Have time - have the time

English as a Second Language What do you want to talk about?
1

Hi everybody…

I?m concern about these 2 statements here:

If you have time…
If you have the time…

Are they both grammarly correct?
Is there any difference in terms of meaning between them?

Thank you!!!

2

Dear Learner, I think both phrases could be correct - it just depends on the particular context you use them in.

Where did you come across these word combinations?[YSaerTTEW443543]

TOEIC listening, photographs: At the carpet market[YSaerTTEW443543]

3

Hi Learner,

Perhaps I could help. As Torsten says, they are both correct. The difference is in the specific nature of one and the general nature of the other. Let’s take the general one first: If you have time when you visit London, try and see as much as you can. In that sentence you are just talking generally about the visit. The specific one is in this sentence -When you visit London and if you have the time, I suggest you go to the Tower of London and look at the Crown Jewels. In that sentence you are talking specifically about going to one place and seeing one particular thing.

Hope this helps

Alan

4

Thank you both, Alan and Torsten…

Torsten, I?ve posted this question because I was told that “the time” was wrong. But I remember hearing it a lot. I was afraid I could make a mistake by saying “the time”…

Alan?s explanation was very good. That was exactly what I had in mind about their meanings…

Again, thank you very very much.

This is a very good website!
I?ve recommended it to other friends that have the intention to improve their English… Keep on this good work!

5

Thank you very much！！！