What Time What Is It Called Again
Telling the fourth dimension in English is easy once yous understand how English speakers refer to the different parts of the clock at different times of the day. It ever follows the same pattern. So once you know how information technology works, y'all tin can confidently denote the fourth dimension at whatever fourth dimension of the twenty-four hours or night.
Y'all might know your numbers in English language, but yous need more than numbers to tell the time in English language. Y'all also need to be able to ask and reply questions about time and speak well-nigh the clock in different life situation.
Read on to find out more about telling the time in English using the 12 hour clock and the 24 60 minutes clock, which prepositions to use, how to ask the fourth dimension, how to give the time and how the fourth dimension is used commonly to talk nearly the working mean solar day. We've also included a listing of idioms and common phrases using the word 'time'.
Vocabulary for telling the time in English
O'Clock, 'Past' and 'To'
For hourly times apply the phrase 'o'clock'. For instance: It is 3 o'clock (pronounced: 'three oh clock')
For whatever infinitesimal by the hour just before the half hour, employ the give-and-take 'past' earlier the previous o'clock, or read out the full numbers.
- The phrase 'o'clock' is a shortening of the phrase 'of the clock'. This is to differentiate information technology from when we used to tell time past the position of the sun and stars. We e'er pronounce 'o' in this phrase as 'oh'. In English, we sometimes call zero '0', pronounced 'oh', which is faster and easier than saying 'zero'.
Examples using 'past':
- five past three (3.05) – or three-oh-five
- ten past iii (three.10) – or 3-ten
- Quarter by 3 (iii.xv) – or three-fifteen (sometimes people say 'xv minutes by', but never merely 'fifteen by')
- Twenty past three (3.twenty) – or three twenty
- Twenty-five past iii (iii.25) – or three 20-five
- One-half past 3 (3.30) – or 3 thirty
For any minute beyond the half 60 minutes, apply the word 'to' earlier the adjacent o'clock.
Examples using 'to':
- Twenty-five to four (three.35) – on BBC radio, the presenters often say 'five-and-twenty-to' (or v-and-twenty-past') instead of twenty-five-to/past
- Twenty to four (iii.40) – or three forty
- Quarter to four (3.45) – or iii forty-five
- Ten to four (three.50) – or three fifty
- Five to four (3.55) three fifty-v
The 12 60 minutes clock and AM / PM
When nosotros tell the time in English, we can utilise the 12 hour clock or the 24 hour clock.
The 12 hour clock splits the day into two 12 60 minutes sections. One lasts from midnight to apex and the 2nd half lasts from noon to midnight.
In the 12 hour clock, we need a manner to differentiate between morning time and evening, so we use the letter 'am' and 'pm' to show whether eleven.20 is in the morning or at night.
Hours earlier apex are called 'a.thousand.' (pronounced ay-em), which comes from the Lain 'ante meridiem', which means earlier midday.
Hours after apex are called 'p.m.' (pronounced pee-em), which comes from the Lain 'mail service meridiem', which means later on midday.
Often nosotros write these shortenings without the full stops in between the letters, so they are often written in common usage as 'am' and 'pm'.
So eleven.xx in the forenoon is 11.twenty am (11 20 or twenty by eleven)
and 11.20 at night is 11.twenty pm
Telling time in English
The 24 hr clock
If nosotros employ the 24 hour clock to tell the fourth dimension in English, in that location is no demand to employ 'am' and 'pm'. This is because xi.20am is just 11.20, and 11.20 pm is 23.xx.
When nosotros get past 12 noon the time does not become back to 1, only instead moves onto 13, ofttimes written with an 'h' after the number, for example 13h.
In United kingdom we often utilise the 12 hr clock (except for transport timetables when the 24 hour clock is ever used) but in other European countries it is mutual to utilise the 24 60 minutes clock in social situations when writing about the time. Here the suffix 'h' is frequently used, for example 14h or 14.30h. However when speaking, the 12 hour clock is always used.
When it is in the morning time and in that location is only a unmarried digit number in utilize (e.g. one through to nine) the 24 hour clock uses a zippo showtime in formal situations, such as a train timetable, for example, 08.30.
Examples from the train timetable above:
The showtime railroad train departs London Euston at 0640 (vi xl, twenty to seven, or six.40 am) and arrives at Watford Junction at 0655 (six fifty-five, five to seven, or 6.55 am)
The train that departs from Birmingham International at 1739 (seventeen thirty-9, five xxx-nine, 5.39 pm, or xx-i minutes to half dozen) arrives at Birmingham New Street at 1751 (seventeen fifty-one, five 50-one, 5.51 pm, or nine minutes to six).
The last train to depart Milton Keynes Fundamental at 2248 (20-two forty-eight, ten forty-eight, ten.48 pm, or twelve minutes to eleven) arrives at Coventry at 2352 (twenty-iii 50-two, xi fifty-two, eleven.52 pm, eight minutes to midnight/twelve).
- If we want to read out the fourth dimension using the 24 hour clock, instead of using 'o'clock' we tin say 'hundred hours'. For case, xiv:00 would be 'xiv hundred hours' and midnight would be 'null hundred hours'. For 0800 we tin can say 'oh eight hundred hours'. Each digit is pronounced. This usage is rare in every twenty-four hour period speech though and would commonly merely be used in specialist situations, such every bit in the armed services. This is why it is often called 'military time'.
How to split the numbers when writing the time?
Some people employ a dot every bit punctuation to separate the numbers when writing a digital time (2.30 pm), other people employ a colon (14:30) – colons are specially popular in 24 hour clock format.
Sometimes people utilise nothing at all to separate numbers using the 24 60 minutes clock (1430). Whichever format you chose when writing the time in English, effort to proceed it consistent.
Examples of telling time in English with an analogue clock
The 2nd clock shows: iv forty-v / quarter to five / 4.45 am / 4.45 pm or 04.45 / 16:45
The third clock shows: quarter past twelve / 12.15 am / 12.15 pm / 00.15
The fourth clock shows: twenty-five by 8 / 8.25 am / 8.25 pm / 20.25
- When it is 5 minutes past the 60 minutes, nosotros never say the numbers just ('six v') we would have to say 'six oh five', using the sound 'oh' to correspond the zilch for 6.05. More usually, nosotros would say 'five past six'.
- We only tend to employ 'to' or 'past' with minutes that are multiples of five (e.g. '10 to 5', 'twenty to five', 25 past iv') just 'quarter to' and 'quarter past' when it is 15 minutes, and 'one-half by' when 30 minutes.
- We would always say the give-and-take 'minutes' afterward the o'clock if it is not a multiple of v. For example, we would say '17 minutes by v′ and '23 minutes past v′.
Prepositions for telling the time in English
We normally employ the preposition 'at' with times for making plans for a specific fourth dimension. For instance, 'I am coming together them at 2 o'clock'.
Merely nosotros employ the discussion 'in' for a less definite amount of time. For example, 'I am meeting them in two hours'. This implies a a more general fourth dimension.
How to talk virtually the full general time of twenty-four hour period
We utilize the preposition 'in' for a general time of 24-hour interval. For instance 'in the morning', 'in the afternoon' and 'in the evening'.
If it is late, we normally say 'at night', for instance 'it'due south ten o'clock at dark' to mean 10 pm. We also say 'in the dark' to mean in the middle of the night in general.
Nosotros can add the phrase 'in the morning' to mean a fourth dimension before noon. If the time is very early, for instance earlier 6am, we tin say 'early morning'. If the fourth dimension is in the middle of the night, for instance one am until 3 am, we can say it is 'in the early on hours'.
- 'At the crack of dawn' means very early on in the morning, just as daylight is breaking. (For example: "You lot'll take to be up at the crack of dawn to get there in time for lunch")
We say 'in the afternoon' for a time between noon and vi pm, and 'in the evening for a time after effectually 6 pm. The phrase 'at night' starts to be used later on on, after around 9 pm. People might utilise the give-and-take 'afternoon' later in the summertime because it stays lite afterwards.
Other general times would exist 'effectually 3pm' or 'around apex'. For example, someone might enquire you: "What time are we meeting this evening?" You lot could answer: "Effectually 6pm" or "Almost one-half seven"
For full general amounts of fourth dimension, nosotros tin use various phrases that aren't verbal, often starting with 'well-nigh' or 'around'. For instance:
- 'It will take about one-half an 60 minutes' / 'about 30 minutes'
- 'I'll meet y'all in about a quarter of an hr' / 'about 15 minutes'
- 'We'll be in that location in about an hour'
- 'It should be about an hour and a half' / 'most 90 minutes'
- 'It will only take a few minutes'
- 'They will be ready in a couple of minutes' (a couple ways ii, simply people sometimes utilize 'couple' to mean slightly more than when talking about time or quantity)
Daylight saving time
At the start of leap, we put the clocks forwards one hr to British Summer Time (BST). At the start of winter, we put the clocks dorsum one hour again. This habit of irresolute the clocks back and forth is in social club to apply the daylight more than effectively. Find out more than most changing the clocks and Daylight Saving Time.
How to ask the fourth dimension in English language
There are a few phrases that nosotros can apply to enquire the time. Here are some examples:
- Can you tell me the time, please?
- Could you tell me the fourth dimension, delight?
- Alibi me, practise yous have the time?
- Have you lot got the time?
- Do you know the time?
- Do you know what the time is?
- What's the time?
- Got the time?
- Although 'got the time?' is an breezy and direct style of asking someone the time, this is like to some other phrase 'take you got time?' which means 'do you have enough fourth dimension (to do something)'?
To reply someone else'southward question and give them the time, nosotros need to use the word 'it is' or more commonly, 'it's' to introduce the time.
For example:
- Information technology's iv o'clock
- Information technology'southward half past two
- It's about seven
- It's exactly eight o'clock
- It's around ten thirty
- It'due south i.05 ('one oh v')
If you lot can't help them, you might want to say:
- Sorry, I don't accept the time
- I'k sorry, I don't accept my lookout man on
- Sorry, I'1000 non wearing a sentinel
- I'm sorry, I can't encounter the clock from here
Fourth dimension used to describe the working mean solar day
In that location are a few phrases nosotros apply related to time in English speaking countries. Traditionally the 'working day' is called '9 to 5'. This means nine am until 5 pm. These are the opening hours of most shops. (Many shops in the UK now regularly open until 5.30pm or 6pm. There is also ofttimes a 'belatedly night shopping' day in one case a week when shops will open until 8pm or 9pm).
The hours of nine to five from Mon to Friday are often called 'office hours'. Of course, role hours today can also hateful until 6 pm or subsequently, but traditionally it was always from ix in the morn until 5 in the afternoon/evening.
These office hours were besides used in the famous picture and song by Dolly Parton '9 to 5' where she sings 'working nine to five, what a way to make a living'. The phrase 'to make a living' means to earn money.
The phrase is used in the song in a negative way to imply working difficult for little pay and for someone else'south benefit.
As Dolly sings in 'ix to 5':
'Tumble outta bed and I stumble to the kitchen
Pour myself a cup of ambition
Yawn and stretch and endeavour to come to life
Jump in the shower and the blood starts pumpin'
Out on the street the traffic starts jumpin'
With folks similar me on the chore from 9 to 5′
'Workin' 9 to 5, what a way to brand a livin'
Barely gettin' by, it'due south all takin' and no givin'
They merely use your mind and they never requite you credit
It'south enough to drive you crazy if you lot let it'
'nine to five, for service and devotion
You would retrieve that I would deserve a fat promotion
Want to move ahead but the boss won't seem to allow me
I swear sometimes that man is out to become me!'
Other phrases related to piece of work are 'total time' and 'part time'. A full-time chore normally means a job that you do every day for around 40 hours per week.
A function-fourth dimension task means a task that that you practice for fewer hours than a total time task. This might be three days a calendar week or possibly four hours per day, instead of the usual eight hours per mean solar day for a full-time job.
If someone is 'taking time off', it means they are taking a suspension from work or study.
Phrases and idioms using the word 'time'
Other phrases with the word 'time' include:
Having the time of my life – having an astonishing time ('Are you enjoying the concert?' 'Yes, I'1000 having the fourth dimension of my life!')
A race against time – a situation where yous accept to rush to terminate something ('It was a race against time to end the essay before the borderline')
Time will tell– the passing of time will testify the result ('Only time will tell whether Brexit is a good or bad thing for the UK')
To be / run out of fourth dimension – to have no time left, when y'all accept missed a deadline or come to the end of a time limitation ("I didn't finish the exam – I ran out of time"); to be out of step with the musical rhythm ("He is a terrible dancer, he is always out of time")
To be running out of fourth dimension – to take lilliputian time left ("Bustle upwardly, y'all're running out of time")
Take your time – don't hurry ("Accept your time – there's no rush, there're not expecting usa until 9pm")
Taking your own sweetness time – taking a long time to exercise something ("He's taking his own sweet time about it, isn't he? The chore should've been finished on Tuesday") – usually said with annoyance almost someone when they are taking too long to exercise something.
Behind the times – old-fashioned, not up-to-date ('He tin't even use a computer; he's really behind the times')
To take fourth dimension – Practice you have enough time (to exercise something)? ("Have you got time to help me fix the car?" / "We could drop them off at my firm start, if we've got time")
In the nick of time – at the terminal moment, just before the deadline ('I defenseless the train in the nick of time, seconds before it left the station')
To stand the test of time – to continue successfully for a long time (This film is still relevant today – it has really stood the test of time')
To take time on your hands – to have a lot of spare time, to have also much complimentary fourth dimension ('He is always gossiping with his colleagues – he must have a lot of time on his hands')
Time flies – time passes quickly ('fourth dimension flies when yous're having fun' – this is a mutual idiom used to describe something that is so enjoyable that time feels like fourth dimension passes more chop-chop than information technology actually does)
Taking fourth dimension off – taking a suspension from something ("I won't exist at work next week, I'chiliad taking some fourth dimension off")
From time to fourth dimension – occasionally, now and then, every and so often ('"He visits his friends in London from fourth dimension to fourth dimension")
Let us know your thoughts about time
Hopefully you feel more than confident nearly telling time and talking well-nigh time in English. Do let us know if you have whatsoever other time-related questions or anything else you want us to over on this page.
Are you comfortable using am and pm, 24 hour clock and military fourth dimension?
What other time-related phrases or idioms have you heard?
Do you discover telling the time difficult in English? Practise you accept whatever tips for non-native speakers?
Which time-related words or phrases practise you find most confusing?
Share your thoughts in the comments!
Source: https://www.myenglishlanguage.com/essential-vocabulary/telling-time-english/
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