7.1 Time Words

THINK ABOUT IT Discuss the questions with a partner or in a small group.

1. What challenges did workers at Ellis Island face when ships arrived with large numbers of potential immigrants? 2. Imagine being a passenger on a ship approaching Ellis Island. You see the Statue of Liberty growing larger as you approach shore. Share how you feel. Include details of how old you are and why you are making this journey to America.

TIME WORD EXAMPLES EXPLANATION

on Ellis Island opened its doors on January 1, 1892. in Ellis Island opened in January. Ellis Island opened in 1892. In the early 1900s, many immigrants came to the U.S. My brother will come to the U.S. in two months.

during During the early 1900s, many immigrants came to the U.S.

The building at Ellis Island suffered damage during a storm in 2012. We use on with a specific date or day. We use in: • with a month. • with a year. • with a group of years. • to mean after a period of time. We use during with a period of time (the 1900s, the month of May, etc.). We use during with an event (the storm, the trip, the movie, etc.).

for For 62 years, Ellis Island was the main entrance for immigrants to the U.S.

We use for with a quantity of years, months, weeks, days, etc. by By 1990, restoration of Ellis Island was complete. We use by to mean up to and including a specific time.

from . . . . . . to . . . till . . . until Ellis Island was open from 1892 to 1954. Ellis Island was open from 1892 till 1954. Ellis Island was open from 1892 until 1954. We use from with the starting time. We use to, till, or until with the ending time.

while While they were restoring Ellis Island, it was closed. We use while to mean during that time. when When Ellis Island opened on January 1, 1892, 700 people passed through. We use when to mean at that time or starting at that time.

while versus during

New arrivals waited while inspectors checked their documents. New arrivals waited during the inspection. until Ellis Island remained closed until 1990. We use while with a clause. (Clause = subject + verb) We use during with a noun (phrase). We use until to mean before that time and ending at that time.

in versus after

ago versus before I will become a citizen in two months. The plane will arrive after 9 p.m. My brother will come to the U.S. after he gets his visa. She got married three years ago. She got married before she came to the U.S. Before 1892, there was a different processing center. We use in to mean after a period of time.

We use after with a date, time, or action. We use ago to mean before now. We use before with an event, a date, or a time.

EXERCISE 1 Listen to this article about the Immigration Act of 1965. Fill in the blanks with the words you hear. 7.2

Until

1. 1892, the United States did not restrict any group of foreigners from

coming as immigrants. But

2. 1924, Congress passed a law to limit

immigration.

3. 1924

4. 1965, the United States had a quota

system. That means only a limited number of people could come from each country.

5. all those years, this system discriminated against certain foreigners.

Northern and Western Europeans received preference over other nationalities. Asians, in

particular, were not welcome.

6. the 1960s, Americans started to see the quota system as a form of

discrimination.

7. President Kennedy was in office, he gave a speech about

immigration restrictions. He called this system “intolerable.” Members of Congress invited

experts to give their opinions.

8. their discussions, they said that very little

would change as a result of changing the law. Congress passed a bill to eliminate the quota

system. When President Johnson signed the bill into law

9. October 3, 1965,

he said, “It does not affect the lives of millions.” But he was completely wrong.

10. the first five years

from Asian countries increased by 400 percent

11.

12. the bill passed, immigration

the 1950s, six percent of

immigrants were Asian.

13. the 1990s, 31 percent of immigrants were from

Asian countries. Other immigrants and political refugees started coming from Africa and Latin

America.

14.

American population. the end of the twentieth century, there was a great change in the

When we see the diversity in the United States today, it is hard to imagine that many years

15. , certain groups of people were not allowed into the United States.

EXERCISE 2 Circle the correct time word to fill in the blanks.

1. I stayed in my country (until /by) I got a visa.

2. I applied for my visa (in/on) January.

3. I waited (for/from) January (till/at) June to get my visa.

4. I was very excited (when/while) I got my visa.

5. I got my visa five years (before/ago).

6. (While/During ) my trip to the U.S., I couldn’t sleep.

7. (While/During) I was on the airplane, I couldn’t sleep.

8. I never thought about learning English (by/until) I applied for my visa.

9. I arrived in New York (on/in) July 4, 2014.

10. I was at the airport (during/for) three hours.

11. (Until/By) 3:30 p.m., I passed through immigration and customs and was ready to start my life in the U.S.

12. I hope my parents will come here (in/after) a few years.

13. I hope my parents will come here (during/after) they get their visas.

EXERCISE 3 Fill in the blanks with one of the time words from chart 7.1.

1. My grandfather came to the U.S. when he was 36 years old.

2. My grandfather came to the U.S. many years .

3. He lived in Poland 1911.

4. He arrived at Ellis Island

5. He was alone and scared. He was nervous May of 1911.

he was in line.

6. In Poland, he didn’t study English. He didn’t speak a word of English

in the U.S. Then he learned a little. he started to work

7. My grandmother was without her husband 1911 1921.

8. My grandfather worked

U.S. Finally, ten years to save money to bring his wife and children to the

1921, he sent money to bring his family.

9. the long trip, my aunt became sick.

10. My grandmother arrived with my mother and her siblings August 13, 1921.

11. the inspectors examined them, they decided to put my aunt in the hospital.

My grandmother was afraid the officials would send them back.

12. the end of the week, my aunt was better.

13. my aunt felt better, she passed the health inspection. They all took a train to Chicago

and started their new life there.