Free time meaning in English
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Definition
(to have) some free time: (to have) some leisure time, some spare time, a break
I don't work at the weekend so I have lots of free time to do whatever I want.
to be free (to do something): to be available, to have time when you are not busy (to do something)
Examples
- "Edward : Jean, are you free tonight?"
- "Are you free to talk?"
- "Say, are you free tonight?"
- "Well, are you free to talk for a few minutes?"
- "I imagine that you may have some free time on Thursday, as Mr. Horatio refuses to come in, because he says that Thursdays are his Sabbath day, when he stays home and converses with spirits, at least, that's what Susie tells me."
- "I imagine that you may have some free time on Thursday, as Mr. Horatio refuses to come to work, because he says that Thursdays are his Sabbath day, when he stays home and speaks with spirits."
- "We encourage all of our listeners to visit Australia and New Zealand when you have some free time."
- "Are you free next week?"
Exercise 1
Fill in the blanks with the terms used in the dialogue.
"Um Brian, it's Icarus Quincy . Is Bruno ?"
"Um Brian, it's Icarus Quincy . Is Bruno ?"
Fill in the blanks with the terms used in the dialogue.
"Um Brian, it's Icarus Quincy here 1. Is Bruno free 2?"
"Um Brian, it's Icarus Quincy here 1. Is Bruno free 2?"
1 here: "Here" is the correct answer. This is what Icarus says to introduce himself in the dialogue. "It's (Mr. Karren) here" is a common expression used to introduce yourself on the telephone. Note that we can also say "Mr Karren speaking".
2 free: "Free" is the correct answer here. The expression "is (Helen) free?" is used to ask about the availability of the person you would like to speak to on the telephone. Example: "-Is Julia free? -Yes, she's free. I'll connect you."
Exercise 2
Bob says it is important to keep the area around the computer "free of dust".
Which of the following sentences uses "free" in the same sense as Bob's statement?
Which of the following sentences uses "free" in the same sense as Bob's statement?
Bob says it is important to keep the area around the computer "free of dust".
Which of the following sentences uses "free" in the same sense as Bob's statement?
Which of the following sentences uses "free" in the same sense as Bob's statement?
The term "free" here expresses a different meaning than Bob's statement in the dialogue. Here "free" means "gratis" or "without charge". This is one of the primary uses of the term "free".
The term "free" here expresses a different meaning than Bob's statement in the dialogue. Here, the phrasal verb "to set free" means to "liberate" or "give freedom". As an adjective, "free" can express this same sense: I am a free man, not a slave.
This is the best choice here. When Bob talks about the area being "free of dust" he simply means that the area shouldn't have any dust within it. In this sense, "free of dust" means "without dust" or "absent of dust". This idea of "free of dust" is identical to the idea of a "caffeine-free" soda, which is a drink without caffeine. "Dust" is very small particles that can cover surfaces.
The term "free" here expresses a different meaning than Bob's statement in the dialogue. Here it expresses the sense of "availability", and not the sense of "absence" as it does in Bob's statement.
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