How to Describe Time in English with General Time References

When we speak, we usually use terms that refer to time in general. Unfortunately, Most educational institutions focus on teaching (Twelve-Hour Clock time). As non-native speakers, we need general terms that describe time to speak more freely and fluently. In this essay, I will list the most important and commonly used terms of time.

1. Early Morning:   e.g.                                                                                                                     Susan eats breakfast in the early morning after she wakes up.

2. “Sunrise” and “Dawn”: refer to the same time of day: whenever the sun begins to rise above the horizon. When “sunrise/dawn” occurs, varies over a year, occurring earlier in summer and later in winter.    e.g.                                                        The birds started singing at sunrise.      e.g.              Hussein woke up right at dawn.

3. “Noon” and “Midday”: refer to the same time of day, which is 12:00pm, or the very middle of a twenty-four-hour day. This is often around the time people have their lunch.  E.g.       “Can we talk again at noon?” Tom asked her.       Sami always ate lunch around midday.

4. Afternoon : It starts after (Noon / Midday)to evening    e.g.                                 Ali enjoys walking in the afternoon.

5. “Evening”:  is just before sunset or nightfall.                  e.g.    

                      She stayed out late that evening with her friends.

1. “Night”:    refers to after the sun has set, and it’s dark outside. e.g.

                               Abbas didn’t get any sleep yesterday night. 

1. “Midnight” refers to 12:00am, or the very middle of the night. e.g.

                                Layla woke up at midnight feeling very hungry.

1. “Soon”      means in the near future.       e.g.  Zaid was leaving for college soon.

2. “Almost”     is similar to “soon,” and means nearly.     e.g.

                          “It’s almost time!” he said excitedly.

1. “Later”        is similar to “after,” but is a more.         e.g.

                        “Do you want to go out for dinner later?” Ali asked.

1. “For a long time”      can essentially mean different things, but refers to much time passing or having passed.      e.g.

                     “You were at the store for a long time,” said Warth.

1. “Anytime”      is a word specific about a time. It means that any time is okay, or that something can happen at any time.    e.g.

                  “You can stop by anytime,” said Hassen.

1. “As soon as possible” (often abbreviated to “ASAP”) means that something should happen at the earliest possible convenience.   e.g.

Furthermore, it is possible to express timing with days by mentioning the previous and subsequent days.      e.g.