Page 121 - English Vocabulary In Use upper intermediet and advance

58 Time

Periods of time - words and typical contexts

The Ice Age The Stone Age The Middle Ages The age of the computer.
[major historical/geologicaI periods]
After the war, a new era of peace began. [long period, perhaps several decades]
The doctor said I needed a period of rest and relaxation, so I'm taking three months'
unpaid leave. [very general word]
A spell of hot weather. He's had a couple of spells in hospital in the last two or three
years. [indefinite but short]
During the 1950s I lived in Cork for a time. [vague, indefinite]
D'you want to borrow this book for a while? [indefinite but not too long]
Useful phrases with time

The doctor says you should One at a time, please! I can't
stay in bed for the time serve you all together.
being. [not specific] \ f-
He can get a bit bad- \ ' We got there just in time for
-TIME-
tempered at times. Inner.
By the time we get home I expected you to be late, the
this pizza will be cold! trains are never on time.

I've told yo" time and time again
not to ring me at the office!

Verbs associated with time passing
1980 1990 Ten years have passed/elapsed since I last heard from her.
Elapse is more formal and is normally used in the perfect or past, without adverbs. Pass can
be used in any tense and with adverbs.
Don't worry. The time will pass quickly. Time passes very slowly when you're lonely.
London - k*2 - Singapore It takes 12 hours to fly to Singapore.

The batteries in this radio usually last about three or four months.
lam

This videotape lasts/runs for three hours.

\, The meeting went on for two hours.
[suggests longer than expected or desired]
Note also: Take your time, you don't need to hurry

Adjectives describing duration (how long something lasts)
He's a temporary lecturer; the permanent one's on leave.
Could we make a provisional booking now and confirm it later?
Venice has a timeless beauty.
Christians believe in eternal life after death.

116 English Vocabulary in Use