The pattern

"I don't have time to" plus a verb explains why something won't happen: the day is full. "I don't have time to cook tonight" is honest and needs no apology. The pattern also works for priorities: "I don't have time for drama" means you refuse to spend energy on it.

Two variants do different jobs. "I don't have time for" plus a noun: time for lunch, time for a long meeting. And "I didn't have time to" for the past, which is the classic excuse for unfinished homework, reports and emails.

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

  4. With a noun, "time for": time for lunch, time for a break.

  8. Said with a sigh, it is frustration: this problem is not welcome now.

  9. The question form is a polite request for someone's attention.

Check yourself

1Which is correct with a noun?
2How do you ask for someone's attention politely?
3What does "I'll make time to see you" mean?

Practice · 3 min

Say what doesn't fit in your day, kindly. Prompt on the left, one natural sentence on the right.

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Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.