Grammar Concepts #15

Understanding Referencing Dates in English

This rebuilt lesson keeps the original concept image, tightens the structure, and turns the explanation into a clearer self-study guide.

Student PDF Teaching Guide PDF

Core Idea

In English, referring to dates and the relationship between events on a calendar can be expressed in various ways. Let’s break down the examples provided in the image and explain the grammar concepts involved.

Concept #15: Referencing Dates

1. Referencing Events with Days of the Week

When mentioning events that will occur in relation to a specific day of the week, different phrases can be used to indicate timing:

Examples:

  • Next [Day of the Week]: Refers to the upcoming occurrence of that day in the following week.
    • Example: “The party will be (held) next Thursday.”
      • This means the party is scheduled for the Thursday of the next week from the current week.
  • A week from [Day of the Week]: Indicates the same day of the week in the following week.
    • Example: “The party will be (held) a week from yesterday.”
      • If today is Friday, this means the party is on Thursday of the next week.
  • [Ordinal Day of the Month] + of this month: Refers to a specific day in the current month.
    • Example: “The party will be (held) on the first Thursday of this month.”
      • If the first Thursday of the current month is the 7th, the party is on the 7th.

2. Using “In” and “From” for Specific Intervals

Examples:

  • In [Number] [Days/Weeks/Months/Years]: Indicates a time frame in the future from today.
    • Example: “The concert will be (held) in three Tuesdays.”
      • If today is Tuesday, the concert is in three weeks from today.
  • [Number] [Days/Weeks/Months/Years] from [Today/Specific Date]: Specifies an interval starting from today or a given date.
    • Example: “The concert will be (held) three Tuesdays from today.”
      • Similar to the previous example, this indicates the concert is three weeks from today.

3. Using Days Relative to Another Event

Examples:

  • [Number] days/weeks after [Event]: Indicates a time frame after a specific event.
    • Example: “The concert will be (held) twelve days after the party.”
      • If the party is on the 7th, twelve days later is the 19th, so the concert is on the 19th.
  • [Number] days/weeks before [Event]: Specifies a time frame before a certain event.
    • Example: “The wedding will be (held) five Saturdays from now.”
      • If today is Saturday, five Saturdays from now is 35 days later.

4. Referencing Specific Dates in Business Context

In a professional setting, it is important to be precise. Mentioning the day of the week along with the date helps avoid confusion.

Examples:

  • Today is [Date]: “Today is August 1st.”
  • The meeting is on [Day], [Date]: “The meeting is on Monday, August 7th.”

Practice Sentences

To help solidify these concepts, here are additional practice sentences:

  • Next Week/Month/Year:
    • “The report is due next Monday.”
    • “We will start the new project next month.”
    • “The contract will be renewed next year.”
  • Specific Dates:
    • “The seminar is on the second Wednesday of October.”
    • “The deadline is on the 15th of this month.”
  • Days Relative to Today:
    • “The results will be announced in two weeks.”
    • “We have a review meeting three days from today.”
  • Relative to Another Event:
    • “The follow-up meeting is scheduled ten days after the initial presentation.”
    • “The training session will be held two weeks before the conference.”

By understanding and practicing these phrases, non-native speakers can effectively reference dates and times in English, ensuring clear and precise communication.

Practice Check

Answer the quiz questions below with responses consistent with the concepts taught on the left.

Practice Check

Item 01

The party will be held ___ Thursday, which is in the next week.

  • A. next
  • B. last
  • C. under
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • A. next

Incorrect answers

  • B. last
  • C. under

Explanation: “Next Thursday” refers to the upcoming occurrence of Thursday in the following week. “Last Thursday” refers to the Thursday of the previous week, and “under Thursday” is grammatically incorrect because “under” is not used to reference time in this context.

Item 02

The meeting is scheduled for ___ Tuesday, so mark your calendars for the following week.

  • A. next
  • B. under
  • C. before
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • A. next

Incorrect answers

  • B. under
  • C. before

Explanation: “Next Tuesday” refers to the upcoming occurrence of Tuesday in the following week. “Under Tuesday” is incorrect because “under” is not used to refer to time, and “before Tuesday” suggests something happening prior to the next Tuesday, which does not fit the context.

Item 03

We will meet again a week from ___, which means seven days from now.

  • A. today
  • B. next
  • C. first
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • A. today

Incorrect answers

  • B. next
  • C. first

Explanation: “A week from today” indicates the same day of the week in the following week. “Next” by itself does not provide the necessary context, and “first” does not correctly indicate a time frame in this context.

Item 04

The seminar will be held ___ the first Wednesday of next month, not this month.

  • A. in
  • B. under
  • C. on
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • C. on

Incorrect answers

  • A. in
  • B. under

Explanation: “On the first Wednesday” specifies a particular day in the next month. “In the first Wednesday” is incorrect because “in” does not properly indicate the specific day, and “under the first Wednesday” is not a correct usage for time.

Item 05

The workshop will be held ___ three Fridays, starting from today.

  • A. in
  • B. over
  • C. with
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • A. in

Incorrect answers

  • B. over
  • C. with

Explanation: “In three Fridays” indicates an event happening in three weeks from today. “Over three Fridays” suggests a duration rather than a specific point in time, and “with three Fridays” is incorrect as it does not denote a time frame.

Item 06

The project starts ___ four months, so plan accordingly.

  • A. in
  • B. on
  • C. under
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • A. in

Incorrect answers

  • B. on
  • C. under

Explanation: “In four months” specifies a future time frame. “On four months” is incorrect because “on” is used for specific days, not months, and “under” is not used to reference time.

Item 07

We will reconvene ___ the 10th of November, so please be prepared.

  • A. in
  • B. at
  • C. on
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • C. on

Incorrect answers

  • A. in
  • B. at

Explanation: “On the 10th of November” specifies a particular date. “In the 10th of November” is incorrect because “in” is not used for specific dates, and “at the 10th of November” is incorrect as “at” is used for specific points in time or locations, not dates.

Item 08

The conference will be held ___ the third Monday of September, not the first.

  • A. in
  • B. under
  • C. on
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • C. on

Incorrect answers

  • A. in
  • B. under

Explanation: “On the third Monday” specifies a particular day in September. “In the third Monday” is incorrect because “in” is not used for specific days, and “under the third Monday” does not make sense in the context of time.

Item 09

The results will be announced ___ two weeks, so stay tuned.

  • A. in
  • B. under
  • C. with
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • A. in

Incorrect answers

  • B. under
  • C. with

Explanation: “In two weeks” indicates a time frame in the future. “Under two weeks” and “with two weeks” are incorrect because they do not properly indicate the passage of time.

Item 10

The wedding will be held ___ the 21st of July, so mark your calendar.

  • A. on
  • B. in
  • C. under
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • A. on

Incorrect answers

  • B. in
  • C. under

Explanation: “On the 21st of July” specifies a particular date. “In the 21st of July” is incorrect because “in” is not used for specific dates, and “under the 21st of July” is grammatically incorrect.

Item 11

The concert will be held ___ three days from today, so get your tickets.

  • A. in
  • B. over
  • C. under
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • A. in

Incorrect answers

  • B. over
  • C. under

Explanation: “In three days” specifies a future time frame. “Over three days” suggests a duration, and “under three days” is grammatically incorrect.

Item 12

The report is due ___ next Monday, so start working on it.

  • A. by
  • B. at
  • C. with
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • A. by

Incorrect answers

  • B. at
  • C. with

Explanation: “By next Monday” indicates the deadline is the upcoming Monday. “At next Monday” does not indicate a deadline, and “with next Monday” is grammatically incorrect.

Item 13

The follow-up meeting is scheduled ___ ten days after the initial presentation.

  • A. in
  • B. at
  • C. over
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • A. in

Incorrect answers

  • B. at
  • C. over

Explanation: “In ten days” specifies a future time frame relative to another event. “At ten days” and “over ten days” are not correct prepositions in this context.

Item 14

The training session will be held ___ two weeks before the conference, so prepare in advance.

  • A. exactly
  • B. at
  • C. over
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • A. exactly

Incorrect answers

  • B. at
  • C. over

Explanation: “Exactly two weeks before” specifies a precise time before another event. “At two weeks before” and “over two weeks before” are not correct prepositions in this context.

Item 15

The deadline is ___ the 15th of this month, so submit your work on time.

  • A. on
  • B. in
  • C. under
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • A. on

Incorrect answers

  • B. in
  • C. under

Explanation: “On the 15th of this month” specifies a particular date. “In the 15th of this month” is incorrect because “in” is not used for specific dates, and “under the 15th of this month” is grammatically incorrect.

Item 16

The project review is scheduled ___ three weeks from tomorrow.

  • A. in
  • B. at
  • C. under
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • A. in

Incorrect answers

  • B. at
  • C. under

Explanation: “In three weeks” specifies a future time frame. “At three weeks” and “under three weeks” are grammatically incorrect.

Item 17

The meeting is set for ___ Tuesday, August 7th.

  • A. on
  • B. in
  • C. at
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • A. on

Incorrect answers

  • B. in
  • C. at

Explanation: “On Tuesday, August 7th” specifies a particular date and day of the week. “In Tuesday, August 7th” is incorrect because “in” is not used for specific dates, and “at Tuesday, August 7th” is incorrect as “at” is not used for dates.

Item 18

We have a review meeting ___ three days from today.

  • A. in
  • B. on
  • C. under
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • A. in

Incorrect answers

  • B. on
  • C. under

Explanation: “In three days” specifies a future time frame. “On three days” is less common but still acceptable, and “under three days” is incorrect.

Item 19

The results will be announced ___ four weeks.

  • A. in
  • B. over
  • C. under
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • A. in

Incorrect answers

  • B. over
  • C. under

Explanation: “In four weeks” specifies a future time frame. “Over four weeks” and “under four weeks” are not correct prepositions in this context.

Item 20

The project will start ___ the 1st of next month.

  • A. on
  • B. in
  • C. at
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • A. on

Incorrect answers

  • B. in
  • C. at

Explanation: “On the 1st of next month” specifies a particular date. “In the 1st of next month” is incorrect because “in” is not used for specific dates, and “at the 1st of next month” is incorrect as “at” is not used for dates.

Item 21

The meeting is scheduled ___ Monday, August 7th.

  • A. on
  • B. in
  • C. at
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • A. on

Incorrect answers

  • B. in
  • C. at

Explanation: “On Monday, August 7th” specifies a particular date and day of the week. “In Monday, August 7th” is incorrect because “in” is not used for specific dates, and “at Monday, August 7th” is incorrect as “at” is not used for dates.

Item 22

The follow-up meeting is scheduled ___ two weeks after the initial presentation.

  • A. in
  • B. at
  • C. over
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • A. in

Incorrect answers

  • B. at
  • C. over

Explanation: “In two weeks” specifies a future time frame relative to another event. “At two weeks” and “over two weeks” are not correct prepositions in this context.

Item 23

The deadline is ___ the 10th of next month.

  • A. on
  • B. in
  • C. at
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • A. on

Incorrect answers

  • B. in
  • C. at

Explanation: “On the 10th of next month” specifies a particular date. “In the 10th of next month” is incorrect because “in” is not used for specific dates, and “at the 10th of next month” is incorrect as “at” is not used for dates.

Item 24

The project will be reviewed ___ three weeks from today.

  • A. in
  • B. over
  • C. under
Reveal answer

Correct answer

  • A. in

Incorrect answers

  • B. over
  • C. under

Explanation: “In three weeks” specifies a future time frame. “Over three weeks” and “under three weeks” are not correct prepositions in this context.

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