Telling The Time In English

Telling the Time in English

Knowing how to tell the time is very important in daily life. Here is a simple guide from First Business English to help A1 English learners understand and say the time correctly.

1. Asking for the Time

If you want to ask someone for the time, you can say:

• • “What time is it?”

• • “Do you have the time?”

2. Reading the Clock

There are two ways to say the time in English: the digital way and the traditional way.

Digital Way (Exact Time)

You can say the time as it appears on a digital clock:

• • 3:00 → “Three o’clock”

• • 4:30 → “Four thirty”

• • 7:45 → “Seven forty-five”

Traditional Way (Past and To)

In English, we often use “past” and “to” for minutes:

• • 3:10 → “Ten past three”

• • 4:30 → “Half past four”

• • 7:45 → “Quarter to eight”

3. Special Time Words

• • O’clock → Used when the time is exactly on the hour (e.g., “It’s five o’clock.”)

• • Half past → Means 30 minutes past the hour (e.g., “It’s half past two.”)

• • Quarter past → Means 15 minutes past the hour (e.g., “It’s quarter past nine.”)

• • Quarter to → Means 15 minutes before the next hour (e.g., “It’s quarter to six.”)

4. A.M. and P.M

In English, we use a.m. for morning times and p.m. for evening times:

• • 8:00 a.m. → “Eight in the morning”

• • 2:00 p.m. → “Two in the afternoon”

• • 9:00 p.m. → “Nine at night”

5. Practice Telling the Time

Try saying these times:

1. 1. 6:15 → __________

1. 1. 10:30 → __________

1. 1. 8:45 → __________

1. 1. 12:00 → __________

6. Daily Time Phrases

Here are some common time phrases:

• • “I wake up at seven o’clock.”

• • “Lunch is at half past twelve.”

• • “The train leaves at quarter to five.”

7. Keep Practicing

Practice looking at a clock and saying the time. You can also ask your friends, “What time is it?” for extra practice or simply book a lesson with us. When you book a lesson with us at First Business English you will learn more, practice more and expand your English language ability.

Good luck! Keep learning with First Business English. Best Business English Online.

 

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