Unlocking Time Telling in English: A Beginner's Guide
Telling the time is a fundamental aspect of daily communication, and mastering this skill in English is crucial for ESL learners. This guide aims to equip beginners with the necessary vocabulary and phrases to tell and ask for the time in English confidently. Understanding how to express time accurately is not only essential for personal development but also for navigating everyday situations, from scheduling appointments to meeting friends. By the end of this lesson, you'll be familiar with various time expressions and questions, enhancing your English communication skills in practical scenarios.
Helpful Vocabulary for Telling Time:
-
It's ... o'clock
- Meaning: Indicates the exact hour.
- Example: "It's 3 o'clock."
-
It's five to...
- Meaning: Five minutes before the hour.
- Example: "It's five to 10."
-
It's ten to...
- Meaning: Ten minutes before the hour.
- Example: "It's ten to 9."
-
It's quarter to...
- Meaning: Fifteen minutes before the hour.
- Example: "It's quarter to 8."
-
It's twenty to...
- Meaning: Twenty minutes before the hour.
- Example: "It's twenty to 9."
-
It's twenty-five to...
- Meaning: Twenty-five minutes before the hour.
- Example: "It's twenty-five to 10."
-
What time is it?
- Meaning: A general question asking for the current time.
- Example: "Excuse me, what time is it?"
-
Could you tell me the time, please?
- Meaning: A polite way to ask for the time.
- Example: "Could you tell me the time, please?"
-
It's five past...
- Meaning: Five minutes after the hour.
- Example: "It's five past 11."
-
It's ten past...
- Meaning: Ten minutes after the hour.
- Example: "It's ten past 12."
-
It's quarter past...
- Meaning: Fifteen minutes after the hour.
- Example: "It's quarter past 1."
-
It's twenty past...
- Meaning: Twenty minutes after the hour.
- Example: "It's twenty past 2."
-
It's twenty-five past...
- Meaning: Twenty-five minutes after the hour.
- Example: "It's twenty-five past 3."
-
It's half past...
- Meaning: Thirty minutes after the hour.
- Example: "It's half past 4."
-
It's exactly... / about... / almost... / just gone...
- Meaning: Specifies the time with varying degrees of precision.
- Example: "It's exactly 3:00."
-
Sorry, I am not wearing a watch.
- Meaning: A way to excuse oneself from providing the time.
- Example: "Sorry, I am not wearing a watch."
-
The time is 8 o'clock.
- Meaning: Directly stating the time.
- Example: "The time is 8 o'clock."
Answering Questions About The Time:
-
It's exactly... / about... / almost... / just gone...
- Meaning: Various ways to express the precise or approximate time.
- Example: "It's exactly 3:00."
-
Sorry, I am not wearing a watch.
- Meaning: A polite way to indicate you cannot provide the time.
- Example: "Sorry, I am not wearing a watch."
-
The time is 8 o'clock.
- Meaning: Stating the time directly.
- Example: "The time is 8 o'clock."
Useful Vocabulary for
Telling The Time In English With Examples
-
It's ... o'clock
- Meaning: Used to specify the exact hour.
- Example: "It's 3 o'clock."
-
It's five to...
- Meaning: Indicates that it is five minutes before the hour.
- Example: "It's five to 10."
-
It's ten to...
- Meaning: Indicates that it is ten minutes before the hour.
- Example: "It's ten to 9."
-
It's quarter to...
- Meaning: Fifteen minutes before the hour.
- Example: "It's quarter to 8."
-
It's twenty to...
- Meaning: Twenty minutes before the hour.
- Example: "It's twenty to 9."
-
It's twenty-five to...
- Meaning: Twenty-five minutes before the hour.
- Example: "It's twenty-five to 10."
Questions for Asking The Time With Examples
-
What time is it?
- Meaning: A general question asking for the current time.
- Example: "Excuse me, what time is it?"
-
Do you have the time?
- Meaning: Another way to ask someone for the current time.
- Example: "Sorry to bother you, but do you have the time?"
Expressions for Past the Hour:
-
It's five past...
- Meaning: Five minutes after the hour.
- Example: "It's five past 11."
-
It's ten past...
- Meaning: Ten minutes after the hour.
- Example: "It's ten past 12."
-
It's quarter past...
- Meaning: Fifteen minutes after the hour.
- Example: "It's quarter past 1."
-
It's twenty past...
- Meaning: Twenty minutes after the hour.
- Example: "It's twenty past 2."
-
It's twenty-five past...
- Meaning: Twenty-five minutes after the hour.
- Example: "It's twenty-five past 3."
-
It's half past...
- Meaning: Thirty minutes after the hour.
- Example: "It's half past 4."
Answering Questions About The Time With Examples
-
It's exactly... / about... / almost... / just gone...
- Meaning: Different ways to specify the time more accurately.
- Example: "It's exactly 3:00."
-
Sure, it is...
- Meaning: A polite way to give the time.
- Example: "Sure, it is 2:30."
-
Sorry, I am not wearing a watch.
- Meaning: Politely indicating you can't provide the time.
- Example: "Sorry, I am not wearing a watch."
-
It is...
- Meaning: Simply stating the time.
- Example: "It is 4:20."
Learn to Tell Time and Clearly in English
Welcome to our lesson on telling the time in British English! Telling time is an essential skill for everyday life. This lesson is designed for learners with limited English skills, focusing on simplicity and clarity. We'll learn how to read the clock and express time in a way that's commonly used in the UK.
What You'll Learn:
- How to read the hour and minutes on a clock.
- Common phrases for telling time in British English.
- Simple ways to distinguish between AM and PM times.
Basics of Telling Time
-
Foundations of Telling Time:
- Reading the Hour: Observe the shorthand on the clock; it indicates the hour.
- Example: When the short hand points at 3, it signifies "three o'clock."
- Deciphering the Minutes: The long hand reveals the minutes, where each number signifies a 5-minute increment.
- Example: If the long hand is on 6, it's "thirty minutes" past the hour, as 6 multiplied by 5 equals 30.
- AM and PM Usage: In British English, 'AM' denotes the time from midnight until noon, while 'PM' is used from noon until midnight.
- Example: 8:00 AM (morning), 3:00 PM (afternoon).
- Understanding 'Half Past': When the long hand is at 6, the term 'half past' is used.
- Example: "It's half past three" translates to 3:30.
- Quarter Past and To: At 3, it's 'quarter past' the hour; at 9, it's 'quarter to' the next hour.
- Example: "It's quarter past two" (2:15), "It's quarter to four" (3:45).
- O'Clock for the Full Hour: This is used when the long hand is at 12.
- Example: "It's seven o'clock" denotes 7:00.
- Reading the Hour: Observe the shorthand on the clock; it indicates the hour.
The 24-Hour Clock
- No AM or PM: Just state the time. For example, "15:00" is simply "fifteen hundred hours" or "fifteen o’clock".
- Midnight and Noon: "00:00" is "midnight", and "12:00" is "noon".
Practical Tips for Telling Time
- Practice Regularly: Familiarize yourself with both the 12-hour and 24-hour formats.
- Listen and Observe: Pay attention to how time is communicated in English media.
- Use Technology: Set your devices to English time format to get accustomed to reading time in English.