What time is it? 2 ways to tell the time in English for BEGINNERS

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Explanation + Quiz

2 Ways to tell the time in English

When learning to tell the time in English, there are two common ways to say it.

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1. The Simple Way: Saying the Hour and Minutes

This is the easiest way to tell the time. You just say the hour first, and then the minutes.

• Example 1: 6:30 → “Six thirty”
• Example 2: 9:15 → “Nine fifteen”
• Example 3: 4:45 → “Four forty-five”

For tricky times:

• If the minutes are 00, just say the hour:
  • Example: 7:00 → “Seven o’clock”
• If the minutes are less than 10, say oh before the minutes:
  • Example: 8:05 → “Eight oh five”

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2. The Traditional Way: Using “Past” and “To”

In this way, you divide the clock into two halves:

• The first half (minutes 1-30) uses past.
• The second half (minutes 31-59) uses to.

Past (for minutes 1-30)

You say the minutes first, then the word past, and then the hour.

• Example 1: 6:10 → “Ten past six”
• Example 2: 9:20 → “Twenty past nine”
• Example 3: 3:15 → “Quarter past three” (Note: “Quarter” means 15 minutes)

To (for minutes 31-59)

You say how many minutes are left until the next hour. First, say the minutes, then to, and then the next hour.

• Example 1: 7:40 → “Twenty to eight” (40 minutes past 7, or 20 minutes before 8)
• Example 2: 11:45 → “Quarter to twelve” (Note: “Quarter” means 15 minutes)
• Example 3: 5:50 → “Ten to six” (10 minutes before 6)

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Tricky Examples

1. 12:00 (Noon or Midnight)
   • Simple way: “Twelve o’clock”
   • Traditional way: Say “noon” for 12:00 PM (day) and “midnight” for 12:00 AM (night).
2. 12:15 and 12:45
   • 12:15 → Simple: “Twelve fifteen” or Traditional: “Quarter past twelve”
   • 12:45 → Simple: “Twelve forty-five” or Traditional: “Quarter to one”
3. 7:35
   • Simple: “Seven thirty-five”
   • Traditional: “Twenty-five to eight” (35 minutes past 7, 25 minutes before 8)
4. 2:55
   • Simple: “Two fifty-five”
   • Traditional: “Five to three” (5 minutes before 3)

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Key Words:

• Quarter = 15 minutes
• Half = 30 minutes
• O’clock = When there are no minutes (e.g., 5:00 = “Five o’clock”)

By practicing both ways, students can become comfortable telling time in any situation!

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Extra Practice

Quiz: Telling the Time in Two Ways

Part 1: Simple Way (Hour and Minutes)

Write the time using the Simple Way (Hour and Minutes).

1. 4:15
2. 9:05
3. 11:30
4. 7:40
5. 3:00
6. 5:55
7. 2:45
8. 8:10
9. 12:00
10. 6:50

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Part 1: ANSWERS

1. 4:15 → Four fifteen
2. 9:05 → Nine oh five
3. 11:30 → Eleven thirty
4. 7:40 → Seven forty
5. 3:00 → Three o’clock
6. 5:55 → Five fifty-five
7. 2:45 → Two forty-five
8. 8:10 → Eight ten
9. 12:00 → Twelve o’clock
10. 6:50 → Six fifty

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Part 2: Traditional Way (Past and To)

Write the time using the Traditional Way (Past and To).

1. 2:10
2. 10:15
3. 7:45
4. 12:30
5. 9:50
6. 1:25
7. 4:40
8. 5:20
9. 11:55
10. 8:35

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Part 2: ANSWERS

1. 2:10 → Ten past two
2. 10:15 → Quarter past ten
3. 7:45 → Quarter to eight
4. 12:30 → Half past twelve
5. 9:50 → Ten to ten
6. 1:25 → Twenty-five past one
7. 4:40 → Twenty to five
8. 5:20 → Twenty past five
9. 11:55 → Five to twelve
10. 8:35 → Twenty-five to nine

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Part 3: Mixed Practice

For each time, write it in both ways (Simple and Traditional).

1. 3:30
2. 6:45
3. 8:05
4. 10:40
5. 9:15
6. 12:45
7. 4:50
8. 7:25
9. 11:00
10. 5:35

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Part 3: ANSWERS

1. 3:30 → Simple: Three thirty / Traditional: Half past three
2. 6:45 → Simple: Six forty-five / Traditional: Quarter to seven
3. 8:05 → Simple: Eight oh five / Traditional: Five past eight
4. 10:40 → Simple: Ten forty / Traditional: Twenty to eleven
5. 9:15 → Simple: Nine fifteen / Traditional: Quarter past nine
6. 12:45 → Simple: Twelve forty-five / Traditional: Quarter to one
7. 4:50 → Simple: Four fifty / Traditional: Ten to five
8. 7:25 → Simple: Seven twenty-five / Traditional: Twenty-five past seven
9. 11:00 → Simple: Eleven o’clock / Traditional: Eleven o’clock
10. 5:35 → Simple: Five thirty-five / Traditional: Twenty-five to six

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