About time.Part one

Honour Member

We can't get away from it, we can't avoid it and we encounter it the moment we're born. It just goes on and on and on. It's relentless and unstoppable. What is it? Why, it's time of course. Even if you go on holiday, it still dogs (follows close behind) you. Remember that the plane, the ferry, the boat, the coach all have to be caught at a certain time and you obviously don't want to miss them. And when you're staying at your hotel, don't forget the meal times. The kitchen staff aren't going to sit around all day waiting for you to decide when you want to eat. At work it's the same. You have to get up in the morning early enough for work at the right time.

Of course the word leads a busy life in idiom too in different expressions. We talk about having free time when we can do what we like and if you see you have at least two hours before your train leaves, we say we've got bags of time and you'll be in time to catch it even if it arrives on time (punctually). If you think that something should be done immediately, you say that it's high time that the government stopped increasing taxes. If you want to tell someone to do more work, you tell them it's about time they stopped sleeping and got on with their job.

Mind you, if you're not feeling very well, you could always take time off (stop working) for a few days. Sayings also exist. Take this: Time and tide wait for no one. That means time doesn't wait for anyone and nor do the waves of the sea. Perhaps it's time to get literary and find something from Shakespeare, Here's what he says in one of his poems:

Time's glory is to calm contending kings,
To unmask falsehood and bring truth to light.

This means that one of the best things about time is that it gives kings (rulers) the chance to settle arguments, it exposes something that's untrue and also reveals the truth.

I know what you're going to say -- I didn't think Shakespeare was still alive. Well, of course he's not. He died in 1616. So why did I say (past simple), what he says (present simple)?

That brings us into another aspect of time, which we call 'tense'. And now the time has come to take a short break. After all I don't want to overload you. Sit back, relax and take it easy. Take your time, as well. In part two I'll get down to details and talk about two tenses in particular

Honour Member

Quote :: This means that
one of the best things about time is that it gives kings (rulers) the
chance to settle arguments, it exposes something that's untrue and also
reveals the truth.

You are right, sir!
The one thing to take into consideration is that it solves problems at a longer term.

Honour Member

Thank you dear friend.