At the time
💬 Exercise 1. Warm-up Discussion
Task: Answer the questions in detail. Give examples where possible.
- 🧭 What is something you have changed your mind about during the last year? What made you see it differently?
- 🛠️ What everyday skill do you think people seriously underestimate until they have to do it themselves?
- 🎁 Do you prefer receiving something useful, something handmade, or an experience as a present? Why?
🌙 Exercise 2. Second & Third Conditionals
📘 Theory
| 🌙 Second Conditional | 🕯️ Third Conditional | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | unreal / imaginary situation now or in the future | imaginary alternative to something that already happened |
| If-clause | if + Past Simple | if + had + V3 |
| Result clause | would + V1 | would have + V3 |
| Negative | if + didn’t + V1 → wouldn’t + V1 | if + hadn’t + V3 → wouldn’t have + V3 |
| Example | If I had more time, I would cook more often. | If I had left earlier, I would have caught the train. |
🔑 The easiest way to remember
Second Conditional → the reality is different NOW.
I don’t have enough time. → If I had more time...
Third Conditional → the reality was different IN THE PAST.
I didn’t leave early. → If I had left earlier...
💡 were is especially common in hypothetical sentences:
If I were you... / If he were less tired...
💡 could / might can sometimes replace would when the meaning requires it:
If I had more free time, I could take an art course.
🧩 Task
Combine the two ideas into one conditional sentence. Use the type shown in brackets. Change the verb forms and add negatives where necessary.
- 🎨 [Second Conditional] I don’t know how to draw well. I don’t make portraits of my friends.
- 🚉 [Third Conditional] She didn’t check the departure time. She missed the train.
- 🏙️ [Second Conditional] I don’t live closer to the city centre. I don’t go for evening walks there very often.
- 📱 [Third Conditional] He scrolled through social media until two in the morning. He felt completely drained the next day.
- 🌿 [Second Conditional] She has too many responsibilities. She finds it difficult to unwind properly.
- ☕ [Third Conditional] We didn’t know the café was closed. We went there for nothing.
- 🎤 [Second Conditional] He gets very nervous in front of an audience. He avoids giving presentations.
- 📅 [Third Conditional] They didn’t arrange the meeting in advance. Several people couldn’t come.
- 🧠 [Second Conditional] I get distracted very easily. I can’t stay focused for long.
- 🎁 [Third Conditional] I didn’t know she preferred handmade presents. I bought her something completely different.
- 🌃 [Second Conditional] My friends don’t invite me somewhere spontaneous tonight. I stay at home and work.
- 🧊 [Third Conditional] He lost his composure during the discussion. His answer sounded much harsher than he intended.
- 🎸 [Second Conditional] I can’t play the guitar properly. I don’t join my friends when they play music together.
- 🖼️ [Third Conditional] She didn’t look at the painting attentively. She didn’t notice the hidden detail.
- 💻 [Second Conditional] I don’t have fewer deadlines this month. I can’t start a personal project.
- 💬 [Third Conditional] He didn’t open up about what was bothering him. His friends didn’t realise that he needed support.
⏰ Exercise 3. Time Expressions
І тут важная папраўка: on the time звычайна не патрэбна. Асноўная канструкцыя — on time.
📘 Theory: on time, in time, at the time...
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ⏱️ on time | punctually; at the planned time — своечасова, дакладна паводле раскладу | The train arrived on time. |
| 🏃 in time | early enough; before it is too late — паспець своечасова | We got there in time to see the beginning. |
| 🕰️ at the time | at that particular moment / during that period — у той час, у той момант | I was studying for my exams at the time. |
| 🍽️ at a time | a particular quantity on each occasion — за раз | Take one tablet at a time. |
| 🔢 one at a time | separately, one after another — па адным | Please come in one at a time. |
| 🔄 at times | sometimes — часам | The course can be difficult at times. |
| ⌛ by the time | no later than the moment when something happens — да таго часу, калі | By the time we arrived, the café had closed. |
| ♾️ all the time | constantly / very frequently — увесь час | He checks his phone all the time. |
| 🌤️ from time to time | occasionally — час ад часу | I eat out from time to time. |
| 🪑 for the time being | temporarily; for now — пакуль што | I’m working from home for the time being. |
| 🤝 at the same time | simultaneously / nevertheless — адначасова; разам з тым | The dish is simple and healthy at the same time. |
| 🕰️ at one time | once; during a particular period in the past — калісьці, у пэўны час | At one time, I wanted to study medicine. |
⚡ Compare
The doctor arrived on time.
→ The appointment was at 10:00 and the doctor arrived at 10:00.
The doctor arrived in time to help him.
→ The doctor arrived before it was too late.
I was living in Minsk at the time.
→ That was my situation during the period we are talking about.
Take two pills at a time.
→ Take two together on each occasion.
🎯 Quiz: Choose the Best Time Expression
Task: Choose the correct answer. Only one option is correct.
- 🚉 We reached the platform just ___ to catch the last train.
- on time
- in time
- at the time
- 🧑🏫 Our lesson starts at twelve, so please try to be ___.
- at times
- on time
- at a time
- 💬 I didn’t understand why she was so upset, but I didn’t know what she was going through ___.
- at the time
- on time
- one at a time
- 💊 The instructions say you should take only one tablet ___.
- at the same time
- at a time
- by the time
- 🍲 I enjoy cooking, but I still order takeaway ___ when I’m completely drained.
- from time to time
- all the time
- on time
- 📱 He checks his notifications ___, even when we’re having dinner.
- at one time
- all the time
- in time
- ☕ ___ we reached the café, our friends had already ordered.
- At times
- By the time
- For the time being
- 🥗 I’m trying to eat more vegetables and, ___, reduce the amount of fast food I eat.
- at the same time
- on time
- at a time
- 🏠 My flat is being renovated, so I’m staying with a friend ___.
- at one time
- for the time being
- in time
- 🧠 Studying mathematics can be frustrating ___, but I still enjoy it.
- at times
- all the time
- by the time
- 🍽️ The waiter asked us to order ___ because the kitchen was extremely busy.
- one at a time
- at the time
- from time to time
- 🩺 ___, she seriously considered studying medicine instead of programming.
- At one time
- On time
- By the time
- 🥐 We arrived at the bakery just ___ to buy the last two croissants.
- at the time
- in time
- at times
- 💊 He was taking several different medicines ___, so he wrote down exactly when to take each one.
- at the time
- on time
- at one time
- 🎭 The performance started exactly ___, even though several members of the audience were still outside.
- in time
- at a time
- on time
🔁 Exercise 4. Habit Constructions
Гэта добра працягвае тое, што было на мінулым занятку: вучань ужо выбіраў паміж used to, would, be used to, get used to, таму цяпер замест тэсту даём актыўны пераклад.
📘 Theory: Used to, Would, Be Used to & Get Used to
| Construction | When do we use it? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 🕰️ used to + V1 | a past habit or state that is no longer true | I used to be very shy. |
| 🔁 would + V1 | a repeated past action; not normally a past state | Every summer, we would walk by the river. |
| 😌 be used to + noun / -ing | something is already normal / familiar to you | I’m used to working late. |
| 🌱 get used to + noun / -ing | the process of gradually becoming accustomed to something | I’m getting used to working late. |
🔑 Key contrast
I used to work late.
→ I worked late in the past, but probably not now.
I would work late.
→ I repeatedly worked late in a particular past period.
I am used to working late.
→ Working late is normal for me now.
I am getting used to working late.
→ It is becoming more normal for me.
⚠️ Remember
With past states, prefer used to, not would:
✅ I used to be shy.
❌ I would be shy. (not for a simple past state)
After did / didn’t:
Did you use to...?
I didn’t use to...
✨ Практыкаваньне. Перакладзіце сказы на ангельскую мову
Task: Translate the sentences into natural English. Choose the correct habit construction: used to, would, be used to or get used to.
- 📚 Раней я рыхтаваўся да іспытаў у апошні момант, але цяпер стараюся пачынаць загадзя.
- ☕ Калі нашыя заняткі заканчваліся раней, мы часта заходзілі ў кавярню і яшчэ гадзіну размаўлялі.
- 💻 Я ўжо прывык працаваць над складанымі задачамі некалькі гадзінаў запар.
- 🌅 Я паступова прывыкаю ўставаць раней, але раніца ўсё яшчэ даецца мне цяжка.
- 😟 Раней я вельмі хваляваўся перад выступамі перад вялікай аўдыторыяй.
- 🎲 Пасьля кожнага турніру мы звычайна сустракаліся, елі што-небудзь і абмяркоўвалі свае памылкі.
- 🌶️ Я не прывык да такой вострай ежы, таму для мяне гэта крыху занадта.
- 📱 Раней я значна часьцей бяздумна гартаў сацыяльныя сеткі перад сном.
- 🏙️ Калі мы былі маладзейшыя, мы маглі гадзінамі шпацыраваць па горадзе без канкрэтнага пляну.
- 🧠 Спачатку мне было цяжка працаваць у шумным памяшканьні, але цяпер я да гэтага прывык.
- 👥 Я яшчэ толькі прывыкаю працаваць у вялікай камандзе і дзяліць адказнасьць зь іншымі людзьмі.
- 🧊 Раней мне было значна цяжэй захоўваць самавалоданьне ў няёмкіх сытуацыях.
- 🎨 Кожны раз, калі ў нас заставалася вольная гадзіна, мы заходзілі ў галерэю або невялікі музэй.
- 💬 Ты ўжо прывык размаўляць па-ангельску, не перакладаючы кожны сказ у галаве?