the video before reading. It’s up to you.
No Preposition with Tomorrow, Tonight, Yesterday, Next, or Last
See the examples below.
Tomorrow and yesterday do not take a preposition
- I stayed home yesterday.
- What are you planning to do tomorrow?
No Preposition with 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 1.
- 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.
Examples 2.
- 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 or drop the preposition.
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 Satuday?
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.
Of course, you must drop the preposition if you use, for example, “this” with days.