5.99 approximate times

If you want to be less precise about when something happened, you can use an approximating adverb or approximating expression. It is also possible to use prepositions to relate events to less specific points or periods of time, for example when the exact time of an event is not known, or when events happen gradually, continuously, or several times.

• At about four o'clock in the morning, we were ambushed.
• The device that exploded at around midnight on Wednesday severely damaged the fourth-floor bar.
• The supply of servants continued until about 1950, then abruptly dried up.
• He developed central chest pain during the night.
• For, also over the summer, his book had come out.
• One morning before dawn Ark was beginning to wake me up as usual.

Here is a list of approximating adverbs and expressions:

• about, around, almost, just after, just before, nearly, round about, shortly after, shortly before, soon after, thereabouts

'About', 'around', 'almost', 'nearly', and 'round about', are usually used with clock times or years. With 'about', 'around', and 'round about', the preposition 'at' can often be omitted in informal English.

• Then quite suddenly, round about midday, my mood began to change.
• About nine o'clock he went out to the kitchen.

Here is a list of prepositions which are used to relate events to a non-specific time:

• after, before, by, during, following, over, prior to