Definite article before specific time

[kumar17]

We are nearly into 10 mins of the class time but the professor has not turned up yet.

Is the above sentence correct?

 

[emsr2d2]

We are nearly [STRIKE]into 10 mins of[/STRIKE] ten minutes into [STRIKE]the[/STRIKE] class [STRIKE]time[/STRIKE] but the professor has not turned up yet.

See above. I would probably use something like "It's ten minutes since this class was due to start but the professor hasn't turned up yet".

 

[kumar17]

See above. I would probably use something like "It's ten minutes since this class was due to start but the professor hasn't turned up yet".

Thanks for the response. May I know why there is no 'the' before class? Are we not talking about a specific class? In your response you have mentioned as "this class". So, Isn't 'the' class or 'this' class(in my example sentence) more appropriate?

Could you please provide any other context where 'the' can be used along with 'time'?

 

[emsr2d2]

Sorry, I meant to put "the" in parentheses, rather than strike it through. It's optional.

 

[kumar17]

May I know why it is optional? We are talking about a particular class. Isn't 'this' or 'the' necessary?

 

[SoothingDave]

"nearly ten minutes into the class time"