Reading time in English involves understanding different ways to express hours and minutes, using phrases like "o'clock," "past," "to," "quarter past," and "half past."
Here's a breakdown:
Telling Time: The Basics
- O'clock: Use "o'clock" to indicate exact hours. For example, 2:00 is "two o'clock."
- Past: Use "past" to indicate minutes after the hour, up to 30 minutes. For example, 2:10 is "ten past two."
- To: Use "to" to indicate minutes before the next hour, from 31 minutes to 59 minutes. For example, 2:50 is "ten to three."
- Quarter Past: 15 minutes past the hour can be expressed as "a quarter past." For example, 2:15 is "a quarter past two."
- Half Past: 30 minutes past the hour is "half past." For example, 2:30 is "half past two."
Examples:
| Time | How to Say It |
|---|---|
| 3:00 | Three o'clock |
| 3:05 | Five past three |
| 3:15 | A quarter past three |
| 3:30 | Half past three |
| 3:45 | A quarter to four |
| 3:55 | Five to four |
| 8:46 | Fourteen to nine |
Additional Notes:
- AM/PM: Use "a.m." (ante meridiem) for times between midnight and noon and "p.m." (post meridiem) for times between noon and midnight. For instance, 2:00 a.m. is two o'clock in the morning, and 2:00 p.m. is two o'clock in the afternoon.
- Digital Time: In digital format, you simply state the numbers. For example, 1:40 is "one forty." This is also acceptable in casual conversation.
