give their time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "give their time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to someone offering their time or effort to help or support a cause, project, or individual. Example: "Many volunteers choose to give their time to help those in need during the holiday season."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Would people really give their time for free?

The Guardian

Up and down the country families and friends give their time freely and their kids respond.

Independent

Around 70 local people give their time to keep the deliveries going.

The Guardian

We need people in public life to give their time for good causes.

The Guardian

In Blaengarw, 10 miles north of Bridgend, more than 900 people now give their time.

The Guardian

Eager development workers-to-be can't even give their time away, it seems.

The Guardian

"But I understand that volunteers give their time freely and everyone seems busy these days".

The Guardian

Following their "date", volunteers can then pledge to give their time, on their terms, through Fcancer's platform.

The Guardian

Stellar practitioners, like Deller or the architect Peter St John, currently give their time for little or no payment.

The Guardian - Opinion

They rely on the kindness of others – schools donate their venues and speakers give their time for free.

The Guardian

In Birmingham, for example, a lot of bloggers give their time free to help people start blogging.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about community involvement, use "give their time" to highlight the selfless contributions of individuals towards a common goal.

Common error

Ensure that the pronoun "their" clearly refers to a specific group or individuals. If the subject is singular, consider using "his or her time" for clarity, or rephrase to avoid pronoun ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "give their time" functions as a verb phrase. It describes the action of individuals offering their time or effort, often in a voluntary capacity, to contribute to a cause or help others. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "give their time" is a commonly used verb phrase that describes the act of offering one's time and effort, often in a voluntary capacity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. Key alternatives include "donate their time" and "volunteer their time". When using the phrase, ensure pronoun clarity to avoid ambiguity. Its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse communications, emphasizing the commitment and generosity of individuals contributing to various causes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

donate their time

This alternative emphasizes the act of freely offering time, similar to a charitable donation.

volunteer their time

This alternative specifically implies offering time for voluntary service.

dedicate their time

This suggests committing time to a specific purpose or activity.

offer their time

This is a more general way of saying someone is making their time available.

contribute their time

This emphasizes the act of providing time as a contribution to something.

devote their time

This indicates a significant amount of time being allocated.

spare their time

This suggests giving time from what is available, possibly implying a sacrifice.

allocate their time

This implies a formal or structured distribution of their time.

lend their time

Suggests a temporary offering of time, implying it will be used for a specific duration.

invest their time

Implies that the time given is expected to yield some form of return or benefit.

FAQs

How can I use "give their time" in a sentence?

You can use "give their time" when describing someone volunteering or contributing effort, such as, "Many people "donate their time" to local charities during the holidays."

What is a good alternative to "give their time"?

Alternatives include "volunteer their time", "dedicate their time", or "offer their time", depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "give their time" or "donate their time"?

Both "give their time" and "donate their time" are correct and can be used interchangeably in many situations. "Donate" often implies a more formal or charitable context.

What does it mean when people "give their time"?

When people "give their time", it signifies that they are offering their effort and availability, usually without expecting payment, to help others or support a cause.