2. How to read time
When it’s “on the hour” we say
“o’clock”.
Twelve o’clock
One o’clock
Six
o’clock
Seven
o’clock
3. We say
past
to
“half past” or
“thirty”
When
In five minute increments,
when it’s past the hour (up
to 30 minutes past)
When it’s before the hour
(after 30 minutes past)
30 minutes is half an hour
“quarter past” / 15 minutes is quarter of an
“fifteen”/
hour
“quarter to” /
“forty-five”
4.
5. Twelve fifteen
or
Quarter past twelve
Twelve thirty
or
Half past twelve
We never say “half to”.
Twelve forty-five
or
Quarter to one
6. when we want to be accurate,
we add the word “minute(s)
Or just say “nearly” or
“just turned”.
It’s twenty-eight
minutes to twelve.
It’s one minute
past three.
It’s just turned
half past eleven.
It’s nearly
three o’clock
7. Prepositions used with
time
At a point in time
In a length of time
“When
shall we
meet?
“It’s
12.30,
when will
you be
ready?
“Let’s
meet at
1.45.”
“I’ll see
you in an
hour, at
about
13.30.”
8. Naturally speaking
In the morning
In the Afternoon
Late at night
07.00
14.00
22.00
It’s seven o’clock in
the morning
It’s two o’clock in the
afternoon
It’s ten o’clock at
night
07.15
14.15
22.15
It’s quarter past
It’s quarter past two in
seven in the morning the afternoon
It’s quarter past ten
at night
07.30
22.30
14.30
It’s half past seven in It’s half past two in the
the morning
afternoon
It’s half past ten at
night
07.45
22.45
14.45
It’s quarter to eight in It’s quarter to three in
the morning
the afternoon
It’s quarter to eleven
at night
9. How to ask the time in English.
Excuse me. What time is it, please?
It’s exactly eight o’clock.
Or
It’s eight.
Excuse me. Do you have the time, please?
It’s half past twelve.
or
It’s twelve thirty.
Excuse me. Could you tell me the time, please?
It’s about half past eleven.
or
It’s around eleven thirty.
10. Writing the time
morning
00:01 – 11:59
a.m. – stands for Ante Meridiem
(the time between midnight
00:01 hrs – 12:00
and noon)
noon or midday
12:00
p.m. – stands for Post Meridian
(after noon)
12:01 – 24:00 hrs
afternoon
12:01 – 18:00
evening
18:01 – 22:00
night
22:01 – 24:00
midnight
24:00 / 00:00