day off

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

When you go to work, you notice that some people are absent, and you ask about them, which of these is correct as an answer:

  1. They have today off.

  2. They have a day off today.

  3. They are having a day off today.

  4. They have had today off.

  5. They have taken a day off today.

  6. They are taking a day off today.

  7. They took a day off today.

Are there any other ways to express this idea?

Thanks

2

All the sentences are possible, but the first #4 would only be used at the end of the day. In speech, “they are” would usually be contracted to “they’re”, and “they have” to “they’ve” in both #4s, possibly in #2, but not in #1.

You could also say “they’re off today”, “they’ve taken the day off”.