Telling Time
Learn how to tell time in various ways and the prepositions used with time phrases.
Telling time
Point 1: You can use o'clock at the top of the hour, but often it is not spoken.
- It is six o'clock. - It is six.
- It is eight o'clock. - It is eight.
- It is twelve o'clock. - It is twelve.
- It is two o'clock. - It is two.
Point 2: Twelve o'clock has two special names. Noon for daytime and midnight for nighttime.
- The meeting is at noon.
- Great! See you at twelve.
- I was asleep at midnight.
- I was still awake at 12.
Point 3: For time 30 minutes past the hour, you can use the term half past.
- 2:30 | half past two
- 6:30 | half past six
- 9:30 | half past nine
- 11:30 | half past eleven
Point 4: For time 15 minutes past the hour, you can use the term a quarter past.
- 2:15 | a quarter past two
- 4:15 | a quarter past four
- 7:15 | a quarter past seven
- 12:15 | a quarter past noon
Point 5: For time 45 minutes past the hour, you can use the term a quarter to/till.
- 1:45 | a quarter to two
- 4:45 | a quarter to five
- 9:45 | a quarter till ten
- 12:45 | a quarter to one
Answer the following questions about the interview.
About the Teacher
My name is Todd Beuckens and I am an ESL teacher in Thailand. I created this site to provide teachers and students free audio lessons and learning materials not usually found in commercial textbooks.