Time words are short, they come up constantly, and the small word in front of them is what learners get wrong. This last lesson fixes both halves at once.
1. What Day Works?
Ida: Are you free this week?
Mo: Tuesday or Thursday.
Ida: Thursday's better for me.
Mo: Morning or afternoon?
Ida: In the morning, if that's all right.
Mo: Ten o'clock, then.
2. Running Late
Sara: I'm running about ten minutes late.
Nils: No problem. Traffic?
Sara: I left later than I meant to.
Nils: I'll order coffee.
Sara: See you shortly.
3. Which Date Exactly?
Ken: The trip's in March.
Ana: What date?
Ken: The fourteenth. A Saturday.
Ana: That's the week I'm away.
Ken: The weekend after, then.
Ana: That works.
4. Changing a Plan
Lea: Can we move it to next week?
Otto: Same day, same time?
Lea: Same time, one day later.
Otto: Fine. I'll update the calendar.
Lea: Sorry about this.
Otto: These things happen.
5. How Long Will It Take?
Dee: How long does it take?
Ravi: About an hour and a half.
Dee: Each way?
Ravi: Each way.
Dee: That's most of the day, then.
Ravi: It's worth it.
6. Weekend Plans
Hana: Doing anything at the weekend?
Tom: Nothing on Saturday. Sunday I'm busy.
Hana: Saturday, then.
Tom: What did you have in mind?
Hana: Nothing yet. I'll think of something.
Tom: You always do.
7. A Deadline Coming Up
Nina: When's it due?
Karl: The end of the month.
Nina: That's two weeks away.
Karl: Eleven days.
Nina: You've counted.
Karl: Twice.
8. It's Been a While
Elsa: When did we last do this?
Pavel: Two summers ago.
Elsa: That long?
Pavel: Time goes.
Elsa: Not two years next time.
Pavel: Agreed. Once a month.
Words to know
| due | the time by which something must be finished When's it due? The end of the month. |
| date | the exact day, month and year What date? The fourteenth. |
| calendar | where you keep your days and appointments I'll update the calendar. |
| weekday | any day from Monday to Friday I'm only free on weekdays. |
| fortnight | two weeks That's a fortnight away. |
| shortly | in a very short time from now See you shortly. |
| overdue | later than the time it should have been done The report is two days overdue. |
| meanwhile | during the same period of time I'll call them. Meanwhile, finish the list. |
Quick practice
Complete each sentence with an expression from the lessons.
1. A: Are you free this week?
B: Thursday. In the ________, if that's all right.
2. A: I'm ________ about ten minutes late.
B: No problem. Traffic?
3. A: The trip's in March. What ________?
B: The fourteenth. A Saturday.
4. A: Can we move it to ________ week?
B: Same day, same time?
5. A: When's it ________?
B: The end of the month.
6. A: When did we last do this?
B: Two summers ________.
Show the answers
1. morning 2. running 3. date 4. next 5. due 6. ago
Common mistakes
Not: I'll see you in Monday.
Say: I'll see you on Monday.
On for days, in for months and years, at for clock times.
Not: See you the next week.
Say: See you next week.
Next week, last month and this year never take the.
Not: The meeting is at the morning.
Say: The meeting is in the morning.
It is in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening, but at night.
Your turn
Open your calendar for this week. Say these five things aloud, using the right small word each time.
- Say what you are doing on Thursday and at what time.
- Suggest two possible days to meet a friend next week.
- Explain that you will be ten minutes late and why.
- Say the date of your next appointment, out loud, in full.
- Ask someone to move a plan to a different day, politely.
Quick review
Three small words carry almost all of English time: at for the clock, on for days and dates, in for months, years and parts of the day. Say one true sentence with each right now — at seven, on Friday, in April — and you have finished this pack with the piece that matters most.