In this lesson, you will learn how to tell the time in English, understand common expressions related to time, and practice using them in everyday conversations. Let’s dive in!
Telling the Time in English
Telling the time in English is simple once you know the basics. Here’s a breakdown of how to read and say the time:
Basic Structure
- We use o’clock for full hours.
- For minutes past the hour, we say the number of minutes followed by “past” and the hour.
- For minutes before the next hour, we say the number of minutes followed by “to” and the next hour.
Examples:
| Time | How to Say It |
|---|---|
| 3:00 | It’s three o’clock. |
| 3:15 | It’s fifteen past three. or It’s a quarter past three. |
| 3:30 | It’s half past three. |
| 3:45 | It’s fifteen to four. or It’s a quarter to four. |
Using AM and PM
In English, we use AM (Ante Meridiem) for morning times and PM (Post Meridiem) for afternoon and evening times.
Examples:
| Time | How to Say It |
|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | It’s eight o’clock in the morning. |
| 2:30 PM | It’s two thirty in the afternoon. |
| 9:45 PM | It’s nine forty-five in the evening. |
Special Cases
- Midnight: 12:00 AM
It’s midnight. - Noon: 12:00 PM
It’s noon.
Common Expressions About Time
Here are some useful phrases and expressions related to time that you can use in daily conversations:
Asking for the Time
| Expression | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| What time is it? | What time is it? |
| Could you tell me the time, please? | Could you tell me the time, please? |
| Do you have the time? | Do you have the time? |
Talking About Time
| Expression | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| It’s early. | It’s early. |
| It’s late. | It’s late. |
| I’m in a hurry. | I’m in a hurry. |
| I have plenty of time. | I have plenty of time. |
Practice Games
Listening Practice
Listen to the following audio clips and repeat after them to improve your pronunciation:
- It’s seven o’clock in the morning.
- It’s a quarter past three in the afternoon.
- It’s half past eleven at night.
Summary
In this lesson, you learned:
- How to tell the time in English using o’clock, past, and to.
- Common expressions for asking and talking about time.
- How to use AM and PM correctly.
- Practical exercises to reinforce your understanding.
Lesson Practice
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