time expressions

Question

I found this exercise on an English textbook:

'Number the past time expressions:
five minutes ago
last night
yesterday morning
last November '

Initially I thought to tell the students to order the expressions from ' the closest' to the farthest', then I thought it did not sound quite right and I though maybe 'from the shortest to the longest' but it did not convince me as well...In the end I did not say anything. Would you please help me understand what would have been the best formula (and why the ones I thought are not correct)

?

Thanks!

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

diotima'Number the past time expressions '

If that is the only instruction given, then as a student, I would do this:

five minutes (1) ago
(2) last night
(3) yesterday morning
(4) last November

I admit that I do not see the point of 'numbering' them, however!

Diotima · Answer

Thank you MM. Perhaps I did not explain myself correctly. The question was about how to define/describe these periods of time to students : e.g. order them from the closest to the farthest (to the present day). I wanted to say that but than I refrained from doing it because it did not sound right. And I did not say anything because I did not know how to deliver it.
I know that silence is golden

, but could you help me to solve the puzzle just for future reference?

Thanks!

CalifJim · Answer

diotimaorder the expressions from ' the closest' to the farthest'

from the closest to the present (moment) to the farthest from the present (moment)

But note that a student who is so new to English that he does not already know how to order those expressions probably will not understand the instructions in English.

CJ

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