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Prepositions with quarter

Prepositions with quarter

Quarter combines with different prepositions depending on meaning. Some combinations are standard, while others are limited or nonidiomatic.

Quick answer

Common uses of quarter

Use per quarter for rates, quarter of for fractions or parts, and at quarter past in time expressions. In quarter and to quarter are limited to specific contexts, while of quarter alone is not standard.

Sales increased by 5% per quarter.
Only a quarter of the class attended.
The train leaves at quarter past six.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
per quarter

Giving rates over three-month periods

Per quarter is common in business and finance.

The company reports earnings per quarter.
Interest is calculated per quarter.
2
quarter of + noun

Expressing a fraction or section

Quarter of means one fourth of something.

A quarter of the budget was cut.
Nearly a quarter of voters were undecided.
3
at quarter past/to + time

Telling time

Use quarter past and quarter to in time expressions.

We arrived at quarter past eight.
The film starts at quarter to nine.
4
in the first/second quarter

Talking about parts of a year or game

In quarter is natural with ordinal numbers.

Profits rose in the second quarter.
The team scored twice in the final quarter.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
per quarter
The fee is charged per quarter.
Standard for rates over a three-month period.
of quarter
The report discussed of quarter results.
Not idiomatic in standard English.
to quarter
It is quarter to ten.
Standard in time expressions with quarter to.
in quarter
Sales improved in the third quarter.
Natural with numbered or named quarters.
at quarter
We met at quarter past seven.
Used in fixed time phrases such as quarter past and quarter to.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using of quarter instead of quarter of

English uses quarter of for fractions.

✕ Of quarter of the staff resigned. ✓ A quarter of the staff resigned.

Using at quarter without a time phrase

At quarter needs a fuller expression such as quarter past six.

✕ The lesson starts at quarter. ✓ The lesson starts at quarter past six.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The bank reviews accounts once ___ quarter.
2. A quarter ___ the land is protected.
3. We arrived at quarter ___ eight.

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Frequently asked questions

What does per quarter mean?

It means for each three-month period, especially in finance and business.

Is quarter to nine correct?

Yes. It means 8:45.

Can I say in quarter without a number?

Usually no. English normally says in the first quarter, in the final quarter, and similar expressions.

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