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Exact Periods of Time

This document discusses periods of time in three sentences or less: It provides exact periods of time such as 60 seconds in a minute and 12 months in a year. It also discusses approximate periods of time like "weeks" and "years" to emphasize how long something takes. Finally, it examines phrases used to talk about time in the past and present, from specific decades and centuries to more general terms like "nowadays."

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Ahbao Tiu
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55 views1 page

Exact Periods of Time

This document discusses periods of time in three sentences or less: It provides exact periods of time such as 60 seconds in a minute and 12 months in a year. It also discusses approximate periods of time like "weeks" and "years" to emphasize how long something takes. Finally, it examines phrases used to talk about time in the past and present, from specific decades and centuries to more general terms like "nowadays."

Uploaded by

Ahbao Tiu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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centre 20 S T U D Y PA G E S

Periods of time
Exact periods of time

60 seconds in a minute 12 months in a year


60 minutes in an hour 10 years in a decade
24 hours in a day 100 years in a century
7 days in a week 1000 years in a millennium

Also, in the UK a fortnight is 2 weeks.


Were going to Spain for a fortnight.

Approximate periods of time


Sometimes the words for exact periods of time are also used to talk about
approximate periods of time. Usually, this kind of phrase emphasizes how long
something is taking.
At this rate itll take weeks to finish the project (= it will take too long).
Hes been doing the same job for years and years (= a very long time).

Other phrases used for talking about how long something takes
Youre late Ive been waiting (for) ages!
Ive had these boots for quite a while.
Will the builders be here long? Yes, they only started a short time ago.
Shell be here in a second/moment/minute.
Would you mind waiting a minute? Ill be with you presently/shortly.

Periods of time in the past and present


These phrases are used to talk in a general way about time in the past or in the
present:
Punk music was popular in the late 1970s and early 80s.
Our house was built in the mid-sixties.
The hospital dates from the turn of the century (= the beginning of the century).
Electric lights were invented near the end of the nineteenth century.
Greek civilization was one of the most important in ancient times.
Medical science has developed enormously in modern times.
I love to hear Grandpa talk about the old days (= the time when he was young).
In those days it was very difficult to travel across Africa.
Everyone seems to be on the Internet nowadays/these days.
Im really busy with work at the moment.

A period of time from one point of time to another point


Here are some common ways of saying this:
We stayed in Brussels from Thursday to Monday.
Its open from nine oclock until/till half past five.
(US): The performances are Monday through/thru Friday (= they are on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday).

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