"A month ago it was very rainy, but the latter half of last month was dry." "I expect my brother some time next month.” "Mr. P. will stay at Albany all next week." "We shall study Geography next year." "J. will finish her education a year hence." So a A year hence signifies about this time next year. year ago means about this time last year, and so of other cases. 1. Lesson 47. Phrases marking POINTS OF TIME. AT is used before the HOUR AND minute, or before any PRECISE POINT. The cars will leave Harlem at eight precisely. They will pass the steps at twenty minutes past eight. School begins at nine and ends at four. We have a recess at noon. An industrious farmer went to his corn field at day break, and ploughed it all before breakfast. Last fourth of July, great guns were fired at sunrise, at noon, and at sunset. 2. ON is used before the DAY. A steamship left Liverpool on the first day of the month, and reached Boston on the thirteenth. Our vacation begins on the second Wednesday in July, and ends on the first Wednesday in September. General Harrison died on the 4th of April, 1841. God commands us to labor six days, and rest on the Sabbath, 3. IN is used before the MONTH, year, and other long portions of time. Our vacation begins in July. Washington was born in 1732 and died in 1799. The ponds and rivers are frozen in Winter. Children in the country go barefooted in Summer. The little birds fly away in the Fall and return in the Spring. Strawberries are ripe in June, cherries in July, early peaches in August, Apples are plentiful in Autumn, but scarce in Spring. The New-York Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, was opened in May, 1818. The Anglo-Saxons settled in England in the fifth Century. Phrases in which AT is used. N.'s brother was present at the annual examination. At the close of the examination Mr. P. made a prayer in signs. If we see a man weep at a wedding, and laugh at a funeral, we think him deranged. In giving dates, on and in are usually omitted. Columbus discovered America Oct. 11, 1492. The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Dec. 22, 1620. The British Army evacuated New-York, Nov. 25, 1783. No prepositions are used in answering the questions, What time is it? What o'clock is it? What day is it? &c. It is noon by the sun; but it is only half past eleven by the clock. "What o'clock is it by your watch ?" "Twenty minutes past two; but I think I am too fast; the town clock struck two but a few minutes ago." "What day of the month is it? "It is the first of June." Lesson 48. Other Prepositions used to express RELATIONS OF TIME. Before. Wash your hands before meals. "John and I went to town last Saturday. He set out half an hour before me, but I got there first." After. We will walk out after school. Girls should not go out alone after dark. Till. Mr. W. will stay with us till Monday. Last night I sat up writing letters till half past eleven. That old horse will not live till Spring. Till after. Put away your books till after dinner. A poor woman sat up waiting for her husband till long after midnight. About. Farmers plant corn about the middle of May. From. to. I staid at home from the middle of July to the end of August. From.. till. Some people keep talking from morning till night. Over. Mr. X. promised to meet me at eight o'clock precisely, but I had to wait over an hour for him. That was very unpleasant. He ought to be punctual. Above. Mr. S. is very sick. He cannot live above two days. Deaf mutes above thirty are too old to learn. Under. Mrs. A. was under seventeen when she married. Deaf mutes are not admitted as State pupils under twelve or above twenty-five. Over and above are equivaleht to more than; and under to less than. Lesson 49. Prepositions Continued. Within. Twenty carriages have passed the door within two hours. During. Some of the pupils will stay in the Institution during the vacation. Between. About 3000 persons died of the cholera in New-York, between July 1, and Aug. 18, 1832. |