“Time’ is a commonly used word with different meanings. It's important and versatile, serving as a noun, verb and adjective. In this lesson, we will explore the various uses of ‘time’ and how to use it correctly. First, let's look at ‘time’ as a noun, verb and adjective:
Time used as a noun:
What is the current time?
This is the appropriate time to ask the question.
No one can control time.
As an adjective:
We were limited by time.
There is no time restriction.
This is a punctual project.
Time as a verb
Let us measure their speed.
He didn’t measure the boy, and wasted hours on the assignment.
I scheduled the program to coincide with Valentine’s Day.
Three days’ time
Whether it's two weeks’ time, five years’ time or one week’s time, this structure is technical. Note the punctuation, with the placement of the apostrophe being singular before ‘s’ and plural after 's'.:
We will meet in a day’s time.
Akin suggested we gather there in one week’s time.
We will meet in three days’ time.
They will return in seven years’ time.
In recent times
This expression is not ‘in recent time’, which is what many erroneously say and write when referring to a period of time that is near or close to the present. The word 'time', in this expression, is plural:
Recently, Davido has We have not been hearing from Balotelli in recent times.
To emphasize this, remember that it will be odd to say in recent month or in recent year. Instead, we say in recent months and in recent years etc.
Time’s up
When you want to say the time allocated to a specific activity has ended, ‘Time up’ is not the correct thing to say. It is ‘Time’s up’, which is the contracted form of ‘Time is up’. So, our dear teachers should note this, as the expression is often used during tests or examinations.
Is time essential?
Although the idea is right, the grammar is incorrect when you say ‘time is of essence’. The idiom comes with the definite article (the)that should not be omitted. It is ‘time is of the essence’, not ‘time is of essence’.
9 a.m.
The Latin abbreviation, AM, means Ante Meridiem while PM means Post Meridiem. They respectively mean ‘before midday’ and “after midday’. Exuding ample flexibility, am/pm can be written in caps with or without full stops and each can be in the lower case with or without the full stops:
We will leave at 5 A.M.
We will leave at 5 a.m.
The program starts at 2 P.M.
The program starts at 2 p.m.
These versions are acceptable. However, avoid writing the number in words, such as ‘nine am’. The number should always be in figures: 9 A.M., 9 a. m. etc.
Also, there is no need to say 'in the morning' with 9 am, just as it is incorrect to say 9 pm in the night. This is redundant because there is no 5 a.m. in the evening, and there is no 6 p.m. in the morning.
