【问】 The bird covered the distance in three minutes. (New Concept English，Book 2，L. 5)
 我记得我的英语教师告诉我，in three minutes与in three minutes’time是同义表达手段，不知此句中的in three minutes能否改为in three minutes’time?
 【答】 当表示“at the end of a particular length of time starting from now”(当表达从现在算起一段时间的末尾)这一含义时，既可以使用in three minutes的结构，也可以使用in three min-utes’time的结构。例如：
 1. The bull-fight was to commence in twenty minutes. (Hemingway)
 斗牛将在20分钟后开始。
 2. It’s two o’clock，I’ll come in an hour(=at three o’clock).(LDCE)
 现在两点，我一个小时后回来。
 3. I told him the money would be paid back in six mouths. (Collins)
 我告诉他钱将在6个月后归还。
 4. She is going up to London in three days’ time. (Walpole)
 她打算三天后去伦敦。
 5. Bill is due to arrive in three weeks’ time. (LDCE)
 比尔订于三周后到达。
 6. I’ll have finished my courses in four years’ time. (LDCE)
 我将在四年后结束我的学业。
 7. The material will be ready in ten days/in ten days’ time. (LEG)
 材料将于10天后准备好。
 8. Sanderson will run a mile in four minutes’ time. (That’s when he’ ll start running. )
 (LEG)
 桑德森将在四分钟后跑一英里。(指他何时开始跑)
 9. It would strike twelve in twenty minutes’time. (New Concept English Book 2，L. 9)
 再过20分钟市政大厅的钟就该敲十二点了。
 但是，当表示“how long it takes sb. to do sth.这一含义时，则只能使用in ten days的结构，而不能使用in ten days’time的结构：
 1. Sanderson will run a mile in four minutes. (That’s how long it will take him to do. )(LEG)
 桑德森能在4分钟之内跑完一英里(指他跑一英里需要多少时间)。
 2. I can run 200 metres in about 23 seconds. (PEU)
 我跑200米，大约需要23秒钟。
 3. The bird covered the distance in three minutes.
 这只鸽子三分钟便飞完了全程。
 可见，下面的句子是错误的：
 × I can run 200 metres in about 23 seconds’ time.
 请做下面的托福题：
 “Wasn’t Joan supposed to be here by now?”
 “Don’t worry，she’ll be here____twenty minutes. ”
 A. by at least B. around
 C. nearby D. in about(TOEFL，72.6;74.3)
 (参见 in an hour’s time)