Telling the time is an important skill in English, whether you’re scheduling a meeting, catching a train, or just making plans with friends. In this guide, you’ll learn how to read and say the time correctly, different time formats, and common expressions related to time.
How to Read and Say the Time in English
In English, time can be read in two main ways:
- Digital format (e.g., 10:30, 3:45)
- Spoken format (e.g., “half past ten,” “a quarter to four”)
1. The Basics of Telling the Time
-
Full hours: When the minute hand is on 12, we simply say the hour.
- 3:00 → “It’s three o’clock.”
- 10:00 → “It’s ten o’clock.”
-
Minutes past the hour: When the minute hand is on the right side of the clock (from 01 to 30 minutes), we say:
- 3:10 → “It’s ten past three.”
- 7:20 → “It’s twenty past seven.”
-
Minutes to the next hour: When the minute hand is on the left side of the clock (from 31 to 59 minutes), we count back from the next hour and use “to”:
- 3:50 → “It’s ten to four.”
- 9:45 → “It’s a quarter to ten.”
2. Special Time Expressions
-
Half past: Used for 30 minutes past the hour.
- 2:30 → “It’s half past two.”
- 5:30 → “It’s half past five.”
-
A quarter past: Used for 15 minutes past the hour.
- 4:15 → “It’s a quarter past four.”
-
A quarter to: Used for 15 minutes before the next hour.
- 8:45 → “It’s a quarter to nine.”
3. Using AM and PM
In English, we use AM (ante meridiem) for the morning and PM (post meridiem) for the afternoon and evening.
- 6:00 AM → “It’s six in the morning.”
- 2:00 PM → “It’s two in the afternoon.”
- 9:00 PM → “It’s nine in the evening.”
Different Ways to Say the Time
There are formal and informal ways to say the time in English:
| Digital Time | Formal | Informal |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00 | It’s three o’clock. | It’s three. |
| 5:15 | It’s a quarter past five. | It’s five fifteen. |
| 7:30 | It’s half past seven. | It’s seven thirty. |
| 9:45 | It’s a quarter to ten. | It’s nine forty-five. |
Both formal and informal ways are correct, but formal expressions are more commonly used in spoken English.
How to Ask for the Time
When asking for the time, you can use these common phrases:
-
Formal:
- “Excuse me, do you have the time?”
- “Could you tell me what time it is?”
- “Would you mind telling me the time?”
-
Informal:
- “Hey, what time is it?”
- “Do you know the time?”
- “What’s the time now?”
How to Tell the Time
When responding, you can use these different formats depending on the situation:
-
Exact Time:
- “It’s three o’clock.”
- “It’s seven twenty-five.”
-
Using Past and To:
- “It’s twenty past three.” (3:20)
- “It’s a quarter to five.” (4:45)
-
Using AM and PM:
- “It’s ten AM.”
- “It’s six PM.”
-
Casual Responses:
- “It’s almost noon.”
- “It’s just after five.”
- “It’s about half past two.”
Common Time-Related Phrases in English
English has many expressions related to time. Here are some useful ones:
- “What time is it?” – Asking for the time.
- “It’s about time!” – Used when something should have happened earlier.
- “In the nick of time” – Just before it’s too late.
- “Time flies” – Time passes very quickly.
- “Behind schedule” – Something is late.
- “On time” – Punctual; not late.
- “Kill time” – Do something to pass time while waiting.
Quiz: Test Your Knowledge on Telling the Time
-
What time is “half past seven”?
- a) 6:30
- b) 7:30
- c) 8:30
-
What time is “a quarter to nine”?
- a) 8:15
- b) 9:15
- c) 8:45
-
If it’s 4:20, how do you say it?
- a) Twenty past four
- b) Twenty to five
- c) Four past twenty
-
What time is “ten to three”?
- a) 3:10
- b) 2:50
- c) 10:30
-
How do you say 5:15 in informal English?
- a) Quarter past five
- b) Five fifteen
- c) Both a and b
-
If it’s 11:00 PM, how would you say it?
- a) Eleven in the morning
- b) Eleven at night
- c) Eleven at noon
-
“On time” means:
- a) Being late
- b) Being early
- c) Being punctual
-
“Behind schedule” means:
- a) Late
- b) On time
- c) Early
-
“In the nick of time” means:
- a) Too late
- b) Just on time
- c) Very early
-
What does “Time flies” mean?
-
- a) Time moves slowly
- b) Time passes quickly
- c) Time stands still
Quiz Answers
- b) 7:30
- c) 8:45
- a) Twenty past four
- b) 2:50
- c) Both a and b
- b) Eleven at night
- c) Being punctual
- a) Late
- b) Just on time
- b) Time passes quickly
