名词 time 与冠词的关系要比名词 day 与冠词的关系复杂一些，这主要是因为 time 的含义较多的缘故。一般英语词典处理名词 time 时，皆从释义出发，目的在于帮助读者了解其各种意义。但如从活用出发，就应知道 time 与各种词类的搭配关系，而其中主要搭配关系之一就是它与冠词的搭配关系。
从形式上讲， time 与冠词的关系并不复杂。总的说来，一共只有五种：1.零冠词 + time;2.不定冠词 a + time;3.定冠词 the + time; 4.零冠词 + times；5.定冠词 the + times。 粗看起来，似乎比较简单，但如考虑到 time 的各种细微的含义，就比较复杂了。
让我们先看:
1.零冠词+time；这一形式具有十几种不同含义。
1）泛指与空间相对的时间，包括过去、现在和将来，无数念，实例如：
(1)The world exists in space and time .
(2)The concept of measure is as important to the consideration of time as it is to space.
(3)It is the style as much as the matter which makes the Paradise Lost a work for all time .
2）泛指时光、光阴等，无数念，实例如：
(4)Time flies.
(5)Time is money.
(6)This wine improves with time .
3）泛指未来，无数念，实例如：
(7)Time heals all wounds.
(8)Time is the best doctor.
4）专指时点、时刻等，无数念，实例如：
(9)It's time to do morning exercises.
(10)It's time for tea.
(11)We arrived ahead of time .（ahead of time 是一习语）
(12)It's time we were going.
(13)Be here tomorrow on time . （on time 是一习语）
(14)The trains are off time .（off time 是一习语）
5）专指计时系统，无数念，实例如：
(15)It is now 10:15 hours Greenwich Mean Time .
(16)05:35 Eastern Standard Time
6）专指时段，无数念，实例如：
(17)We have no time to lose.
(18)That will take time .
(19)I don't have time to read these days.
(20)I'm rather pressed for time .
(21)We barely had time to make it.
(22)He managed to find time for a trip.
7）专指所规定的时段，无数念，实例如：
(23)Time is up.
(24)Watford scored two goals in extra time last night to defeat the Chinese national team 2-0.
(25)With good coaching she might get close to Olympic time .
(26)Celia will come in three weeks' time .
8）专指时节、季节等，有修饰语，无数念，实例如：
(27)It was winter time .
(28)Christmas time is called the season of good cheer.
9）专指时期、年代、时代等，多有修饰语，无数念，实例如：
(29)In time of danger the woman must be saved first. In time of pleasure the woman must be given the best place. In time of hardship the woman's share of the common pain must be taken voluntarily by the man as much as possible.
(30)There is a great deal of suffering in time of war.
(31)TIME （指美国《时代》周刊）
10）专指合宜的时机等，无数念，实例如：
(32)The ship which sailed from London is out of time . （out of time 相当于 out of due time）
(33)In the fullness of time he will be promoted to manager. （in the fullness of time 意谓“时机成熟时”）
11）专指终场、打烊等，无数念，实例如：
(34)Five minutes from time Brgant scored from a penalty to give Arsenal a 3-2 victory. （指足球终场）
(35)Time now, please, ladies and gents! （指酒店、饭馆打烊）
12）专指刑期，无数念，实例如：
(36)He's doing time for manslaughter. （do time 意谓“服刑”）
13）专指次，回等，无数念，实例如：
(37)The theory has been proved time and time again. （time and time again 是一习语）
(38)She had threatened from time to time to leave him.（from time to time 是一习语）
14）专指拍子、速度等，无数念，实例如：
(39)Keep time to the drum.
(40)They began playing a country dance in very slow time .
2. 不定冠词 a + time; 这一形式也具有一些不同的含义：
1）特指某一时点或时机，有单念，可数，实例如：
(41)There comes a time when nothing more can be done.
(42)Will this evening be a good time to mention it?
(43)Ah, I've chosen a bad time to come.
(44)What a time he chose to make his move! How could he do that!
2）泛指一时段，有单念，可数，实例如：
(45)What a time you've been!（其意为“你怎么走了这么久!”）
(46)There was a time of still, stunned whisperings.
(47)It became clear after a time that in fact he was very ill. （after a time 是一习语）
(48)The professor is staying at the seaside for a time . （for a time 是一习语）
(49)He is a two-time Boston Marathon winner with a best time of two hours and eight minutes.
3）泛指一段时光、经历等，常带有修饰语，有单念，可数，实例如：
(50)Are you having a good time ?
(51)I had a difficult time persuading him.
(52)For the rest of the trip he had an easy time of it.
(53)What is wanted in a time of embarrassment or danger is a good head, not a strong arm.
4）特指某一时代、时期等，有单念，不可数，实例如：
(54)The years immediately following World War Ⅱ were a time of academic renewal.
(55)The story belongs to world literature rather than to the literature of a time .
(56)English literature begins with songs and stories of a time when their Teutonic ancestors were living on the borders of the North Sea.
(57)They congratulated themselves for living in a time when feudal traditions were being replaced by new and more liberal ideas.
5）泛指一次、一回等，有单念，可数，实例如：
(58)I ran upstairs three steps at a time . （at a time 是一习语）
(59)The telephone rang a second time .
(60)I've been that way a time or two.
3. 定冠词the + time； 这一形式包括一些不同的含义：
1）特指时光，无数念，实例如：
(61)I didn't realize the time has passed so quickly.
(62)You must watch the time and not stay too long.
(63)Painting a picture, I quite forgot the time .
2）特指具体一时点、时刻等，有单念，可数，实例如：
(64)What is the time ?
(65)The child doesn't know how to tell the time .
(66)It is only a remote possibility at the present time .
(67)I guess I must have surprised them some. My face was dirty at the time .
(68)By the time he got there, everyone else had arrived.
3）特指具体一合宜时机，有单念，可数，实例如：
(69)Now is the time to ask him.
(70)The morning is the time for work.
(71)They now feel the time has come to change things.
4）特指具体一时段，有单念，可数，实例如：
(72)If we had the time , we might collect a few dollars on the campus to help him.
(73)Since I haven't the time to drive to my rooms in San Francisco, I must ask you to put me up for the night.
(74)She said she couldn't take the time off to go along with them.
(75)It was raining all the time . （all the time 是一习语）
(76)For the time it takes for a meal he inspected the calligraphy, paintings and curios.
(77)Whom you were running against doesn't matter — it's the time that counts.
5）特指具体一时代、一朝代、一年代等，有单念，不可数，实例如：
(78)The film begins at the time of the Roman Empire.
(79)The time when a company could be run by one man is over.
(80)The practice can be shown to have existed from the time of Barbour's Bruce till about 1700.
(81)His comedies are intensely realistic, presenting men and women of the time exactly as they were.
6）特指具体一次，一回等，有单念，可数，实例如：
(82)I saw him when he was here the time before last.
(83)The first time I met him,he was a young man about your age.
4. 零冠词 + times: 这一形式也具有不少不同的含义：
1）泛指时点、时刻等，有复念，可数，实例如：
(84)I was sweet on her right from the start. And my mother used to ask her into the house at meal times .
(85)There were times when I didn't know what to do.
(86)They take three full meals a day with milk between times . （between times 是一习语）
2）泛指一些时段、时期等，有复念，可数，实例如：
(87)At times I wonder if it's all worthwhile. （at times 是一习语）
(88)The village had two streets, each a couple of hundred yards long, covered with stiff black mud in wet times , deep dust in dry.（dry后省去times）
(89)Darling, this apron will be with you in many a time of need and stand you in good stead, You may find times when you will prize it more than any dress you have.
(90)I know that. But there will be times . We can still see each other once in a while.
3）泛指时期、时代、朝代等（与事件、人物等有关），有复念，不可数，实例如：
(91)“Whatnot” may mean a piece of furniture with open shelves, used especially in Victorian times , for showing small decorations.
(92)The use of peas as a food dates back to very early times .
(93)He saw clearly that new times were coming.
(94)The Philadelphia which Mr. Johnson knows so well is a heritage of colonial times .
(95)This book presents the whole history of English literature from Anglo-Saxon times to the close of the Victorian Era.
(96)Philo had ridden by there a time or two in times gone by.
(97)Those who have children should have greatest care of future times .
4）泛指有关人们生活经历的年代、时代、时光等，常与描写性形容词连用，有复念，可数，实例如：
(98)The 1930s were hard times for many people.
(99)They live in difficult times .
(100)They talk about old times .
(101)There were good times when we laughed together.
(102)Oh, we have had jolly times , haven't we?
(103)How were times ?
5）泛指一些刑期，有复念，可数，实例如：
(104)Of his eighteen men, nine of them had spent various times in various penitentiaries.
6）泛指……次、回等，有复念，可数，实例如：
(105)I play tennis at least three times a week.
(106)How many times have you been to see him?
(107)Six times she tried to throw her frail thread from one beam to another, and six times it fell short.
(108)By popularizing the use of standard-issue envelopes we can greatly increase delivery times .
7）泛指倍数，有复念，可数，常与数词连用，实例如：
(109)The rate was six times greater among old people.
(110)I think it has become three times as difficult as it used to be.
5. 定冠词 the + times: 这一形式也有几种不同的含义：
1）特指一些时刻，有复念，可数，实例如：
(111)Ask the times of planes from Rome to Vienna.
(112)He gave me his telephone number and told me the best times to call.
2）特指一些时期、场合、时节等，常有修饰语，有复念，可数，实例如：
(113)The good times were only memories and the people he had considered friends were turning against him.
(114)This is one of the times I know I'm not going to pass.
(115)And then what evil spell was this that brought a memory of the times when he had forgotten her?
(116)A neap tide is a very small rise and fall of the sea at the times of the first and third quarters of the moon.
(117)The only times he'd really gotten into trouble were the times he'd disobeyed someone.
3）特指具体某一时代、朝代、年代等，有复念，不可数，实例如：
(118)The times have changed.
(119)Beer at ￡2 a pint! Ah well, I suppose it's a sign of the times . （the times在此有贬义）
(120)The law is behind the times on a number of important issues.
(121)The literary movement of the age clearly reflects the stirring life of the times .
(122)The phenomenon goes back to the oldest times .
(123)In the more savage times , they （public robberies）were probably too frequent to excite much attention.
(124)We should go back to the Greek times for that.
(125)Shanghai, China's largest city, has disposed of more than 40 tons of bombs, hand grenades, shells and explosives left over from the war times .
(126)He passed the next half hour recalling the good times he and Bob had had at Columbia.
(127)The Times （指伦敦《泰晤士报》）
4）特指具体……次、回等，有复念，可数，实例如：
(128)For one of the few times in his life he wasn't thinking clearly.
顺便提及，名词 time 除常与各种冠词连用外，还常与其他限定词连用。所谓“其他限定词”在此主要指各种代词。现分“代词 + time ”和“代词 + times”两类各举一些例子如下：
1. 代词 + time:
(129)I spent most of my time in sightseeing. （time 指时光）
(130)Mr. Curtis was the manager in my time .（time 指在职时期）
(131)This house is old but it will last my time . （time 指余年）
(132)His time has come. （time 指死期）
(133)Now is your time .（time 指时机）
(134)Take your time .（time 指时光）
(135)Wait till you are lying flat on your back at the end of your time . （time 指一生）
(136)This is one of the great unsolved mysteries of our time .（time 指时代）
(137)They have finished the reading in their own time .（their own time 指他们的业余或课余时间）
(138)This time next year I'll be in America. （time 指时节）
(139)Where have you been all this time ? （time 指一时段）
(140)I'll forgive you this time , but another time you'll be punished. （time 指一次或一回）
(141)Do you remember that time when Adrian phoned up? （time 指一时刻）
(142)It's thirty years ago. It seems so absurd to bear malice after all that time . （time 指一很长的时段）
(143)My God, you're the blackmailer of all time . （of all time 相当于空前的）
(144)There is no time like the present. （time 指时机）
(145)I don't have much time to read these days. （time 指时量）
(146)What time is it? （time 指时刻）
2. 代词 + times:
(147)Henry Ⅴ's erratic yet vigorous life, as despicted by Shakespeare, was typical of the life of his times .（times 指时代）
(148)His own times did not account his faults as faults as we do now.
(149)She was flying, beating all of her previous times for that run. （times 指赛跑成绩）
(150)Such warfare is likely, in our times , to provide a history of defeats. （times 指时代）
(151)We passed many pleasant hours talking our old times . （times 指往昔）
(152)These practices became customs to be observed at these times . （times 指时节）
(153)The word “nowadays” means in these modern times . （times 指时代）
(154)I loved her most at those times . （times 指时节）
(155)The Chinese tradition seeks order, discipline, moral behavior at all times .（at all times 相当于在一切场合）
(156)In this book you will find poetry which contains universal truth about human life in all times and all ages. （times 指时代）
(157)Robert sensed that his mood in regard to her was different, colder. His thoughts were elsewhere — and at this season of the year, too — of all times .（...of all times 相当于偏偏在这个时节）
(158)Winter is a busy season for Beijing buses.Many who go to work by bicycle in other times take the bus in the cold weather. （times 指季节）
(159)We met on Sunday mornings for Holy Communion, and at many other times in the week for prayer and discussion of the Scriptures. （times 指场合）
(160)Some times weren't so good. （times 指场合或时刻）
(161)Philip cared for me enough to marry me, and we had some happy times . （times 指时刻）
(162)At such times , his face flamed with augmented blazonry, as if cannel coal had been heaped on anthracite. （times 指时刻）
(163)He has had so many happy times with his Chinese friends. （times 指时刻）
(164)He often suffered from hangovers, at which times he closed the door into his office and sipped Alka-Seltzer or Cokes, answering only to urgent questions, of which there were few.
最后，让我们对下列几对词语做一些比较：
(165)the stream of time （a）
the stream of times (b)
(a)意指“时光的流逝”; (b)则意指“时代的潮流”。
(166)He is behind the times. （a）
The train is never behind time.(b)
(a)的意思是“他落后于时代”; (b)的意思是“这列火车从不误点”。
(167)in time of peace （a）
in times of peace (b)
time 与 times 在此皆指“时代”，可以互换。但如细加揣摩，(a)中的time比较抽象，(b)中的 times 比较具体。
(168)in Stuart times （a）
in the times of the Stuarts (b)
(a)仅指“斯图亚特时代”，无其他含义，另如：in ancient times, in medieval times, in modern times, in recent times 等，均属此类。(b)则指“那个斯图亚特时代”，以区别于其他时代。
(169)at that time （a）
at the time (b)
（a)与(b)同义，皆意谓“在那个时候”，但(b)往往有“不巧”的含义，如上述例（67）。
