What Time Is It?

Hook: Telling the time is one of the most common things you’ll ever say in English — for appointments, trains, meeting friends, and daily plans.

Notice: “It’s three o’clock.” “It’s half past three.” “It’s a quarter past three.” “It’s a quarter to four.” “It’s ten past three.” “It’s twenty to four.”

The rule

ClockYou say
3:00three o’clock
3:15a quarter past three
3:30half past three
3:45a quarter to four
3:10ten past three
3:50ten to four

Ask the time with: “What time is it?” or “What’s the time?” Answer with “It’s…”

Practice

  1. 4:00 → ? (Answer: four o’clock)
  2. 4:30 → ? (Answer: half past four)
  3. 4:15 → ? (Answer: a quarter past four)
  4. 4:45 → ? (Answer: a quarter to five)
  5. Say the current time out loud in English.

Try it next: our Vocabulary lessons on telling time.

Try the Vocabulary Lessons →

This lesson supports: “I can understand familiar words and very basic phrases… about immediate concrete surroundings” (Listening).

Azizul Hakim
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