A ‣ Phrases with time

We got to the meeting in time [before the meeting started].

My brother is always on time [not early or late].

It’s time (for us) to go. [used to say that something should happen now]

Do you have time for a cup of coffee? [have enough time to do something]

Call me the next time you’re in London. [on the next occasion]

The weather was wonderful the last time we were there. [on the last occasion]

Sophie and I arrived at the same time, 9 o’clock exactly.

B ‣ Time prepositions often confused

I’ll be here until 4.30. [I won’t leave before 4.30]

I’ll be there by 8.15. [not later than 8.15]

I’ve worked here for six months. (for + a period of time, e.g. a week, ten days, two years)

I’ve worked here since May. (since + a point in time in the past, e.g. last Friday, March, 2011)

I worked on a farm during the summer. (this tells you ‘when’)

I worked on a farm for a month. (this tells you ‘how long’) (NOT during a month)

I’m going back to Brazil in ten days’ time [ten days from now]. (NOT after ten days)

C ‣ Approximate periods of time – past, present and future

Past
I’ve known Lucia for ages [for a long time, e.g. many years].
I haven’t been to the dentist recently/lately [e.g. in the last few months].
I saw Tom recently [e.g. a few weeks ago / not long ago].
I used to go skiing, but that was a long time ago [e.g. 5– 10 years ago; syn ages ago].
My sister went to the zoo the other day [e.g. a few days ago, perhaps a week].

Present
I don’t see my brother much these days [a period including the past and now; syn nowadays].

Future
This dictionary’s fine for the time being [for now / the near future – but not for a long time].
I’m sure I’ll go to America one day [in the future but I don’t know when].

D ‣ Counting time

There are 60 seconds in a minute; 60 minutes in an hour; 24 hours in a day; 7 days in a week; 2 weeks in a fortnight; 52 weeks in a year; 10 years in a decade; 100 years in a century.

E ‣ Take and last

We use take to say how long we need to do something.
It takes me half an hour to get to school.
We can walk, but it’ll take (us) a long time.

We use last to talk about how long something continues, from the beginning to the end.
The course lasts for ten weeks.
How long does the film last?
The battery in my camera didn’t last long [continue for a long time].