[誤] We got to the top of the mountain in daybreak.
[正] We got to the top of the mountain at day break.
[析] at用于具體時(shí)刻之前，如：sunrise, midday, noon, sunset, midnight, night.
[誤] Don't sleep at daytime
[正] Don't sleep in daytime.
[析] in 要用于較長的一段時(shí)間之內(nèi)，如：in the morning / afternoon, 或 in the week / month / year. 或 in spring / supper /autumn / winter等等。
[誤] We visited the old man in Sunday afternoon.
[正] We visited the old man on Sunday afternoon.
[析] in the morning, in the afternoon 如果在這兩個短語中加入任何修飾詞其前面的介詞都要改為on, 如：on a cold morning, on the morning of July 14th
[誤] He became a writter at his twenties
[正] He became a writter in his twenties
[析] 這句話應(yīng)譯為：他在20多歲時(shí)就成了作家。在某人的一段生活時(shí)間段中要用介詞in來表示，而在具體歲數(shù)時(shí)用at來表示。
[誤] He went to New York to find a job in sixteen years old.
[正] He went to New York to find a job at sixteen.
[析] 在具體年歲前用at, 如：at the age of 12, at your age, 等等。
[誤] We went to swim in the river in a very hot day.
[正] We went to swim in the river on a very hot day.
[析] 具體某一天要用介詞on, 又如：on New Year's Day
[誤] I'm looking forward to seeing you on Christmas.
[正] I'm looking for ward to seeing you at Christmas.
[析] 在節(jié)日的當(dāng)天用on,而全部節(jié)日期間用at,Christmas是圣誕節(jié)期間，一般要有兩周或更長的時(shí)間。
[誤] I haven't see you during the summer holidays.
[正] I haven't seen you since the beginning of the summer holidays.
[析] during表示在某一段時(shí)間之內(nèi)，所以一般不與完成時(shí)搭配，如：I visited a lot of museums during the holiday. 而for表示一段時(shí)間，可以用于完成時(shí)，如：I haven't see you for a long time. 而through 用來表示時(shí)間時(shí)則為"整整，全部的時(shí)間".如：It rained through the night. 而since則是表達(dá)主句動作的起始時(shí)間，一般要與完成時(shí)連用。
[誤] At entering the classroom, I heard the good news.
[正] On entering the classroom, I heard the good news.
[析] On 加動名詞表示"一……就".本句的譯文應(yīng)是：我一進(jìn)入教室就聽見這個好消息了。又如：on hearing… 一聽見， on arrival 一到達(dá)就……(on表示動作的名詞)
[誤] In the beginning of the book, there are some interesting stories.
[正] At the beginning of the book, there are some interesting stories.
[析] at the begining與at the end都是指某事物的開始與結(jié)束部分，均不指時(shí)間范圍，而in the beginning 則是指開始一段時(shí)間。in the end=at last是指"最終，終于"之意。
[誤] Till the end of next week. I will have finished this work.
[正] By the end of next week. I will have finished this work.
[析] by 引起的時(shí)間狀語表示了動作的截止點(diǎn)，其意思為"不遲于某一時(shí)刻將工作做完",所以主句一般是完成時(shí)態(tài)。當(dāng)然可以有將來時(shí)態(tài)，如：I'll be there by five o'clock.而till則表達(dá)其一動作一直持續(xù)到某一時(shí)刻，但句中的動詞一定要用持續(xù)性動詞，而瞬間的截止性動詞應(yīng)用其否定句式，如：I won't finish this work till(until) next weekend.
[誤] He came to London before last weekend.
[正] He had come to London before last weekend.
[正] He came to London two weeks ago.
[析] before 一般要與完成時(shí)連用，而ago則與一般過去時(shí)連用。
[誤] I have studied English for three years gince I had come here.
[正] I have studied English for three years since I came here.
[析] since用來表達(dá)主句動作的開始時(shí)間，所以其引出的從句中應(yīng)為過去時(shí)，而不能用完成時(shí)態(tài)
[誤] I can help you repair this bike. You will get it after two hours.
[正] I can help you repair this bike. You will get it in two hours.
[析] 中文經(jīng)常講兩小時(shí)之后來取，兩天內(nèi)會修好，而這個介詞在英文中要用in而不要用after.其原因有二，①after 多用于過去時(shí)，如：I arrived in New York. After three days, I found a job in the bank. ② after 加時(shí)間是表達(dá)一個不確定的時(shí)間范圍，如：after three days, 即三天之后的哪一天都可以。所以在許諾若干時(shí)間內(nèi)會完成某事時(shí)，一定要用介詞in.
[誤] Three days after he died.
[正] After three days he died.
[正] Three days later he died.
[析] after 與 later都可以用來表達(dá)一段時(shí)間之后，但它們所處的位置不同，after 在時(shí)間詞前，而later在時(shí)間詞后。
[誤] She hid herself after the tree.
[正] She hid herself behind the tree.
[析] after多用來表達(dá)某動作之后，所以有的語法書中稱它為動態(tài)介詞，如：I run after him. After finishing my homework, I went to see a film. 而behind則多用于靜態(tài)事物之后。
[誤] There is a beautiful bird on the tree.
[正] There is a beautiful bird in the tree.
[析] 樹上長出的果實(shí)，樹葉要用on, 而其他外來的人、物體均要用in the tree.
[誤] Shanghai is on the east of China.
[正] Shanghai is in the east of China.
[析] 在表達(dá)地理位置時(shí)有3個介詞：in, on, to. in表示在某范圍之內(nèi); on表示與某地區(qū)接壤;to則表示不相接。如：Japan is to the east of China.
[誤] I arrived at New York on July 2nd.
[正] I arrived in New York on July 2nd.
[析] at用來表達(dá)較小的地方，而in用來表達(dá)較大的地方。at常用于at the school gate, at home, at a bus stop, at the station, at the cinema, at a small village.
[誤] He lived in No. 3 Beijing Road.
[正] He lived at No. 3 Beijing Road.
[析] 在門牌號碼前要用at, 并要注意它的慣用法：at the end of the street, at the foot of the mountain, at the top of the page.
[誤] There is a colour TV set at the corner of the hall.
[正] There is a colour TV set in the corner of the hall.
[析] 在屋內(nèi)的角落應(yīng)用in,而墻的外角用at,如：There is a tree at the corner of the street.
[誤] This weekend I'll stay in Uncle Wang's.
[正] This weekend I'll stay at Uncle Wang's.
[析] 要注意英文的特殊表達(dá)法，如：at a tailor's shop (裁縫店)=at a tailor's, at the doctor's (去看病) at the bookseller's (在書店) at uncle Wang's (在王叔叔家)
[誤] Do you know there is some good news on today's newspaper?
[正] Do you know there is some good news in today's newspaper?
[析] 在報(bào)紙上的新聞要用in, 而在具體某一版上，或某一頁上則要用on.
[誤] The school will begin on September 1st.
[正] School will begin on September 1st.
[析] 這里的school應(yīng)看作不可數(shù)名詞泛指學(xué)校的課程，即開學(xué)之意。要注意，有些活動場所當(dāng)表達(dá)正在從事該種活動時(shí)不要加冠詞，如：at table (吃飯)， When I came to Tom's home, they were at table. 還有： at desk (學(xué)習(xí))，at work (工作) at school (上學(xué))， in hospital (住醫(yī)院) at church 作禮拜 如加上定冠詞則另有他意，如：at the school 即在學(xué)校工作或辦事，in the hospital 即在醫(yī)院工作或去看望病人。
[誤] In my way to the station, I bought a newspaper to kill time.
[正] On my way to the station, I bought a newspaper to kill time.
[析] 譯文為：在去車站的路上我買了份報(bào)紙，為的是消磨時(shí)光 "在……的路上"應(yīng)用on one's way…而 in the way 有擋道之意，如：Please move the chair it is in the way.
[誤] Look, the door is open, Maybe someone broke into.
[正] Look, the door is open, Maybe someone broke in.
[正] Look, the door is open, Maybe someone broke into the office.
[析] in是表達(dá)一個靜止?fàn)顟B(tài)，在與break連用時(shí)其后不加介詞賓語，而into則是動態(tài)介詞，與break連用時(shí)要加介詞賓語。
[誤] I'll leave Beijing to Shanghai tomorrow.
[正] I'll leave Beijing for Shanghai.
[正] I'll leave for Shanghai.
[析] leave for 是離開某地去某處的固定搭配，不可將for改為別的介詞。這樣的搭配還有：start for 動身前往某處，set out for, sail for.