How to Use "within the hour" in English – Meaning & Examples

Do you ever need to talk about something happening very soon, but you’re not sure how to phrase it precisely? English has many useful phrases for expressing time, and one that often helps improve your fluency in English is "within the hour". This common adverbial phrase is incredibly versatile for describing actions or events that will occur in the immediate future. If you want to sound more natural and accurate when discussing upcoming plans or deadlines, understanding how to use adverbial phrases like "within the hour" is key. Let's break down its meaning and see how you can confidently add it to your vocabulary today.

Table of Contents

• What Does "within the hour" Mean?
• What Type of Adverbial Phrase Is "within the hour"?
• Example Sentences with "within the hour"
• When and How to Use "within the hour"
• Summary and Practice Tip

What Does "within the hour" Mean?

The adverbial phrase"within the hour" means "before 60 minutes have passed from now" or "sometime during the current hour." It indicates that an action or event will happen very soon, specifically before the current clock hour ends or within the next 60 minutes. This phrase is used to specify a timeframe for an action, modifying a verb to tell you when something will occur. It's a precise way to say "very soon" or "in a short period."

More: Mastering 'On That Day': Your Guide to English Fluency

What Type of Adverbial Phrase Is "within the hour"?

"Within the hour" is an adverbial phrase of time. It functions like an adverb, telling us when something will happen. Understanding its grammar rules helps you use it correctly.

Its grammatical structure is simple:

• Preposition: "within" (meaning "inside a period of time")
• Article: "the" (a definite article, referring to the current or immediate hour)
• Noun: "hour" (a unit of time)

This phrase often modifies verbs, so it tells us more about the action. For example, in "The pizza will arrive within the hour," it modifies "will arrive."

You'll typically find "within the hour" at the end of a sentence. However, for emphasis, you can place it at the beginning. Here are common sentence patterns:

• Subject + Verb + [Adverbial Phrase]
  • We need to finish this report within the hour.
  • The doctor said he would call back within the hour.
• [Adverbial Phrase], Subject + Verb
  • Within the hour, the rain stopped, and the sun appeared. (This usage is less common but possible for emphasis or narrative flow.)

More: Mastering 'Before He Left': A Simple Grammar Guide

Example Sentences with "within the hour"

Let's look at some sentence examples to see "within the hour" in action. These demonstrate how to use it in natural conversations and statements.

• "The manager promised to send the updated figures within the hour."
• "Please confirm your attendance within the hour, or your spot might be given away."

Here are a few short dialogues:

• Person A: "When do you think the package will arrive?" Person B: "The delivery service said it should be here within the hour."
• Person A: "Are you ready to leave for the airport soon?" Person B: "Almost! I just need to pack one more bag, and I'll be ready within the hour."
• Person A: "Is the meeting starting at 10 AM sharp?" Person B: "Yes, so try to finish your current task within the hour so you don't miss anything."

More: Mastering Over the Next Few Days: A Grammar Guide for English Learners

When and How to Use "within the hour"

The phrase "within the hour" is commonly used in various situations to set a short deadline or timeframe.

Typical Use Cases:

• Deadlines or Promises: When you promise something will happen very soon, or you set a strict time limit. "I'll be there within the hour."
• Instructions or Requests: When you need someone to complete a task quickly. "Please submit your homework within the hour."
• Updates or Predictions: To indicate when new information or an event is expected. "We expect the test results within the hour."

This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. You might hear it in a business meeting or say it to a friend.

Common Mistakes to Avoid: A common confusion for ESL learners is differentiating "within the hour" from "in an hour."

• "Within the hour": means before the 60 minutes are up. It could be in 5 minutes, 30 minutes, or 59 minutes.
• "In an hour": means exactly at the 60-minute mark from now.

For example:

• "The bus will arrive within the hour" means it will come sometime between now and the next 60 minutes.
• "The bus will arrive in an hour" means it will arrive exactly 60 minutes from now.

According to Oxford Learner's Dictionaries, "within" means "before a particular period of time has passed." This perfectly explains the nuance of "within the hour."

Summary and Practice Tip

You've learned that "within the hour" is a useful adverbial phrase of time that means "before 60 minutes have passed from now." It helps to describe when and where an action will take place in the very near future. Using this phrase can significantly enhance your natural sentence use and improve your overall ESL writing tips.

To master "within the hour", try this:

• Practice Tip: Think about three things you or someone else needs to do very soon. Write a sentence for each using "within the hour". For example: "I need to call my mom within the hour." Share your sentences in the comments below!

Ready to learn more English grammar help? Explore our other articles on adverbial phrases of time/place/reason to continue building your English fluency!