How to Talk About Time in English: Common Time Expressions and Phrases


Introduction ⏰

Talking about time is essential in everyday English conversations. Whether you’re making plans, discussing schedules, or describing when things happen, knowing the right time expressions will help you communicate more naturally!

Basic Time Expressions 🕐

Parts of the Day

  • dawn / sunrise
  • morning
  • noon / midday
  • afternoon
  • evening
  • dusk / sunset
  • night
  • midnight
  • at (specific times)
  • in (parts of day, months, years)
  • on (days, dates)
  • during (longer periods)
  • by (deadlines)
  • until / till (end points)

Useful Expressions and Examples ⌚

When Talking About Duration

Example 1: “The movie lasted for two hours.”

“I’ve been studying English since last year.”

When Discussing Schedules

Example 2: “The meeting starts at 9 AM sharp.”

“Let’s meet around noon.”

When Making Plans

Example 3: “Are you free this weekend?”

“How about getting together sometime next week?”

Conversation Examples 🗣️

Making Plans with Friends

A: “When are you available?”

B: “I’m free all day tomorrow.”

A: “Perfect! Shall we meet at 2 in the afternoon?”

B: “That works for me!”

Discussing Deadlines

A: “When is the project due?”

B: “We need to finish it by Friday.”

A: “That’s cutting it close!”

B: “We’d better get started right away.”

Grammar Points 📝

Using Time Prepositions

  1. at + specific time Example: “The train arrives at 3:30 PM.”

  2. in + month/year/season Example: “I’ll graduate in June.”

  3. on + day/date Example: “The party is on Saturday.”

Common Mistakes ❌

Incorrect: “I will see you in Monday.” Correct: “I will see you on Monday.”

Incorrect: “The movie starts on 7 PM.” Correct: “The movie starts at 7 PM.”

Expressing Duration

  • “It takes about an hour”
  • “It lasts for two days”
  • “It goes on for weeks”

Expressing Frequency

  • “now and then”
  • “once in a while”
  • “from time to time”
  • “every so often”

Time Idioms 🌟

Common Time Idioms

  • “Time flies”
  • “Better late than never”
  • “In the nick of time”
  • “Time is money”
  • “Around the clock”

Expressing Urgency ⚡

Urgent Situations

  • “ASAP (As Soon As Possible)”
  • “right away”
  • “immediately”
  • “at once”
  • “without delay”

Time Approximations 🎭

Approximate Times

  • “around three o’clock”
  • “about noon”
  • “sometime next week”
  • “roughly an hour”

Calendar Terms 📅

Days and Dates

  • the day before yesterday
  • yesterday
  • today
  • tomorrow
  • the day after tomorrow
  • next week
  • last month
  • coming year

Summary ⭐

Key Points to Remember

  1. Use the correct prepositions (at, in, on)
  2. Learn common time-related idioms
  3. Practice expressing duration and frequency

Remember that using the right time expressions makes your English sound more natural and helps avoid misunderstandings about timing and schedules!

Practice Tips 📚

  1. Try keeping a diary using different time expressions
  2. Practice making plans with friends in English
  3. Listen for time expressions in English movies and shows

Keep practicing these expressions, and you’ll soon be talking about time like a native speaker!




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