The Hours in English

What time is it?’

The expression used in English to ask for the time is as follows:

What time is it? Or also what’s the time? (Less usual) = What time is it? Although there are also
other possibilities:

- Have you got the time?

- Could you tell me the time please?

- Would you mind telling me the time?

- Have you got the time on you?

- You wouldn't know the time, would you?

- Do you know the time?

'A.m.' is used and 'p.m.' in more formal and normally written language.

Example: Banks are open from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

It is more normal to say: 'In the morning', 'In the afternoon', 'In the evening', 'At night'

7:00 am. = Seven o'clock in the morning.

2:15 p.m. = quarter past two in the afternoon.

7:30 pm. = half-past seven in the evening

11:00 p.m. = eleven o'clock at night

O’clock is an old contraction that means 'of the clock'. Current employment is equivalent to Spanish
'o'clock' (seven o'clock = seven o'clock).

o'clock = 'en punto'           

A quarter past... = 'y cuarto'

half past... = 'y media'      

A quarter to... = 'menos cuarto'

In the following video you can find more explanation about the time:

https://youtu.be/uQ6E_Gu_IgU

https://youtu.be/Vx2PTn9B6n0

https://youtu.be/WVf30ZHHFh4

Some examples of how to tell the time on your watch:

‘O’clock’

To refer to the hour sharp we only have to say It’s + the hour that is + expression o’clock.

For example. It’s two o’clock, it’s five o’clock or it’s nine o’clock.
Half Past

When we want to say that it is an hour and a half we must say It’s + the expression half past + the
time that it is.

For example. It’s half-past one, It’s half past seven or It’s half-past eleven.

Quarter Past

To speak of an hour and a quarter, we say It’s + the expression quarter past + the hour that is.

For example. It’s quarter past twelve, It’s quarter past three or It’s quarter past two.

Quarter To

In this case we replace "past" with "to". When we used to say something like "a quarter (of an hour)
past" now we say "a quarter (of an hour) to". Therefore it would be formed with It’s + the
expression quarter to + the reference time (the one for which a quarter of an hour is missing).

For example. It’s quarter to twelve, It’s quarter to three or It’s quarter to two.
Remember the lesson in the following graphic:

What time is it?

Write the correct time according to the audio

wtime.mp3
________________________________

time.mp3
____________________________________

time1.mp3
__________________________________

time2.mp3
___________________________________

time3.mp3
___________________________________
Look at the exercise and write what time is it?
16.20 – It’s twenty past four

15.48 – ______________

12.13 – ______________

03.45 – ______________

05.50 – ______________

18.02 – ______________

22.30 – ______________

21.15 – ______________

11.48 – ______________

10.35 – ______________

06.55 – ______________

Fill in the blanks with the correct answer

Half o'clock past quarter to

9.05......It's five _____ nine.

6.04......It's______ past _______

2.15......It's a ______ past two.

1.30......It's ______ past one.

7.00......It's seven _______