Mastering "In the Last Few Minutes": A Simple Grammar Guide for ESL Learners

Ever felt confused about how to talk about very recent events in English? Do you want to improve your fluency in English and achieve more natural sentence use? The adverbial phrase "in the last few minutes" is perfect for describing something that just happened. This guide will help you understand its meaning, master its use, and integrate it smoothly into your everyday conversations. Let's explore how this phrase works to help you describe when and where things happened, modifying verbs with precision.

Table of Contents

• What Does "in the last few minutes" Mean?
• What Type of Adverbial Phrase Is "in the last few minutes"?
• Example Sentences with "in the last few minutes"
• When and How to Use "in the last few minutes"
• Summary and Practice Tip

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What Does "in the last few minutes" Mean?

The phrase "in the last few minutes" refers to a very recent period of time, specifically the moments directly before the present. It means "a short time ago" or "very recently." This adverbial phrase meaning indicates that an action or event occurred within the most immediate past. It helps to specify when and where something happened, acting as a verb modifier to show proximity to the present moment. Think of it as describing the 'now' or 'just then'.

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What Type of Adverbial Phrase Is "in the last few minutes"?

"In the last few minutes" is an adverbial phrase of time. It functions to tell us when an action took place.

Its grammatical sentence structure breaks down like this:

• "in": a preposition
• "the": a definite article
• "last": an adjective describing the noun "minutes"
• "few": a determiner/quantifier indicating a small number
• "minutes": a noun, referring to units of time

This phrase typically appears at the end of a sentence, though it can sometimes be placed at the beginning for emphasis.

Here are common sentence examples showing its position:

• Subject + Verb + [Adverbial Phrase]:
  • The train arrived in the last few minutes.
  • She finished her work in the last few minutes.
• [Adverbial Phrase], Subject + Verb:
  • In the last few minutes, the weather has changed.
  • In the last few minutes, I received a call.

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Example Sentences with "in the last few minutes"

Using "in the last few minutes" naturally helps you improve your English grammar help and sound more fluent. Here are some situations where you might use it:

• "Have you seen my keys? I'm sure I had them in the last few minutes."
• The internet connection has been very slow in the last few minutes. I hope it gets better soon.

Here are a few dialogues:

• Person A: "Why is the door open?"

• Person B: "I just opened it in the last few minutes to let some fresh air in."

• Person A: "Did you hear that noise?"

• Person B: "Yes, it started in the last few minutes. It sounds like construction."

• Person A: "The report looks great!"

• Person B: "Thanks! I added the final touches in the last few minutes."

When and How to Use "in the last few minutes"

You typically use "in the last few minutes" to describe actions or states that began or occurred recently and are still relevant to the present. It's often used with the present perfect tense (e.g., "has changed," "have finished") because it connects a past action to the present. However, you can also use it with the past simple if the focus is purely on a completed action very recently (e.g., "it started").

• Typical Use Cases: This phrase is versatile. Use it in everyday speech, informal messages, or even slightly more formal situations to refer to immediate past events. It's great for giving updates or explaining recent changes.
• Common Mistakes: A common mistake is to confuse it with "a few minutes ago." While both refer to recent time, "in the last few minutes" emphasizes a period leading up to now, often implying ongoing relevance, whereas "a few minutes ago" describes a completed event at a specific point in the past. Another error is omitting "in" or "the." Remember, it's always "in the last few minutes." According to Cambridge Dictionary, a "minute" is a period of sixty seconds, so "few minutes" implies a very short duration.

Summary and Practice Tip

The adverbial phrase "in the last few minutes" is a powerful tool for talking about recent events in English. It's an adverbial phrase of time that helps your sentences describe when something happened, adding precision to your communication. Remember its structure: "in + the + last + few + minutes," and its main function: to indicate something occurred very recently, leading up to the present.

Practice Tip: To master this phrase, try writing three new sentences about things that have happened around you in the last few minutes. Share them with a language partner or in the comments below! If you want to learn more ESL writing tips and enhance your grammar rules knowledge, explore our other articles on similar verb modifiers and common English phrases.