English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate » Unit 53: Time

Word List
  • age
  • at times
  • drag on
  • elapse
  • era
  • fleeting
  • fly
  • for a time
  • for the time being
  • from time to time
  • go on
  • Ice Age
  • last
  • loss
  • Middle Ages
  • momentary
  • phase
  • run
  • spell
  • stage
  • Stone Age
  • time
  • timeless
Exercises

53.1 ‣ Fill the gaps with age, era, period, spell, phase or stage.

  1. The Minister said that before the new law came into force there would be a of six months when people could hand in firearms without being prosecuted.
  2. The last two decades of the twentieth century will be seen by historians as the beginning of the computer _____.
  3. The new university will be built in three _____, beginning with the opening of the science faculty in 2015.
  4. These factories mark the beginning of a new _____ of industrial development for the country.
  5. My son went through a _____ of refusing to eat vegetables when he was about nine or ten.
  6. We had a very cold _____ in February. All the water pipes froze up.

53.2 ‣ Complete the sentences.

  1. the of a century, from 1900 to 2000, the population grew steadily.
  2. The lecture _____ / _____ for almost three hours and everyone was totally bored. (two answers)
  3. The archaeologists discovered some tools which dated from the Stone _____.
  4. Time seems to _____ when you're enjoying yourself.
  5. A period of seven years _____ between the two earthquakes.
  6. Shakespeare's plays have a _____ quality - they never grow old.
  7. It was just a _____ visit. She only stayed for about ten minutes.
  8. There was a _____ pause as the official considered her answer. Then she said she would try to help us.

53.3 ‣ Which phrases from B could you use in the following situations? Write exactly what. you might say.

  1. To a child who leaves the fridge door open despite being told off often.
  2. To someone you're happy to see who arrives just as you are serving tea or coffee.
    _____
  3. On a birthday card you expect will arrive at someone's address just after you arrive in New York.
    _____
  4. A large group of people want to talk to you but you'd prefer to see them individually.
    _____
  5. Ask someone to use an old computer while the new one is being repaired.
    _____
  6. Tell someone you'll do your best to arrive punctually at a meeting.
    _____
  7. Explain to someone that the weather can be very hot in your city occasionally.
    _____
  8. Tell someone you enjoy a game of tennis sometimes but not often. Over
    _____

53.4 ‣

Over to you

Your country/culture may have names for important periods of its history (for example, British people often refer to the years 1840-1900 as the ‘Victorian era/period’ because the monarch at the time was Queen Victoria). Make a list in English of important historical periods from your culture.
Answer Key
A ‣ Periods of time – words and typical contexts

the Ice Age     the Stone Age     the Middle Ages     the computer age [major historical/geological periods]

After the war, a new era of stability began. [long period, perhaps several decades]

A spell of hot weather [indefinite but short] He's had a couple of spells in hospital in. the last two or three years.

The city went through several stages of development to become what it is today. [period of development or particular time in a process]

Most teenagers go through a phase of being lazy. [a period which is part of a longer period; phase can also mean the same as stage]

B ‣ Useful expressions with time

During the 1980s I lived in Barcelona for a time. [vague, indefinite period]

The doctor says you should stay in bed for the time being. [for now, not specific]

She can get a bit bad-tempered at times. [occasionally / now and then]

By the time we get home this pizza will be cold! (Note: followed by present tense, not future with will)

I'm not in regular contact with her; I just send her an email from time to time. [sometimes but not often]

One at a time, please! I can't deal with you all together.

We arrived just in time to hear the Prime Minister's speech. [at the right time I with enough time to do something]

Our plane was on time and she was waiting for us at the airport. [punctual / neither early nor late]

I've told you time and time again not to ring me at the office! [many times; very emphatic and usually in negative contexts]

The city has changed a great deal over the course of time / over the course of the last two centuries. (used about long periods of time)

C ‣ Verbs associated with time passing

2002 → 2012 Ten years had elapsed since they last saw each other. (normally used in the perfect or past, without adverbs; fml)

Time seems to fly as you get older. [pass very quickly]

This filml lasts for three hours.

The meeting went on / dragged on for two hours. (suggests longer than expected or desired; drag on is stronger)

D ‣ Adjectives describing duration (how long something lasts)

There was a momentary loss of electrical power and the data was lost. [ very brief]

I just got a fleeting glimpse of the President as his car drove past. [very short and quick]

Venice has a timeless beauty.

Common mistakes

Don’t confuse in time and on time. In time means with enough time to do something or at the right time. On time means punctual, neither early nor late.

We got there just in time for dinner.
I expect she will be late - the trains are never on time.

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