IELTS & PTE lesson · Grammar

IELTS & PTE Prepositions for Time Grammar notesSmall words, fixed partners

The pairs you just have to know. This IELTS & PTE lesson is a deck of 9 visual cards from BandLadder's own study library, written and fact-checked by our team.
  • 9 cards
  • Free to read online
  • PDF with any plan
  • Updated 30 September 2026

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What's inside

Along the way you get worked examples with the key words marked, before-and-after fixes that show why the first version loses marks, a one-page visual summary, a quick check to test yourself and a recap of the rules to remember. Each card holds one idea, so you can read it on a phone between practice sessions.

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The first 3 of 9 cards

Preview

  1. IELTS · PTEGrammar · Prepositions for time

    Three tiny words, three slips

    wrong partner, right idea

    Prepositions look easy, but English fixes many of them by habit, not logic. Learn the partner with the word.

    The college opens on 2027years take 'in'. Its board will discuss aboutno 'about' needed fees, and many locals are interested onfixed pair: in evening classes.

    Band 7 (Writing): “error-free sentences are frequent.”

    © 2026 BandLadder · original material1 / 9
  2. IELTS · PTEGrammar · Prepositions for time

    at, on or in?

    a point, a day, a longer stretch

    1. 1Is it a clock time or a single point?
      • yes: 6 pm, noon, midnightat
      ↓ no: it lasts longer
    2. 2Is it a named day or a date?
      • yes: Friday, 5 Mayon
      • no: May, spring, 2026in

    A guide, not a law: Friday morning takes on. Learn fixed phrases whole: at night, at the weekend, at Christmas.

    © 2026 BandLadder · original material2 / 9
  3. IELTS · PTEGrammar · Prepositions for time

    Time words with a job

    for, since, during, by, until

    WordWhat it gives
    forhow long: for three years
    sincethe start: since 2019
    duringinside a period: during the exam
    byno later than: by Friday
    untilup to then: until 6 pm
    fromstart and end: from 2010 to 2020
    betweentwo limits: between 2010 and 2020

    For gives a length, since gives a start.

    © 2026 BandLadder · original material3 / 9
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9 cards

Contents

  1. 1Three tiny words, three slipswrong partner, right ideaIn the preview
  2. 2at, on or in?a point, a day, a longer stretchIn the preview
  3. 3Time words with a jobfor, since, during, by, untilIn the preview
  4. 4Partners to ownlearn the pair, not the wordFree account
  5. 5In a Task 1 sentencedata words in their placesFree account
  6. 6In a PTE dictationthe words you hear leastFree account
  7. 7Fix the partnerone rule behind each fixFree account
  8. 8Your turnpick the partnerFree account
  9. 9Save thisthe preposition checklistFree account

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The BandLadder team wrote and checked it. It is original BandLadder material, not copied from books or other websites, and its exam facts are checked against the official IELTS and PTE pages.

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© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy

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