Question

Everybody wanted to come here............time. (Choose the correct option)

• A. by
• B. for
• C. in
• D. at

Hint:

Use “by” to show a deadline (not later than), “for” for duration, “in” for future reference, and “at” for a specific clock time.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the preposition usage.
The sentence talks about a deadline or a specific point before which everyone wanted to arrive. In such cases, the preposition “by” is used to indicate the latest time for an action.
Step 2: Analyze the options.
- (a) by: Means “not later than” — correct for indicating a deadline.
- (b) for: Used for expressing duration (e.g., for two hours) — incorrect here.
- (c) in: Used for time duration in the future (e.g., in two days) — incorrect here.
- (d) at: Used for exact times (e.g., at 5 p.m.) — incorrect for general reference.
Step 3: Grammar rule.
“By” is used when we want to express that something happens before or not later than a specific time. Example: “You must finish the work by tomorrow.”
Step 4: Constructing the correct sentence.
The correct sentence is: “Everybody wanted to come here by time.”
(It implies they wanted to arrive before or not later than the decided time.)
Step 5: Conclusion.
Thus, the correct preposition is “by.”