giving us time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "giving us time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of allowing someone a period to do something or to consider something. Example: "Thank you for giving us time to review the proposal before making a decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"They are giving us time -- how long?" Dr. Abdullah asked.

The New York Times

The play should move quickly, barely giving us time to absorb one aspect of its comedic horror before we're called upon to watch another.

The New Yorker

The kids played amazingly well together, giving us time to talk and find out all sorts of things we had in common.

The New York Times

Apart from giving us time to brainstorm business solutions and meet with people at the PSI office, the extra time in Addis gave me the opportunity to explore.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"We want to knock the Taliban back, giving us time and space to build the Afghans up mainly in the security front but also in governance and development as well," said one senior administration official.

The New York Times

Much of the group had to be back on campus at 1 PM for meetings and such (can't escape the bubble forever!) so we chose to do a ~6-mile hike, giving us time to pause along the way whenever we felt like it.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

"Please give us time.

The New York Times

But give us time.

The New Yorker

Give us time.

The New York Times

"At least give us time," she murmured.

The New Yorker

Just give us time, they said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "giving us time" when you want to express the act of someone allowing or providing a period for a specific purpose, such as review, consideration, or preparation. For instance, "The extension granted by the manager is giving us time to finalize the report".

Common error

Avoid using "giving us time" when the context implies that time is being taken or wasted, rather than purposefully allocated. Ensure that the action genuinely provides a beneficial window for progress or review, not simply delaying the inevitable. Instead of saying "The delay is giving us time", clarify the purpose, such as "The delay is giving us time to reassess our strategy".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "giving us time" functions as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun. It can serve as the subject or object of a sentence, describing the action of providing a period for something. Ludwig confirms this grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "giving us time" is a grammatically correct and commonly used gerund phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig. It functions to express the provision of a time interval for a specific purpose. Its register is typically neutral to professional, fitting well in news, academic, and business contexts. Alternatives like "allowing us time" or "providing us an opportunity" can be used depending on the nuance desired. Remember to use the phrase when time is purposefully allocated, avoiding its use when time is simply being wasted. Overall, "giving us time" is a versatile and useful expression in various writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allowing us a period

Similar to "giving", but "allowing" can imply a more formal or official permission.

providing us an opportunity

Focuses on the chance or possibility offered rather than a specific duration.

permitting us sufficient time

Adds the element of permission and sufficiency to the concept of time.

granting us a time frame

Formal alternative; uses "granting" to emphasize permission or allowance.

making time available to us

More descriptive, emphasizing the act of freeing up time for someone.

affording us the chance

"Affording" suggests making something available, often with an implication of benefit.

supplying us with time

Emphasizes providing time as a resource or commodity.

lending us duration

Uses "lending" metaphorically to suggest a temporary provision of time.

creating a window for us

Uses "window" as a metaphor for a limited period of opportunity.

delaying the deadline for us

Specifically refers to postponing a deadline to provide more time.

FAQs

How can I use "giving us time" in a sentence?

"Giving us time" is a gerund phrase that functions as a noun. For example, "The company's decision on "giving us time" to prepare was crucial for the success of the presentation."

What can I say instead of "giving us time"?

Alternatives include "allowing us time", "providing us an opportunity", or "affording us the chance" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "giving us time"?

Yes, it is correct. The phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used in English. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

What's the difference between "giving us time" and "give us time"?

"Giving us time" is a gerund phrase, often used as a subject or object in a sentence. "Give us time" is an imperative request. For example, "Giving us time was the best thing they could have done," versus "Please "give us time" to complete the project".