61. Telling the Time (Hours, Minutes, Seconds)

Learning to tell the time is an essential skill in mastering any language, including English. For beginners, understanding how to read and express time in hours, minutes, and seconds can be challenging but rewarding. This lesson will guide you through the basics of telling time in English, using both digital and analog formats, and will provide you with the vocabulary and phrases needed to communicate time effectively.

Understanding the Clock

The clock is divided into 12 hours on a traditional analog clock face, with each hour represented by a number from 1 to 12. The clock also has a minute hand and a second hand. The minute hand is longer and moves around the clock face every hour, while the second hand is even longer and moves every second. In a digital format, time is often displayed in a 24-hour format, especially in formal or technical settings, but for everyday conversation, the 12-hour format is more commonly used.

The Hour

When telling the time, the hour is usually mentioned first. For instance, if the time is 3:00, you would say "three o'clock." Here are some examples of how to express the time on the hour:

• 1:00 - One o'clock
• 2:00 - Two o'clock
• 3:00 - Three o'clock
• 4:00 - Four o'clock
• 5:00 - Five o'clock
• 6:00 - Six o'clock
• 7:00 - Seven o'clock
• 8:00 - Eight o'clock
• 9:00 - Nine o'clock
• 10:00 - Ten o'clock
• 11:00 - Eleven o'clock
• 12:00 - Twelve o'clock

Note that "o'clock" is used only for the full hour. It's a contraction of "of the clock" and is a convenient way to express exact hours.

Minutes Past and To

When expressing time that is not on the hour, we use "past" and "to" to indicate the minutes before or after the hour. For example:

• 3:10 - Ten past three
• 4:15 - A quarter past four
• 5:30 - Half past five
• 6:45 - A quarter to seven
• 7:50 - Ten to eight

It's important to note that "a quarter" refers to 15 minutes, and "half" refers to 30 minutes. These terms are commonly used in everyday conversation.

Expressing Minutes

When the minutes are not a multiple of 5, you simply state the number of minutes. For example:

• 2:01 - One minute past two
• 3:14 - Fourteen minutes past three
• 4:29 - Twenty-nine minutes past four
• 5:46 - Fourteen minutes to six
• 6:59 - One minute to seven

AM and PM

In English, the 12-hour clock is often used with "AM" and "PM" to distinguish between morning and afternoon/evening times. "AM" stands for "ante meridiem," meaning before midday, and "PM" stands for "post meridiem," meaning after midday. Here are some examples:

• 7:00 AM - Seven o'clock in the morning
• 12:00 PM - Twelve o'clock in the afternoon (noon)
• 6:00 PM - Six o'clock in the evening
• 12:00 AM - Twelve o'clock at night (midnight)

Seconds

Seconds are typically not mentioned when telling the time in everyday situations. However, in contexts where precision is necessary, such as in scientific measurements or when setting a timer, seconds might be included. For instance:

• 3:15:45 - Three fifteen and forty-five seconds
• 12:00:00 - Twelve o'clock and zero seconds (exact noon or midnight)

Practice and Usage

To become proficient in telling time in English, practice is key. Try to regularly check the time and express it in English, both in writing and verbally. Here are some exercises to help you practice:

1. Look at a clock or watch and write down the time in words.
2. Listen to audio recordings of time expressions and repeat them.
3. Ask a friend to quiz you on telling the time.
4. Use mobile apps or online resources that focus on time-telling skills.

Additionally, try to incorporate time-telling into your daily conversations. For example, when making plans, use specific times to practice:

• "Let's meet at two-thirty."
• "The movie starts at quarter past seven."
• "I will call you at nine o'clock."

Common Mistakes and Tips

When learning to tell the time, beginners often make a few common mistakes. Here are some tips to avoid them:

• Confusing "past" and "to": Remember that "past" is used for minutes after the hour, and "to" is used for minutes before the next hour.
• Forgetting "o'clock": Use "o'clock" only for full hours. It's not used when there are minutes involved.
• Misusing AM and PM: Ensure you know the difference between morning (AM) and afternoon/evening (PM) times.

With consistent practice and awareness of these common pitfalls, you'll become more confident in telling the time in English.

Conclusion

Telling the time in English is a fundamental skill that opens up numerous possibilities for effective communication. By understanding the concepts of hours, minutes, and seconds, and practicing regularly, you'll be able to express time clearly and accurately. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep challenging yourself to use time expressions in various contexts until it becomes second nature.

Next page of the Free Ebook:

137Using 'There is' and 'There are'

3 minutes