MIND YOUR GRAMMAR  
Lesson 2: Prepositions of time
  With prepositions of time, the reference is to a position in time, or time duration.  
Table:    
  Position in time  
  Time duration  
   

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Position in Time

The prepositions of time position, at, in and on answer the question "When?".

Meaning (to show...) Preposition Examples
points of time at The class will end at eight o'clock.
period in I have tea in the evening.
reference to days on I go shopping on Sunday afternoon.

N.B.

Reference to night can be viewed as points of time and a period :

Meaning (to show...) Preposition Examples
points of time at He doesn't go out much at night.
period in There were some strange noises in the night.
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Time duration

Meaning ( to show...) Preposition Examples
how long or duration for I have been typing this  for three hours.
from the beginning to the end of a period, the action can be taken place several times / continuously during, between ...... and May likes to go swimming during the summer.

Chris usually has a meal between six and eight o'clock.
reference to the beginning and ending from ...... to The film runs from seven to nine o'clock.
something happens earlier than a particular time or event before He received the gift before Christmas.
something happens later than a particular time or event after Mandy went home after seven o'clock.
reference to the beginning of a period of time from Heidi slept from eight o'clock at night.
something happens at some time or continuously after a particular time or event since Cherry has lived here since last year.
something happens and then ends at a particular time till / until Carman often goes without eating till the end of the day.

the party went on until dawn.
point of time after a particular period or date has passed beyond they don't normally allow people to work beyond the age of 60.
throughout the length or duration of time over The police carried on the investigation over a long period of time.
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