Explanation at your level:
Age is the number of years you have lived. If you are 10, your age is 10. You can ask: 'How old are you?' or 'What is your age?' It is a very useful word for talking about yourself and your friends.
We use age to talk about how old people or things are. You might say: 'He is at the age of five' or 'The age of this building is 100 years.' It is also used to talk about groups, like 'people of all ages.'
Beyond just numbers, age describes life stages. We talk about 'middle age' or 'old age.' It is also used to describe long periods of time. For example, 'The Stone Age' was a very long time ago. Remember, 'ages' can also mean 'a long time' in casual talk.
At this level, you will notice age used in more abstract ways. We discuss 'the age of technology' or 'a new age of discovery.' It is also common in idioms like 'coming of age' or 'act your age.' Understanding these nuances helps you sound more like a native speaker.
In advanced English, age often appears in historical or sociological contexts. We analyze 'the digital age' or 'the age of globalization.' It can also be used as a verb, meaning to grow older, though the noun form remains the most common. Pay attention to how it collocates with adjectives like 'golden,' 'dark,' or 'modern.'
Mastery of age involves understanding its deep etymological roots and its usage in literature. Writers use it to contrast the finite nature of human life with the 'ages' of history. It can represent wisdom, decay, or transformation depending on the context. Its versatility allows it to function as a metaphor for the passage of time itself in complex narratives.
Wort in 30 Sekunden
- Age measures time lived.
- It can mean a life stage.
- It defines historical eras.
- Use it with 'years' for numbers.
When we talk about age, we are usually measuring time. Whether it is your own age in years or the age of an ancient artifact, it tells us how much time has passed since the start of existence.
Beyond just numbers, age can describe a phase of life. We often talk about 'coming of age' when someone grows up. It is a fundamental concept in our daily lives.
Finally, historians use the word to define long eras. Think of the 'Ice Age' or the 'Information Age.' These are massive chunks of time defined by what happened during them.
The word age has a long journey! It comes from the Old French word 'aage,' which traces back to the Latin 'aetaticum.' This Latin root is connected to 'aevum,' meaning 'lifetime' or 'eternity.'
It entered Middle English around the 13th century. Over time, it shifted from meaning just a 'lifetime' to representing historical periods as well. It is a cousin to words like eternal and aeon.
Isn't it fascinating that a word we use for a birthday also links back to the concept of eternity? It shows how humans have always been obsessed with measuring time.
You will hear age used in many ways. We say 'at the age of ten' or 'people of all ages.' It is a very versatile noun that fits in both casual conversation and serious academic writing.
Common collocations include golden age, middle age, and legal age. Using these helps you sound more natural when speaking about timeframes.
In formal contexts, we might say 'an age of enlightenment.' In casual speech, we might just say 'it took ages,' meaning a very long time. Always pay attention to the context to see if it refers to a number or a duration.
1. Act your age: To behave in a way appropriate for your maturity level. Example: Stop playing with your food and act your age!
2. Age before beauty: A playful phrase used when letting someone older go first. Example: Go ahead, age before beauty!
3. Come of age: To reach adulthood. Example: She came of age during the war.
4. An age (or ages): A very long time. Example: I haven't seen you in ages!
5. Under age: Not yet legally an adult. Example: You cannot enter because you are under age.
The word age is a countable noun. We can say 'an age' or 'many ages.' Its plural form is 'ages.' It is often used with prepositions like 'at' or 'of.'
Pronunciation: In both British and American English, it is pronounced /eɪdʒ/. It rhymes with page, stage, cage, sage, and wage.
The stress is always on the single syllable. It is a very straightforward word to pronounce, but be careful not to confuse it with 'edge,' which has a shorter vowel sound.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with the word 'eternal'.
Pronunciation Guide
Long 'a' sound followed by a soft 'j'.
Similar to UK, very clear vowel.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it like 'edge'
- Missing the soft 'j' sound
- Stressing the wrong part
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very accessible
Simple to use
Common word
Clear sound
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Fortgeschritten
Grammar to Know
Noun usage
Age is a noun.
Preposition usage
At the age of.
Countable nouns
Ages.
Examples by Level
What is your age?
What is your number of years?
Question form
I am ten years of age.
I am 10 years old.
Formal structure
She is my age.
She is the same years as me.
Comparison
He is a young age.
He is very young.
Adjective usage
The age is important.
The number is important.
Subject usage
What age are you?
How old are you?
Casual phrasing
Age is just a number.
Numbers don't matter.
Proverb
I like your age.
I like how old you are.
Simple sentence
People of all ages come here.
He started school at a young age.
The age of the car is unknown.
She is at the age of retirement.
They are the same age.
What is the legal age to drive?
The age of the earth is huge.
He looks young for his age.
We are living in the age of information.
It has been an age since we met.
The Stone Age lasted thousands of years.
He is showing his age lately.
She is coming of age next year.
The age of the painting is disputed.
They are of a certain age.
Age should not stop you from learning.
The golden age of cinema was in the 1940s.
He has the wisdom of a great age.
We are in a new age of technology.
She is well past the age of consent.
The age of the universe is vast.
He is acting his age for once.
The age of enlightenment changed history.
It is a sign of our age.
The age of the manuscript suggests it is authentic.
We must consider the age of the infrastructure.
She is a product of her age.
The age of the empire came to an end.
He is a man of a certain age.
The age of the data is a concern.
They are bridging the age gap.
The age of the patient is a factor.
The age of the soul is a philosophical debate.
He reflects the anxieties of the age.
The age of the monument is debated by scholars.
We are witnessing the end of an age.
The age of the earth is a geological fact.
She is defined by the age in which she lives.
The age of the text is clear from the style.
He is a relic of a bygone age.
Häufige Kollokationen
Idioms & Expressions
"Act your age"
Behave maturely
Stop shouting and act your age.
casual"Age before beauty"
Polite phrase for letting someone older go first
After you, age before beauty!
casual"Come of age"
Reach adulthood
He came of age last year.
neutral"In this day and age"
Nowadays
In this day and age, we have computers.
neutral"An age"
A long time
It took an age to finish.
casual"Stone Age"
Very old or primitive
That technology is Stone Age.
casualEasily Confused
Similar sound
Edge is a border, age is time
The edge of the table vs my age.
Both relate to time
Old is adjective, age is noun
He is old vs His age is 20.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + is + [number] + years of age.
He is 20 years of age.
Subject + is + at + the age of + [number].
She started at the age of five.
It is + an age + since + [event].
It is an age since we met.
The age of + [noun] + is + [adjective].
The age of the car is unknown.
People of all ages + [verb].
People of all ages like music.
Wortfamilie
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Verwandt
How to Use It
9/10
Formality Scale
Häufige Fehler
Age is a noun, not an adjective.
Old is an adjective, age is the noun.
Use 'at' with age.
Ages means a long time, not years.
It is more natural to use 'old' for people.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize your age on a giant clock.
When Native Speakers Use It
Use 'ages' to say you waited a long time.
Cultural Insight
Don't ask strangers their age.
Grammar Shortcut
Always use 'years' with 'age' for numbers.
Say It Right
Keep the 'j' soft.
Don't Make This Mistake
Never use 'have' with age.
Did You Know?
Age comes from Latin.
Study Smart
Group words by time.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Age is a Stage of life.
Visual Association
A clock turning into a birthday cake.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Write down the ages of five people you know.
Wortherkunft
Old French
Original meaning: Lifetime
Kultureller Kontext
Asking a woman's age is traditionally seen as impolite.
Age is often a sensitive topic; asking someone's age directly can be considered rude in some contexts.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At the doctor
- What is your age?
- Date of birth
- Age group
In history class
- The Stone Age
- The Middle Ages
- A new age
Socializing
- Same age
- Age gap
- Act your age
Legal forms
- Legal age
- Under age
- Age verification
Conversation Starters
"What is your favorite age to be?"
"Do you think age is just a number?"
"What age do you think is the best?"
"How does age change our perspective?"
"What age would you like to live to?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a memory from a young age.
How do you feel about getting older?
What defines your current age?
If you could be any age, what would it be?
Häufig gestellte Fragen
8 FragenYes, it can be a verb meaning to grow older.
No, you must say 'I am 20 years old'.
It is a transition to adulthood.
Yes, it is the plural of age.
It is a standard preposition for time points.
Yes, like the Bronze Age.
Sometimes, it depends on the culture.
Page, stage, wage.
Teste dich selbst
I am ten ___ of age.
We say years of age.
Which means 'a long time'?
Ages is used for a long time.
You can say 'He is 20 age'.
Incorrect grammar.
Word
Bedeutung
Definition matching.
This is the age of information.
Ergebnis: /5
Summary
Age is the measure of time that defines our existence, from our birthdays to the eras of history.
- Age measures time lived.
- It can mean a life stage.
- It defines historical eras.
- Use it with 'years' for numbers.
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize your age on a giant clock.
When Native Speakers Use It
Use 'ages' to say you waited a long time.
Cultural Insight
Don't ask strangers their age.
Grammar Shortcut
Always use 'years' with 'age' for numbers.
Beispiel
What is your age?
Related Content
![300 Best Quotes [HD] [1080p]](https://sublearn.com/storage/thumbnails/V0DJqixXAUU.jpg)
Im Kontext lernen
Dieses Wort in anderen Sprachen
Verwandte Redewendungen
Mehr Time Wörter
lifetime
A1Das ist die ganze Zeit, die eine Person lebt. Oder die Zeit, in der eine Maschine gut funktioniert.
bygone
C1Refers to things, events, or eras that belong to an earlier time and no longer exist. It is frequently used to evoke nostalgia or to describe something that is archaic or historically distant.
yesterday
A1Yesterday refers to the day immediately before today. It is used to describe events, actions, or states that occurred in the very recent past, specifically one day ago.
prior
B2Existing or coming before in time, order, or importance. It is frequently used to describe a previous arrangement or knowledge that someone has before a specific point in time.
eventual
B2Describing something that happens at the end of a long process or period of time, often after several difficulties or intermediate steps. It characterizes the final result or outcome of a situation rather than the immediate one.
May
A1May is the fifth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, falling between April and June. It has 31 days and is associated with the peak of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
hour
A1A unit of time that lasts for sixty minutes. There are twenty-four of these units in one full day.
anytime
C1Refers to an unspecified or indefinite point in time that is available or convenient for an action to occur. It denotes complete flexibility and the absence of a fixed schedule or temporal restriction.
prologation
C1Prolongation refers to the act of extending the duration or length of something, or the state of being extended beyond the usual or expected limit. It is frequently used in technical, legal, or formal contexts to describe an increase in time for a contract, a medical condition, or a physical dimension.
recent
A2Describes something that happened, began, or existed a short time ago. It is used to talk about events or things that are fresh and close to the present moment.
