TIME Vocabulary & Phrases in English: recently, outdated, of late, nowadays...

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I've been lonely, so lonely I could die.

Oh, sorry, that's Elvis.

E's crying because he's been very lonely lately.

He said very lonely lately.

E, what do you mean: "You've been very lonely lately"?

Hi. James from engVid.

A lot of times we, in English, use time...

When I say time words, I'm not talking about: "when" or "while", or "after" and "before",

which indicate what is happening in time; if it's coming this way or that way.

But we have time words and time phrases, which is to give us more information than "before"

or "after" because they can be used more generally.

Example: I can say: "Before I did this video, I had dinner."

But if I say: "I recently had it", you know it's in memory; in the period of time in my

memory that's very close.

It's a little deeper, a little bit more knowledge or a little bit more information.

So, when we're looking here, I'm going to give you some phrases and some words that

do the same thing as "recently" does, which is more information than "before" or "after".

Let's go to the board, and we'll find out why E is so lonely he could die.

[Laughs] Anyway.

Just as time flows, I'm going to start in the natural progression of time.

Past happens before, then the present is now, and the future.

And I'm going to try to give you a few words with each that you will find that native speakers

use on a regular basis to give you an idea or an impression about what kind of time they're

And some of these things-and E gave me a really good one with "this Wednesday" and "next Wednesday"-are

so common that we use it that, you know, foreign speakers get confused, because they're like:

"What do you mean there's only one way to say?

Why be so specific?"

It's like: No, we're actually giving you more information.

So, let's go to the board and we'll start out with "old-fashioned".

This one's kind of easy, because we're talking about the past, here, because you know "old"

But you're going to say: "Old-fashioned, why?"

Well, when somebody says something is old-fashioned, they usually mean it's not in style anymore.

It's not modern.

So you can say: "This is an old-fashioned donut."

It doesn't mean it's bad.

It just means it's...

You know, it's from an older style or a generation prior to.

But when somebody says: "You have old-fashioned manners or old-fashioned language", they're

saying: "You know what?

People don't kind of use this anymore.

That's an old-fashioned idea."

It's kind of not being used, so we have that to the past.

It's usually associated with things in the past or things that are gone or should be

"That out-dated mode of thinking they use on a regular basis - PC talk (politically

correct talk)."

It means it's no longer used or no longer useful.

So, you might have this idea or you might have, I don't know.

My cellphone is like an S4 from Samsung.

I'm mentioning it for two reasons.

Samsung, I need a new cellphone; it's an S4.

And you people out there, please give me a new cellphone.

I want Samsung to give me a cellphone.

Advertising for ya.

But my phone's basically out-dated.

It's so out-dated that they use it to...

Oh, I don't even have a good joke - it's that out-dated.

It's no longer used or useful.

Most new systems are at an S8 or what have you, so somethings I can't use.

I like my phone, to be honest.

Now, "out-dated" means it's just kind of, like, not being used; no longer used or useful.

Operative word or the word that's important is not...

"Not useful" means it's not as convenient as something that would be new.

The word you don't want to hear someone say to you is "obsolete".

If this is obsolete, it is no longer used.

Old credit cards.

You know, you don't pay it?

It becomes obsolete; you can't use it no more.

Obsolete - dinosaurs.

Mm-mm - you don't.

Birds is as close as we got to them; they gone.

They're obsolete.

That technology or that biological technology is no longer used, people.

We are the new ones.

So, now time to move to the present.

What present...?

Present day forms do we use to explain what's going on in the present?

A lot of you guys will know: "now" or "present", because these are the two words you've been

Have you ever been confused when someone says to you: "Nowadays, the kids wear their jeans

down by their butts"?

You're like: "What?

What do you mean, 'nowadays'?

You mean today?"

It means at the present and it is different from the past.

When anyone says to you: "nowadays", they're literally saying the days today are different

than the days before.

"I know it's old-fashioned that a man should pull up his pants and wear a belt.

Should pull the pants up.

Nowadays, the children have the pants down their ass."

You know, it's like: What?

It's like: "Well, today is different than the past.

And it's not a day; it's a period of time.

So they're saying in recent memory from, you know, two, three, four years, or two...

Yeah, two, three, four years, or two/three months.

But usually it's a longer period of time in the present and it's not one point; it's a

bubble you could say.

So, bridges the past and the present; saying there's a difference between the past and

the present and it goes over a period of time.

Haven't seen you around here lately.

E, where you been lately?

And this is the one he used here.

And this one means not long ago.

I haven't seen E lately.

It means maybe in the last hour or two.

With "nowadays" we're talking maybe a year or two, maybe even at 10 years; "lately" means

Not too long ago.

I haven't had a Starbucks lately.

That could in a week or two or a month.

You're not talking years.

So, watch these.

You can use these for different things, so you have a greater expression of present time

and more of a recent expression of present time.

Now, here's one of my favourite: Notice how these are "lately" and "latest"?

Seems similar; very different.

"Latest" means most recent.

It means the newest thing.

The latest Apple computer can make coffee for you.

The latest Apple computer; not the lately one.

It means newest.

It's like a superlative.

"Newest", "most", "best", "biggest", "latest".

It is the newest thing out there.

So, when talking the present, we can say: "The latest thing.

Have you heard the latest news?"

It means the newest news.

"Lately the news hasn't been very good" - in recent memory.

"The news nowadays", it means maybe this year or the last four years.

Very different periods of time.

So, we go from now, a bit more than now, to longer periods and we're still talking about

Now you've expanded your vocabulary, let's move to the future.

Now, the future has a couple of constructions that are really difficult, and I understand

it's difficult for students to get because when we learn these phrases, it's just part

of something we watch and see; we don't think too much about it.

And the constructions of the sentences make it actually hard for people to get.

So, I'm going to start with a point here.

These two here and then go up to this one.

Bear with me and I'll get there for you.

So, when you have one and two...

Number two is next to one, so it's the next one.

When we say: "The next day", we mean not day number one, but day number two.

So it's one extra day.

"I'll do it the next day or the day...

Next..."

I'll do it the next day.

"A week from now" is similar to that.

Now, I know you know "now", so let's take this one and write "now".

Now, when we do: "a week from now", that's going to be one week is here, so the difference

is one week from whenever that period of time is.

"Now" is...

Let's say today is Friday.

Now it's Friday.

So, one week from now will be next Friday; a one-week difference.

So, in this case, when we talk about these two: "a week from now", we're talking about

adding one week to the day we're talking about.

When we say: "the next day" we mean literally the next day, and we can follow the one, two

Not today; that day here.

From here, this day is Friday - one week from now will be the next Friday.

We're good with that?

Good, because now is when it gets complicated.

Well, actually, not really.

We're going to start with this one.

Actually let's start with this one to make it easy.

We'll start with "tomorrow".

So let's go back up here.

And you know what "tomorrow" means, right?

It's not today, but tomorrow.

So when you have "tomorrow"...

I'm going to write "tom." for short for "tomorrow".

This one says: "The day after tomorrow".

Well, here's today.

And remember we talked about this is one and this is two?

This is tomorrow.

What would be after tomorrow?

And this is after tomorrow, so we're going to hear "after".

So, the day after tomorrow is really two days from now.

Not today, but tomorrow.

And after tomorrow is the third day, which means two days from now.

English people usually say that.

They'll go: "You know, the day after tomorrow we'll do it."

Two days from now.

Now you understand that, we're going to go to the next one which seems even harder: "The

week after next".

It's the exact same thing, except we're talking about weeks as opposed to days.

Let's go back to the board.

So, we're going to say: "after".

So we're talking about a week, which was number one.

After that would be two, and then we have this funny word: "next", which would be three.

Well, we know three minus one equals what?

So, not this week; it's after that by a week, and then it's next.

So we're talking about two weeks from now.

And you're going to go: "James, hold on a second.

That's exactly the same as 'the day after tomorrow'."

Like, yeah, except: "The day after tomorrow" is talking about days; "the week after next"

is talking about weeks.

A longer time period, but the concept or idea is the same.

There is a difference...

There is a difference of two.

Why we use it - I don't know, because it's just as easy to say: "two weeks from now",

"two days from now".

But it's not why we use it that's important.

What's important is that you understand it when someone sends you a business note or

You know: "The party will be the week after next", you have to know what it means.

And right now I think you do.

So we've done these ones, and that's why we started here and worked backwards.

And now we're going to go to the easy one: "two weeks from now."

What is "two weeks from now"?

Well, if you got these, this is kind of evident.

From this point in time, two weeks from now.

What I wanted to explain about all of these things that they all have in common is it's

a period of time from this day.

So, really, it's a period of time, so we're illustrating a period of time without saying...

Getting exact about it by saying, you know: "The week after next".

It's a period of time; it's 14 days.

But no one is going to say: "14 days".

They say that with the understanding that you know what it is.

And this is two days, and they understand that you know that's what it is.

But it's not even that it's a period of time; it's a period of time in the future - not

Now, here's a fun one: "this Wednesday".

What the hell does that mean?

"This Wednesday.

That Wednesday.

When Wednesday?"

Well, when we say: "this Wednesday" or we say: "this Thursday", or we say: "this Monday",

what it usually means is this day has not happened in the week.

Generally you're not going to hear this Monday.

I'm like, well, the week we use...

The week starts on Sunday, but in North America and many English-speaking countries, the week

starts on a Monday.

So people won't say: "This Monday" because they're already in the day, but they would

say on a Monday: "This Tuesday".

And I would say: "Is it Monday?" and you'd go: "Yeah."

I go: -"Has Tuesday happened yet?"

-"No."

And that's what they mean: "This Tuesday" meaning the Tuesday in this week.

So, anytime you hear an English speaker saying: "This Monday.

This Friday", remember this is in the future.

It means: In this week it has not happened and that's the one we're talking about.

A day in the week that has not happened.

And you go: "Okay, okay, I got that."

And I go: "Good.

I'm glad you got it, because now I'm going to throw a monkey wrench at you at talk about

next Wednesday."

And you're like: "What?

Next Wednesday - well, that must be this week as well."

"Next Wednesday" means whatever week we're in, it's the following week.

Do you remember we were talking about, here: "The next blah-blah-blah"?

That's what this means.

When we talked about this Wednesday...

This week or this Wednesday, the example-right?-we're saying: "Here's the week - Monday to Sunday."

Sorry, in university we use "A" for Sunday, so forgive me.

When we said this, it means: In this week, like this Monday or this Tuesday...

"This Tuesday" it means the week has...

We're here on Monday; Tuesday hasn't happened yet.

That's what that means.

So we're waiting til this day, here.

When we say: "next"...

"Next Monday" or "next Tuesday".

We can say: "Next Monday".

It means we're standing right here.

We're standing here and we're looking into the future for the next one.

So it doesn't mean, if we're here on Tuesday, we say: "next Tuesday", we mean the next Tuesday

You go: "What?"

I'm like: "Yeah."

Even if this is Wednesday, we're not referring back in time; we're referring to the future.

Just like we did here, we're going to go to the future to the very next Tuesday.

For instance, today is Friday, so if I said: "E, I'll see you next Friday", he wouldn't

go: "But we're here, James."

I go: "You know what I'm talking about."

Look to the future - the following seven days, we'll meet up again.

A little confused?

Right now you shouldn't be because I've explained it.

You can always rewind and watch again.

But these are important because these happen time and again in the English language, and

I've watched very smart students, very intelligent people get confused by it because they're

like: "Well, you have 'days after' and 'next', and 'week', and you put them all in the same

I'm like: "Yeah, and you have to learn it, and it's my job to help you."

So, we've done the past - given you some old ones that you...

You'll refer back to the past when you hear people say it.

When you hear "out-dated", what does that mean?

It's no longer useful.

Then we talk about "nowadays", and they don't mean now even though you hear "now".

It means in the present in a recent period of time.

"Latest" means the newest.

Then you hear, like...

You hear: "The week after next."

You know: "Oh, that's two weeks."

Then you hear: "The day after tomorrow", and that's two days.

And when you hear this...

And this is, you know...

We would say: "this", like: "This is close and that.

You know, "this" and "that" are talking about distance.

This is this week; it's happening right now.

While, "next" is the following week.

Got it down, basically?

We're going to go do our quiz, as you know.

I'm going to give you a little bit more information on time phrases or throw one more at you at

least, and we'll do a little homework.

Okay, so it is time for us to do one more time.

I've got a couple more things I want to give you about time, and hopefully your head is

not going around and around from the last one.

But first one is: "of late", "of late".

"I haven't seen him of late" - it means recently and it means a period of time around now.

So, if this is now, "of late" is like a planet going around here.

Not too far here, not to far there.

"I haven't had a cigarette of late" - in the last 5-10 minutes or two hours.

This is interesting because "these days" means in the present; not the past.

"These days it's hard to get a house because they're too expensive", which is different,

of course, than the past where it was probably easier to get a house.

So when someone says: "these days" to you, they're meaning the difference between the

present and the past.

It's, like, contradiction or they're opposite in some way.

So: "These days it's easier to get around the world; everyone can fly.

In contrast, 100 years ago you were on a boat - it was difficult to get around."

Or: "These days it's easy to communicate with people I know by way of cellphone."

It's true, because in the old days, we had the...

We would call it the rotary phone.

Oh, you don't know about that.

You know Fred Flintstone?

Prehistoric times.

Think before when man walked - we used to have to go into the kitchen, usually the kitchen,

there would be a phone on the wall.

I know you're going: "Teacher, not in my pocket?"

Not in your pocket.

On the wall, and we'd walk up and there'd be little holes in a round disk, and you go...

And if you made one mistake, you had to start again.

[Laughs] Sorry.

I wish I was joking.

You'd be like: "Damn it!"

Yeah, and you couldn't leave the kitchen because the cord...

You probably don't know what a cord is either.

The thing that held the phone, you could only walk so far and then you'd get yanked back.

So, you couldn't go too far.

Ah, yeah, these days everything has changed.

Anyway, we've done that one, so: "these days" and "of late".

Let us do our quick, little quiz.

I got a little quiz for ya.

I have got four sentences, and four time words or time phrases.

Which one belongs where?

Let's figure it out, shall we?

"Nobody uses a slide rule anymore.

That technology is __________."

Now, I know the first thing you're going to say is: "What is a slide rule?"

And I'm going to tell you what a slide rule is.

I don't know because I've never seen one.

You guys use calculators today.

So, what is a slide rule?

"That technology is" - yeah, "obsolete".

It is not used by anyone anymore.

Nobody uses a slide rule, unless you go to maybe Oxford in the 1960s.

So: "obsolete".

Now, what about this one?

"__________, kids like to wear their pants really low, and have a lot of tattoos."

What would that be?

Well, we're talking about the kids today.

And we're talking about the kids now, so we would say: "Now...

Ah, I just noticed something.

Nowadays I make some mistakes; not like the old days.

And I got to put a period, here.

And while I'm at it, let me just check...

You hadn't heard the news - James forgot the question mark.

Anyway: "Nowadays, kids like to wear their pants really low, and have a lot of tattoos."

That means today.

How about we do this one, C?

"Did you hear the _________ news?"

What would that one be?

Well, there's only two left, and I would say, judging from the lines, this one would have

to be "latest".

You're like: "Oh, James, you're so smart.

You made the other one too long.

We know the answer."

Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know the answer is this one.

And if you have to wait for me to put the answer down - please, stop...

Start the video again and pretend this never happened.

Because there's only one left.

And you're like: "Oh, wait.

I'm so confused.

This is difficult.

I mean, I don't know which one I haven't written down yet."

There we go: "two weeks from now", yes.

And that was the difficult one we did before.

We talked about, you know, time period - a time period from this period, so it's two

weeks from whenever we're speaking.

Two weeks from Friday.

So, anyway, that's the quiz.

You did well, especially you people who were able to look at the line difference and get

the answer - very smart.

I don't know if your English is good, but you are smart.

So, as always, homework.

I want you to write six sentences using two of the time phrases.

Now, I gave you two for the past, two for the present, two for the future, so pick two

and just write out some sentences, and mix and match them.

See how well you understand them.

And then, you know, go to...

I've told you before: Go make comments, because I have noticed a lot of people when someone

actually does the homework - a lot of people make comments and you make friends.

It's really cool.

I've watched people say: "I'm from Algeria, and I saw yours, and here's a mistake.

And let me help you."

I'm like: "Really?"

No, really, it does happen.

But yeah, do your homework, see how well you do.

After the quiz, make a comment; people will really love to help you there.

Or even after this video, and get your sentences done.

I'm trying to think of what else I have to do.

Oh, I have to say thank you.

Thank you, once again, it's always a pleasure having you watch the videos and tell us...

Or let me know what you want to have on the next video.

And get to subscribe.

Because when you subscribe, I get the ability to give you the latest and greatest thing

Press the link - you'll see a button around here somewhere or, you know, swipe - whatever

Don't forget to hit the bell because the bell is when you get the latest video that we have

Anyway, go to www.eng as in English, vid as in video to do the quiz - the big quiz and

really test yourself; see how good you are.

Got to go, but I know I'll see you around.