verb + next/last/this + time expressionThese time words already locate the event, so no in, on, or at goes before them.
Preposition Dropping
B2Some time expressions drop in, on, or at: next week, last Friday, every day, tomorrow. Keep the preposition in normal phrases like on Monday or in July.
What you'll learn
- Use next, last, and this time phrases without a preposition.
- Use every and each time phrases without a preposition.
- Recognize complete time words that go without in, on, or at.
- Accept both at the weekend and on the weekend.
- Keep the preposition in time phrases that still need one.
Structure
verb + every/each + time expressionEvery and each already build the time phrase. Do not add on, in, or at before them.
verb + on/in/at + time expressionKeep the preposition in ordinary time phrases that do not have a dropping word.
Build a sentence
Cue word
Time phrase
We leavenext week
We leave next week.
With next, drop the preposition: not *in next week*.
When to use
Plans and deadlines
Use dropped-preposition time phrases when you say when something happens: We leave tomorrow. The team meets next Tuesday.
Routines
Use every and each without a preposition for repeated actions: Maria runs every morning. Tom checks email each afternoon.
Weekend plans
Both forms are natural in standard English: Lisa works at the weekend. Anna works on the weekend.
Markers
nextlastthiseveryeachtodaytomorrowyesterdaytonight
Common mistakes
Wrong
We met on last Friday.
Correct
We met last Friday.
Last already fixes the time phrase. On is extra and sounds wrong here.
Wrong
She calls her parents on every Sunday.
Correct
She calls her parents every Sunday.
Every Sunday is already a full time expression. Do not put on before it.
Wrong
I'll send the report on tomorrow.
Correct
I'll send the report tomorrow.
Tomorrow works by itself as a time word. It does not need on.
Wrong
We have a meeting Monday morning.
Correct
We have a meeting on Monday morning.
Monday morning is a normal day expression. Without words like next or this, it still needs on.
Common misconceptions
❝ If one time phrase drops the preposition, all time phrases can drop it. ❞
Only some time expressions drop the preposition. Compare next week with on Monday and in July.
❝ One weekend preposition is correct and the other is wrong. ❞
Both at the weekend and on the weekend are standard. The choice depends on the variety of English.
Skills in this rule (5)
NO_PREP_BEFORE_NEXT_LAST_THISw5Drop the preposition before next, last, and this in time expressions
Say next week, last year, and this morning without in, on, or at before them. These words already anchor the time expression.
NO_PREP_BEFORE_EVERY_EACHw4Drop the preposition before every and each in regular time expressions
Say every day, every weekend, each morning without a preposition before them. The word every or each already gives the time pattern.
USE_WITHOUT_PREP_AS_OBJECTw5Use some time expressions directly without a preposition
Words like today, tomorrow, yesterday, tonight, and weekdays can often go directly after the verb. They work as complete time expressions by themselves.
WEEKEND_VARIATIONw3Recognize both at the weekend and on the weekend
English has two common patterns here. At the weekend is common in British English, and on the weekend is common in American English.
KEEP_PREP_WHEN_NO_DROPPING_WORDw5Keep the preposition when the time expression does not contain a dropping word
Use the needed preposition in phrases like on Monday, in July, and at night. Do not drop it unless the expression has a word like next, last, this, every, or each.