A1 — Time Words: Days, Parts of the Day & Frequency
Level A1
Time & routine
Everyday phrases
Goal
Talk about time in simple English: days of the week, parts of the day, clock times and how often you do things.
Clock time & at
- What time is it? — basic question for the time.
- It’s seven o’clock. = 7:00.
- It’s half past three. = 3:30.
- It’s quarter past six. = 6:15.
- It’s quarter to nine. = 8:45.
- Use at with clock times: at 7 o’clock, at half past four.
Parts of the day
- morning ≈ 5–11 a.m.
I get up in the morning. - afternoon ≈ 12–5 p.m.
I go to the shop in the afternoon. - evening ≈ 5–10 p.m.
We watch TV in the evening. - night = late evening, when you sleep.
The streets are quiet at night. - Use in the morning/afternoon/evening, but at night.
Days of the week
- Always start with a capital letter: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
- Use on with days:
on Monday,
on Sunday.
(Often in speech people drop on, but for A1 keep it.) - weekend = Saturday + Sunday:
at the weekend (BrE) or on the weekend (AmE).
Today / yesterday / tomorrow & how often
- today = this day.
I feel tired today. - yesterday = the day before today.
We were busy yesterday. - tomorrow = the day after today.
I work tomorrow. - How often? Use: always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every day, every week.
Frequency words usually go before the main verb: I usually get up at 7. / after to be: I am often late.
Vocabulary — 30 time words & phrases
1. time
What time is it?
2. o’clock
It’s six o’clock.
3. half past
It’s half past three.
4. quarter past
It’s quarter past five.
5. quarter to
It’s quarter to nine.
6. morning
I drink coffee in the morning.
7. afternoon
I study in the afternoon.
8. evening
We watch TV in the evening.
9. night
The streets are quiet at night.
10. today
I feel good today.
11. yesterday
I was busy yesterday.
12. tomorrow
We travel tomorrow.
13. now
I am at work now.
14. early
I get up early.
15. late
He is often late for work.
16. always
She always has breakfast.
17. usually
I usually go to bed at eleven.
18. often
We often watch films at night.
19. sometimes
He sometimes works on Saturday.
20. never
I never drink coffee at night.
21. every day
I read English every day.
22. every week
We have a meeting every week.
23. weekend
We relax at the weekend.
24. Monday
I start work on Monday.
25. Tuesday
I have a class on Tuesday.
26. Wednesday
We meet on Wednesday.
27. Thursday
Thursday is a busy day.
28. Friday
We go out on Friday night.
29. Saturday
I sleep late on Saturday.
30. Sunday
We have lunch together on Sunday.
Tip: learn full time chunks: on Monday morning, at the weekend, at seven o’clock, not only single words.
Booster — 20 extra time words & chunks
1. in the morning
I have a shower in the morning.
2. in the afternoon
I work in the afternoon.
3. in the evening
We relax in the evening.
4. at night
I sleep at night.
5. at noon
I have lunch at noon.
6. at midnight
The film finishes at midnight.
7. this morning
I was busy this morning.
8. tonight
We have a party tonight.
9. last week
I was on holiday last week.
10. next week
I have an exam next week.
11. last year
We moved last year.
12. next year
I want to travel next year.
13. before work
I drink coffee before work.
14. after work
We go to the gym after work.
15. all day
It rains all day.
16. all night
They work all night.
17. once a day
I call my parents once a day.
18. twice a week
I go to English class twice a week.
19. three times a week
She goes running three times a week.
20. on Monday morning
We have a meeting on Monday morning.
Tip: connect time words with actions: I usually get up at seven, I work in the afternoon, We relax at the weekend.
Mini-dialogues
- A: What time do you get up? — B: I get up at seven o’clock.
- A: Do you work at the weekend? — B: No, I never work at the weekend.
- A: When is your English class? — B: It’s on Tuesday and Thursday evening.
Conversation pattern
- I usually get up at …
- I go to work/school on … (days).
- I relax at the weekend / in the evening.
Use this pattern to talk about your weekly routine: morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend in 3–4 short sentences.