Short periods of time
You can use minute, moment and sec(ond) to talk about very short periods of time, and they can often be used interchangeably. So, if you want to talk to someone who's busy, you can ask: Have you got a minute? or Can I talk to you for a sec(ond)? If you're not ready, you can say: Just a moment or I won't be a sec(ond). The phrase in (just) a minute/moment means "very soon":
- Sh! The film's going to start in a minute.
- Don't start eating yet. I'll be ready in just a moment.
You can also say any moment/minute now or at any moment:
- The bus should arrive any minute now.
- We'd better tidy up. Jill will be back at any moment!
If you start a sentence with The minute/moment..., it means "As soon as...":
- The moment I saw him, I knew he was upset.
And not for a moment/second means "not at all":
- He said he was conducting a survey, but I didn't believe him for a second.
Long periods of time
You can use the words hours, days, years and ages to talk about long periods of time or things you think go on for too long. Generally, they mean "for a long time":
- It takes Alex hours to get ready in the morning.
- The neighbours will be talking about this for days.
- You've been speaking on the phone for ages.
To emphasize how long something goes on for, you can say for hours and hours or for ages and ages:
- The meeting went on for hours and hours, and still nothing was decided.
Or you can say for hours on end or for days on end:
- They discussed politics for hours on end.
- It rained for days on end. The sun didn't come out once.