At (preposición de tiempo)

En esta lección vamos a analizar su uso como preposición de tiempo.

La preposición “At” se utiliza para expresar un tiempo exacto / preciso.

1.- Con horas:

At 5 o´clock

At quarter to four

At 3:25 p.m.

...

Ejemplos:

I met my friend at 5 o´clock

I came to my office at 8 o´clock

The exam will start at 6 o´clock

I will be there at 9 p.m.

My friend will be there exactly at 6:15 p.m.

The conference starts at five

The train leaves at 3:45

Mary said she would arrive at quarter to three

2.- Momentos concretos del día:

At noon

At sunrise (al amanecer)

At sunset (al atardecer)

At night

At midday

At midnight

…

Ejemplos:

The moon shines at night

The accident happened at noon

I don’t like studying at night

I left my office at noon

It is dangerous to walk on this city at night

From here there is a spectacular view at sunrise

At sunset there is a wonderful view of the lighthouse

ATENCIÓN

Sin embargo NO se utiliza la preposición “At” sino la preposición “In” en las expresiones:

In the morning

In the afternoon

In the evening

Tampoco se utiliza “at” delante de “day”; se suele decir “during the day”

3.- Horas de comidas:

At dinnertime

At breakfast

At lunch

At dinner

...

Ejemplos:

We can discuss this matter at dinnertime

I really like to read the newspaper at breakfast

I do my homework at lunch

4.- Con fiestas, vacaciones:

At Christmas

At Easter

At New Year

At the weekend (en inglés americano se dice “on the weekend”)

…

Ejemplos:

I visited my parents at the weekend

I will go to Madrid at Christmas

We normally go to the beach at Easter

We are going to the beach at the weekend

At Easter my family used to go to the beach

5.- Con expresiones temporales:

At first

At last

At the moment

At the same time

At present

At the age of (a veces se simplifica: At the age of 67 = At 67)

At the end of

…

Ejemplos:

Peter and my bother went to the supermarket at the same time

I can´t help you at present. Please call me later

I won my first title at the age of 14 (se puede decir: I won my first title at 14)

I’ll pay you at the end of the week

At the moment I´m working in the garden

I cannot do two things at the same time

At last I understood the problem

At first I didn´t like her too much

I’ll finish the school at the end of June

Observaciones

No se utilizan las preposiciones de tiempo “at / on / in” delante de “every / last / next / this / yesterday / tomorrow…”:

What do you do at the weekend?

What did you do last weekend?

Otros ejemplos:

I watched that program last night

We visited Paris last Christmas

We could meet again next weekend

She came home yesterday night

I visit my parents every Easter