Lesson 1

Talking about time

When you talk about different times of the clock, how do you tell them?
This chapter will help you talk about different times.
Analogue Digital Normal Use Hints Timetables,
TV, etc.

6:00 It's 6 o'clock.

6:05 It's 5 past 6. It's six oh five.

past and the

It's previous
6:15 It's six fifteen.
quarter past 6. hour (here:
6)

6:30 It's half past 6. It's six thirty.

 Analogue Digital Normal Use Hints Timetables,
TV, etc.

It's six thirty-

6:35 It's 25 to 7.
five.

It's quarter to It's six forty-

6:45 five.
seven.

to and the
It's six fifty-
6:55 It's 5 to 7. following
five.
hour (here: 7)

7:00 It's 7 o'clock. It's six thirty.

NOTE: In American English

‘After’ is used instead of ‘Past’
‘Before’ is used instead of ‘To’

1. The 12-hour-system in English

In English there is no 24-hour-system (sometimes it is used on TV and in timetables).
15:00 is 3 o'clock (p.m.) (on TV: fifteen hundred). That's why you use a.m. (Latin: ante
meridiem) and p.m. (post meridiem) in situations where it is necessary to point out that you
want to say in the morning or in the evening. In other situations (or when it is clear that school
starts in the morning and the party in the evening) it is left out.
Germany England
0:00 midnight
0:01 12:01 am
8:00 8:00 am
12:00 noon
12:01 12:01 pm
14:00 2 pm
18:00 6 pm
23:59 11:59 pm
2. When to use o'clock
o'clock (abbreviation: of the clock) only on the hour
3. Quarter past and to
Quarter → 15 minutes
Half → 30 minutes
4. The minutes
Multiplies of 5: leave out the word minutes (but: 6.01 → It's one minute past 6.)
Asking The Time: (How do we ask the time?)
We can use some questions for asking the time which are given below;
Questions:
▪ What time is it?
▪ What is the time?
▪ Do you have the time?
▪ Do you know what time is it?
▪ Can you tell me what time is it, please?
▪ Could you tell me the time, please?
▪ Do you happen to have the time?
▪ Have you got the right time?
▪ What time do you make it?
Answering the questions: (How do we say what time is?)
Example answers:
▪ It’s exactly or about or almost or just gone …
▪ Sure, it is 3:00
▪ Sorry, I am not wearing a watch.
▪ 2:30
▪ It is 4:20
▪ It is ten past ten.
▪ The time is 8 o’clock.
Note: “a.m.” and “p.m.” markers cannot be used with “past / to”
The Times in English
Time Hours
morning 00:01 - 11:59
noon or midday 12:00
afternoon 12:01 - 18:00
evening 18:01 - 22:00
night 22:01 - 24:00
midnight 24:00 / 00:00
a.m. – (the time between midnight and 00:01 - 12:00
noon)
p.m. – (the time after noon ( not afternoon )) 12:01 - 24:00
Short dialogues:
A. Excuse me. Can you tell me the time, please?
B. Yes, of course. It’s seven o’clock.
A. Thank you.
B. No Mention Please.
A. What time is it now?
B. I don’t have my watch on right now.
A. Is there a clock around here?
B. There’s one in the next room. Or,
B. I was about to ask you the same question.
A. Oh, no! My watch has stopped.
B. I forgot to wear mine.
A. Do you have any idea of the time?
B. I don’t know exactly, but it’s past nine.
A. It was nine o’clock when I got here.
B. Well, I’m sorry I can’t help you.
A. At what time is the meeting?
B. Seven o’clock.
A. Be there at Seven o’clock sharp, then.
B. I’ll try to get there before seven.
What is rush hour? Rush hour is usually in the morning and evening; when people are
traveling to and from work by car, motorbike, bicycle, tube and by foot and they are in a hurry.
Now that you have learned how to tell time by the hour, you can learn other words
that can help you talk about time - parts of the day. For example, you can use “in the
morning”, “at noon”, “in the afternoon”, “in the evening”, “at night”. When you
want to talk about days you can use “yesterday”, “today”, “tomorrow”, “the day
after tomorrow”.
NOTE: We use “in the morning”, “at noon”, “in the afternoon”, “in the evening”, “at night”
for actions that happen every day, that are habits. When we want to specify that the action
happened today we use: “this morning”, “(today) at noon”, “this afternoon”, “this evening”,
“tonight”. In other situations, we just use “morning”.
Some examples:
1) I always have breakfast in the morning.
2) He comes home from work in the evening.
3) We sleep at night.
4) I went to the bank yesterday at noon.
5) I will go to school tomorrow morning.
6) I will sleep at a hotel tonight.
7) She will visit us the day after tomorrow.
Dialogue 1
Rani : Oh, no! I forgot to bring my watch. I wonder what time it is now. Um… excuse me, Mom.
Do you know what time it is now?
Mrs. Sarah : Well, it’s almost 3 p.m.
Rani : I’m sorry, do you have the correct time?
Mrs. Sarah : Yes, but I guess my watch is a few minutes faster.
Rani : Oh, very well. Thank you, Mom.
Mrs. Sarah : No problem.
Dialogue 2
Sandy : Oh, I think the day is getting darker. Have you got the time?
Mirna : Well… it’s a half past five.
Sandy : Wow, playing with skateboard is so much fun. It’s going to be nightfall
Mirna : Yes, I think we should leave from here. Hey, by the way are you hungry?
Sandy : Yes, I am starving. I’d love to eat that delicious burger from Burger stall. What time
does
the stall open?
Mirna : It has opened from 5 PM. Okay, let’s stop by the stall.
Sandy : Ok!
Dialogue 3
Roni: Excuse, can you tell me the correct time?
Irwan: I don’t think so. My watch is fast, Ron. How about your watch?
Roni: My watch is too slow.
Irwan: Ron, Is your watch 5 minutes slow?
Roni: I don’t exactly know how slow my watch is.
Irwan: So do I. I don’t really know how fast my watch is.
Roni: It must be about eight o’clock now, Wan.
Irwan: I don’t think so. It must be about eight fifteen.
Roni: We have to know what time it is Wan.
Irwan: Okay, let’s go to the office. We can check the correct time.
Roni: Let’s go, hurry up!

hour second minute o’clock when morning

evening afternoon midnight watch try please

Make at least one sentence with the above given words. (HOMEWORK)