time & duration related phrases
Beneficial or worthwhile for someone to do something.
"If you help me with this project, I'll make it worth your while."
Beneficial to both parties, often used in business or work contexts, to describe a task or collaboration.
"The company offered a bonus to make it worth their while to work overtime."
The farmer or manual laborer toils tirelessly for long hours.
"Farmers often have to work from dawn till dusk during the harvest season."
This is used to describe someone who is extremely diligent, dedicating almost all their time to work.
"She was so dedicated to her startup that she worked from dawn till dusk every day."
Inefficient or pointless.
"Don't waste time on things that don't matter."
Expressing dissatisfaction with an activity or behavior, deeming it worthless.
"Playing video games all day is just a way to waste time."
When describing theories about the origin of the universe in scientific discussions.
"Scientists have different theories about how the universe began."
Exploring the initial state of the universe in philosophical or religious contexts.
"Many cultures have myths that explain how the universe began."
Describing a very early or very late time, typically referring to the early hours of the morning or late at night.
"I had to wake up at an ungodly hour to catch my flight."
Complaining about or describing events or activities that occur at an unusual time.
"Why are you calling me at such an ungodly hour?"
To describe the natural passage of time, such as when reminiscing or expressing feelings of nostalgia.
"As time passes, we grow older and wiser."
To be used when discussing life, growth, or change.
"Time passes quickly when you're having fun."
Time slips away unnoticed, often accompanied by a sense of nostalgia or reflection.
"As time goes by, I realize how important family is to me."
To be used when discussing life, growth, or change, emphasizing the irreversibility of time.
"Time goes by so quickly when you're having fun."
Used to express anticipation or prediction of something that might happen in the future.
"No one knows what the future holds, but we can prepare for it."
To envision future possibilities in a speech or writing.
"The future holds many opportunities for those who are willing to work hard."
When someone asks for the time, such as when a stranger on the street asks for directions.
"Can you tell me the time? I forgot my watch."
When asked about the time, respond to the other person, whether on the phone or in person.
"She asked if I could tell her the time because her phone was dead."
When someone is doing something, you hope they won't rush and can take their time.
"You don't need to rush; just take your time and do it carefully."
You have plenty of time.
"Take your time to think about the offer before making a decision."
Here are a few options, depending on the specific nuance you want to convey: * He burned the midnight oil, working late into the night. * She stayed up all night, studying for her exam. * He was up late, toiling away at his project. * She pulled an all-nighter to finish her assignment. * He worked late into the night, fueled by coffee and determination.
"I had to stay up until the small hours to finish my project."
Going on late into the night.
"We stayed up until the small hours talking and laughing."
Describing everyday leisure activities, like after work or during the weekend when you relax.
"I spent two hours watching TV last night instead of studying."
Answering questions about scheduling, such as asking what someone did last night.
"She often spends two hours watching TV after dinner to unwind."
Spending time in daily life looking for keys that are lost or misplaced.
"I spent an hour looking for the keys before realizing they were in my pocket all along."
The scenario describes the situation when you can't find your keys due to haste or carelessness.
"She was late for work because she spent an hour looking for the keys under the couch."
Spending time on an activity or task.
"I like to spend time reading books on weekends."
Spending time with someone.
"She spends a lot of time with her family."
Describing the schedule of a trip or vacation.
"We will spend three days exploring the national park."
The time required to complete a task.
"He spent three days finishing the project."
Here are a few options for translating the Chinese text, suitable for language learning: * I usually read books in my free time. * I often read books during my spare time. * I typically read books when I have free time.
"I like to read books in my spare time."
Here's the English translation: Used to ask about someone's free time activities, such as: 'What do you like to do in your free time?'
"What do you usually do in your spare time?"
Before getting out of bed in the morning, people usually set an alarm clock to ensure they wake up on time.
"They set their alarms for 6 AM to make sure they wouldn't oversleep."
People set alarms as reminders before important events or meetings.
"Before the big presentation, everyone set their alarms to arrive early."
When discussing work efficiency, it's often used to describe how to reduce wasted time by optimizing processes.
"Using a dishwasher can save time when cleaning up after a meal."
In everyday life advice, for recommending tips or tools to complete tasks quickly.
"Planning your route in advance will save time during your commute."
Discover more topics to expand your learning