TELLING THE TIME

There are two different ways of telling the time in English.

quarter

quarter

PAST

TO

1. The traditional one with the words quarter and half

half
This clock shows twenty-eight past eight.
According to the above:

2:15

= Quarter PAST two.

5:20 = Twenty PAST five.

12:30 = Half PAST twelve.
8:40 = Twenty TO nine.
10:45 = Qurter TO eleven.
11:55 = Five TO twelve.
Three rules:
1. We always say first the minutes, if the minutes are between 1 30, we use the word PAST and
then we say the hour that is past by the minutes. 2:10 is ten past two.
2. If the minutes are between 31 59, then we deduct the minutes from 60, say the difference
followod by the word TO and then the coming hour. 2:50 is ten TO three.
3. For 15 and 45 minutes we use the word quarter and for 30 minutes the word HALF.

2. The new way, when we just use the numbers as they are shown on a digital clock.

Here, in this case we just simply say the numbers we are seeing.
For example this clock shows nine twentyfour AM, or in the morning.

According to this:

2:15

= Two fifteen.

5:20 = Five twenty.

12:30 = Twelve thirty.
8:40 = Eight forty.
10:45 = Ten forty five
11:55 = Eleven fifty five.
There are other ways to tell the time, used in specific areas of life, like in army, police etc.
The polite formulas to ask and tell the time is:
Can you tell me the time, please?
Certainly, it is two fifteen.
Thank you very much.
You are welcome.
or
What is the time, please?
It's five twenty.
Thank you.
Welcome.