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Lcchang Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

have time/ have the time

A: I have to buy a subway ticket. Can you help me?
B: I am sorry, I can't. I wish I could, but I don't have the time.

Dear teachers,

When we ask people what time it is, we say "Do the have the time?" However, as I saw the dialogue above, I was confused if the article "the" should be used here. It sounds to me "I don't have time." is better uesd to mean B doesn't have time to do it.

Please advise.

LCChang
  

Top answer

'. '. Here, 'I don't have the time' means 'I don't have enough time' (also = 'I don't have time').

— Eng_teach_in_germany

  • '.
  • '.
  • Here, 'I don't have the time' means 'I don't have enough time' (also = 'I don't have time').
  • I hope this answer was useful, because I don't have enough time to write more..
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3 Answers
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'Do you have the time?' usually means 'What is the time?'.
'Do you have time?' usually means 'Do you have enough time?'.
Here, 'I don't have the time' means 'I don't have enough time' (also = 'I don't have time').

I hope this answer was useful, because I don't have enough time to write more..
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Hi guys,

I'd try to explain it by saying that 'I don't have the time' is a more specific remark, meaning 'I don't have the time that it would take for me to do this.'

Best wishes, Clive
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