English guide
Choose time prepositions by meaning and structure in 20 original workplace questions, with every option explained and practical rewrites.
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What this guide covers
Compare the explanations and original examples.
Keep the sentence unchanged and justify one option.
Use the distinction in a new workplace sentence.
A schedule tells readers both when an event happens and how long an arrangement lasts. A small preposition can change that message: a service available until six is different from a report required by six.
Start by identifying the time expression after the gap: a clock time, calendar date, duration or starting point. Then check the whole sentence. These original questions avoid treating regional weekend expressions as errors and make deadline or sequence meanings explicit.
These original exercises were prepared by English AIdol with AI assistance. A separate AI content review checked every question, answer explanation and teaching section. No human expert or examiner review, ETS endorsement, or calibrated difficulty is claimed. This page does not save answers or estimate an official score.
Part 5 asks you to complete sentences by choosing from four options. The full TOEIC Reading section has 100 questions and a 75-minute limit. This untimed topic lesson is not a complete or equated test. See ETS: About the TOEIC Listening and Reading Test and the ETS: TOEIC Listening & Reading Score User Guide.
At introduces clock times; on introduces named days and dates; in introduces months, years and ordinary parts of the day. A specified day changes the phrase: in the morning, but on Monday morning.
For introduces a duration; since introduces the point from which a situation has continued. From commonly pairs with to or until when giving a scheduled range.
By gives a latest completion time, until continues a situation up to an endpoint, and before places something earlier. They can sometimes describe compatible facts, so use the intended meaning rather than a single-word shortcut.
Before and after order events. During takes a noun phrase, not an ordinary subject–verb clause. Between pairs with and when giving two boundaries.
The help desk will remain open ___ 7 p.m., then close.
until
Remain open describes a continuing state, and seven is its endpoint. The sentence does not describe completing a task by a deadline.
Choose the option that completes the printed sentence in standard written English. Keep every other word unchanged. Write your choice and a reason before opening the explanation.
The fire drill is scheduled to begin precisely ___ 10:15 a.m.
(A) at
(B) in
(C) on
(D) for
Answer: (A) at
Completed sentence: The fire drill is scheduled to begin precisely at 10:15 a.m.
The annual inventory count takes place ___ Wednesday.
(A) in
(B) at
(C) on
(D) of
Answer: (C) on
Completed sentence: The annual inventory count takes place on Wednesday.
The company opened its first regional office ___ 2018.
(A) on
(B) at
(C) for
(D) in
Answer: (D) in
Completed sentence: The company opened its first regional office in 2018.
The supplier conference is held every year ___ September.
(A) at
(B) in
(C) on
(D) since
Answer: (B) in
Completed sentence: The supplier conference is held every year in September.
The replacement badges will be issued ___ Monday morning.
(A) in
(B) on
(C) at
(D) of
Answer: (B) on
Completed sentence: The replacement badges will be issued on Monday morning.
The courier usually collects outgoing parcels ___ the afternoon.
(A) on
(B) at
(C) of
(D) in
Answer: (D) in
Completed sentence: The courier usually collects outgoing parcels in the afternoon.
The temporary showroom was rented ___ six weeks, from 2 June to 14 July.
(A) since
(B) at
(C) for
(D) on
Answer: (C) for
Completed sentence: The temporary showroom was rented for six weeks, from 2 June to 14 July.
Our finance director has worked here continuously ___ 2021.
(A) since
(B) for
(C) during
(D) on
Answer: (A) since
Completed sentence: Our finance director has worked here continuously since 2021.
The reception counter is staffed ___ 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
(A) between
(B) since
(C) for
(D) from
Answer: (D) from
Completed sentence: The reception counter is staffed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Deliveries are accepted between 9 a.m. ___ 11 a.m.
(A) to
(B) and
(C) until
(D) since
Answer: (B) and
Completed sentence: Deliveries are accepted between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
The deadline is noon: please submit the signed copy no later than that time, ___ noon at the latest.
(A) by
(B) until
(C) since
(D) during
Answer: (A) by
Completed sentence: The deadline is noon: please submit the signed copy no later than that time, by noon at the latest.
The technician will stay on site ___ 5 p.m. and leave at that time.
(A) by
(B) since
(C) until
(D) on
Answer: (C) until
Completed sentence: The technician will stay on site until 5 p.m. and leave at that time.
To prevent damage, remove the transport locks ___ operating the new scanner.
(A) after
(B) during
(C) before
(D) since
Answer: (C) before
Completed sentence: To prevent damage, remove the transport locks before operating the new scanner.
Because acceptance was required before payment, funds were released only ___ the goods had arrived and passed inspection.
(A) after
(B) before
(C) during
(D) by
Answer: (A) after
Completed sentence: Because acceptance was required before payment, funds were released only after the goods had arrived and passed inspection.
Please keep mobile phones silent ___ the presentation.
(A) while
(B) during
(C) when
(D) as
Answer: (B) during
Completed sentence: Please keep mobile phones silent during the presentation.
The maintenance visit is confirmed for Tuesday, ___ 17 November.
(A) in
(B) at
(C) since
(D) on
Answer: (D) on
Completed sentence: The maintenance visit is confirmed for Tuesday, on 17 November.
The repair crew has been waiting ___ nearly an hour.
(A) since
(B) for
(C) on
(D) at
Answer: (B) for
Completed sentence: The repair crew has been waiting for nearly an hour.
The overnight data transfer begins ___ midnight.
(A) on
(B) in
(C) of
(D) at
Answer: (D) at
Completed sentence: The overnight data transfer begins at midnight.
The office remained closed throughout the renovation, ___ its first day to its last.
(A) between
(B) by
(C) from
(D) since
Answer: (C) from
Completed sentence: The office remained closed throughout the renovation, from its first day to its last.
The new ordering system has been in use ___ the start of July.
(A) since
(B) for
(C) at
(D) on
Answer: (A) since
Completed sentence: The new ordering system has been in use since the start of July.
Explain the distinction in your own words, then try these tasks without copying a practice sentence. The answers illustrate possible responses; alternatives may work where the task allows them.
Explain the difference between “Finish by four” and “Work until four.”
By four sets the latest completion time; until four asks for work to continue up to four.
An early finish can satisfy the first instruction, but does not itself fulfil the requested duration in the second.
Correct: “The studio has operated for 2020.” Keep the starting year.
The studio has operated since 2020.
A year is the starting point. For would instead require a duration.
Change “in the morning” to identify Thursday morning.
on Thursday morning
Adding a named day changes the time phrase to one introduced by on.
Sources checked on . The examples, questions and explanations are original teaching material, not official or recalled test items. This correction replaces the earlier lesson’s inappropriate IELTS-style scoring. An answer count on these exercises does not convert to an official TOEIC score.
Continue with the TOEIC study page. For a factual correction, see our editorial policy.
No. On the weekend is common in American English; at the weekend is common in British English. Do not confuse a regional choice with a grammar error.
Yes, an early delivery may meet both descriptions. Before excludes the named boundary, while by allows completion at that boundary. Read the actual requirement.
For can introduce an allocation period in other contexts, but a continuing situation starting in a stated year normally uses since. For a duration, write for two years.
No. These original, untimed teaching questions have not been equated to an ETS form. Use them to explain and practise a language pattern, not to calculate an official score.