dates phrases

Comprehensive Guide to Date Phrases for English Learners

Learning how to talk about dates in English is essential for everyday communication, scheduling, and writing. This guide covers common date phrases, their meanings, examples, and exercises to test your understanding.

1. Common Date Phrases and Their Meanings

Below are some frequently used phrases related to dates, along with explanations and examples.

a. “On [date]”

Used to specify a particular day.

• Example 1: The meeting is on Monday.
• Example 2: Her birthday is on June 5th.
• Example 3: We arrived on the 15th of April.

b. “In [month/year]”

Used for broader time frames like months or years.

• Example 1: The festival takes place in December.
• Example 2: She graduated in 2020.
• Example 3: We’re planning a trip in summer.

c. “By [date]”

Indicates a deadline or latest possible time.

• Example 1: Submit your report by Friday.
• Example 2: The project must be completed by the end of the month.
• Example 3: Please reply by 5 PM.

d. “From [date] to [date]”

Describes a time range.

• Example 1: The store is open from 9 AM to 6 PM.
• Example 2: The conference runs from Monday to Wednesday.
• Example 3: We’ll be on vacation from July 10th to July 20th.

e. “Around [date]”

Indicates an approximate time.

• Example 1: He’ll arrive around noon.
• Example 2: The event starts around 3 PM.
• Example 3: She was born around 1995.

2. Exercises to Test Your Understanding

Complete the following exercises to practice using date phrases correctly.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition (on, in, by, from, to, around).

1. The concert is ___ Saturday.
2. She moved to London ___ 2018.
3. Please finish the assignment ___ tomorrow.
4. The shop is open ___ 8 AM ___ 5 PM.
5. They’ll call you ___ the afternoon.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the Sentences

Rewrite the following sentences using the correct date phrase.

1. The deadline is Friday. (Use by)
2. We’ll meet at noon. (Use around)
3. The course lasts three days. (Use from…to)

3. Answer Key

Exercise 1 Answers:

1. on
2. in
3. by
4. from, to
5. around

Exercise 2 Answers:

1. The report must be submitted by Friday.
2. We’ll meet around noon.
3. The course runs from Monday to Wednesday.

Phrase	Usage
on [date]	Specific day
in [month/year]	Broader time frame
by [date]	Deadline
from…to	Time range
around [date]	Approximate time

Keep practicing these phrases to improve your fluency in discussing dates in English!