ESL, Time Expressions, Vocabulary, Time Phrases, Time Expressions,

1. Expression of Time
Common phrases used to
describe time in English

2. What’s the man doing?
How do you think he feels?

3. What expression can you say when time is nearly up?

4. Or to be “Running out of time”

5. Do you consider yourself a “morning person”?
What time of day are you most productive?

7. What do the drivers in the photos have in common?

8. They’re all …
(Distracted)

9. Question: When you’re working, what’s the
most common distraction you
experience?
In other words: What breaks your focus when you’re working?

11. Amy was on her way to class when she got
S__________ by her friend. They talked
for 20 minutes and she was late to class.
Tom was planning to leave
work at 6pm, but he got
S_________ by some
last minute customer phone
calls. (So, he left later).
*Synonym for Distracted

12. To get “Sidetracked”

13. We can do this we’re tired, bored, and distracted…

14. We often “Daydream” or simply “Zone Out”
*Daydream is when we’re imagining something. “Zoning out” is more like when your
brain is tired, and you’re thinking of
something else or not at all…

15. Do you ever zone out when your spouse or
friend is talking to you?
Do they call you out on doing it?
Do you ever apologize for zoning out?

16. Cooking for a family Paperwork
Driving / Commuting Cleaning your house
What do all
of these
activities
have in
common?

17. They all can be very TIME-CONSUMING
activities.

18. When you’re not working, do you do anything
that is very time-consuming?
Is it an enjoyable hobby or an obligation?

20. 24 hour service, 7 days a week
Doing something a LOT
ex: “Circle K is open
R_____the C_________
I’ve been working R_____the C____
this week.

21. * or “Around the Clock”
Round-the-clock customer support
Round-the-clock room service
Round-the-clock security
to work round-the-clock
to verb round-the-clock

22. Can you name 3 places with round the clock service?
- you can go there at any time.

23. Can you name the following items:
What kind of shirt
is this?

24. What are these social media apps
called?

25. What’s the name of this boy band?

26. Do you know what these are?

27. If you’ve ever been confused, unaware or annoyed
by current trends in technology, music, fashion &
entertainment…. you can say that you’re
B________ the times

28. tA: Are you free to Facetime tomorrow morning for a quick meeting?
B: Free to What-time?
A: Facetime…. it’s a program on your iphone. You can use it to video chat.
B: Iphone? I just have a landline. I guess I’m behind the times.
A: You’re probably better off… iphones are a huge distraction. We can meet face-to-face.

29. Do you ever feel “Behind the times”?
Do you care about new fashion/makeup/hair trends?
Are you interested in getting the newest electronic
gadgets?
What do you think about popular music today?

30. Why do you think weekdays seem to feel
longer than weekends?
*Why does time pass so quickly during
holidays?

31. It’s usually because “time f_______ when you’re
having fun.”

32. Ex: You should really cherish your children while they’re
young and sweet…. because time flies and
suddenly, they’re stubborn teenagers.

33. If it was possible
to t______ back
time, (go back in
the past)…
What age would
you want to be
again?

34. to “turn back time”
A: I should have handled that customer differently.
B: Well, you can’t turn back time, so you should focus on resolving the issue peacefully and
professionally.
A: You’re right. I’m going to call her now to apologize.

35. F_____ N_____ O____, (this time and into the future.)
I’m going to turn off my phone at 8pm. I get work calls
all evening and night! I can’t sleep!

37. If you had to change something about your life
from now on, what would you change?

38. A: Do you ever take fitness classes?
B: Every n____ & t______ (occasionally), but not
on the regular. I just go if I’m in the right
place at the right time.

39. Every now and then…

40. I’ve told you T______ and T______ again (repeatedly) that you need
to follow our company’s compliance policies, but you aren’t
taking me seriously. I have to report your violations.

41. Ex: I’ve seen that movie time and time again, but I still love to watch it.
I’ve seen this doctor time and time again, but he never smiles.

43. Q: _______ we get to the meeting,
the presentation will have started.
a) As soon as
b) By the time
c) Whenever
d) Until

44. Q: _______ we get to the meeting,
the presentation will have started.
a) As soon as
b) By the time
c) Whenever
d) Until

45. Q: Does he remember
what he was doing
_______?
a) at the time
b) usually
c)every day
d) the time

46. Q: Does he remember
what he was doing
_______?
a) at the time
b) usually
c) every day
d) the time

47. Q: It's ages _______ I
played golf.
a) ago
b) for
c) since
d) when

48. Q: It's ages _______ I
played golf.
a) ago
b) for
c) since
d) when

49. Q: Tom's ______ gone out
for a moment. He'll be back
soon.
a) yet
b) since
c) already
d) just

50. Q: Tom's ______ gone out
for a moment. He'll be back
soon.
a) yet
b) since
c) already
d) just

51. Q: ________, we'll
have to bite the bullet
and buy a new car.
a) Once
b) Eventually
c) Now
d) By the time

52. Q: ________, we'll
have to bite the bullet
and buy a new car.
a) Once
b) Eventually
c) Now
d) By the time

53. Q: ________ he
hasn't managed to
find a new job.
a) By now
b) So far
c) To now
d) Until

54. Q: ________ he
hasn't managed to
find a new job.
a) By now
b) So far
c) To now
d) Until

55. Jack's _______
complaining about his
boss. He should find a
new job.
a) sometimes
b) forever
c) every time
d) usually

56. Jack's _______
complaining about his
boss. He should find a
new job.
a) sometimes
b) forever
c) every time
d) usually

57. Q: Janet hasn't been
feeling well ______.
a) of late
b) still
c) already
d) until now

58. Q: Janet hasn't been
feeling well ______.
a) of late
b) still
c) already
d) until now

59. Q: My grandmother
doesn't get out much
_________.
a) day by day
b) recently
c) nowadays
d) already

60. Q: My grandmother
doesn't get out much
_________.
a) day by day
b) recently
c) nowadays
d) already

61. Q: __________ I need to
talk to someone, I call my
sister.
a) As
b) Where as
c) Whatever
d) Whenever