A few seconds passed, and they seemed a long time.

As the seconds passed, I heard him call out to me.

After a few seconds passed and she said nothing, he turned to leave.

Only a few seconds had passed, she thought, but the men were gone.

Less than five seconds had passed since the first shot.

Ten seconds had passed with no action on either side.

Several seconds passed before he reached the decision to tell her more.

Several seconds passed before he could bring himself to answer it.

The seconds passed that should have brought an answer, but they did not.

There are three of you and the five seconds have passed!