sur des temps

You use this when discussing work shifts or project phases. It often follows a verb like travailler or répartir. You might say you work sur des temps courts. This means you do short bursts of work. It helps you define the 'how' of your timing. It is very practical for organizing tasks. Don't use it for a single specific clock time. Use it for the nature of the intervals themselves.

Use it when you are at the office. It is great for explaining a complicated calendar. Use it when talking to a coach about training intervals. It works well when texting a friend about your busy week. It feels organized and clear. It shows you have a handle on your schedule. Use it when the duration of the segments matters most.

Do not use this to say 'on time.' That would be à l'heure. Do not use it for a specific date. If you mean 'sometimes,' use parfois instead. It sounds weird if you are just meeting for coffee. Avoid it in very emotional or poetic settings. It is a functional, structural phrase. It isn't for romantic declarations about 'all of time.'

French culture values the distinction between different types of time. There is 'temps de travail' (work time) and 'temps libre' (free time). This phrase reflects a structured approach to life. It grew from administrative and professional language. It shows the French love for precise categorization. It is about respecting the boundaries of each period. Even in casual talk, it implies a sense of order.

You will often hear sur des temps donnés for 'given times.' Another common one is sur des temps partiels for part-time segments. You might hear sur des temps de pause specifically for break periods. Sometimes people shorten it to just sur le temps de... for specific activities. Each variation keeps that 'segment' feeling. It is all about the blocks in your day.