8. Telling Time

Understanding how to tell time is an essential skill in learning English. It helps you communicate effectively about daily activities, appointments, and schedules. In this lesson, we'll explore various aspects of telling time, including reading clocks, using different time expressions, and practicing through examples.

Reading Analog Clocks

Analog clocks have a circular face with numbers from 1 to 12, representing the hours. They have two main hands: the shorter hand indicates the hour, and the longer hand indicates the minutes. Here's how to read an analog clock:

• Hour Hand: The shorter hand points to the hour. If it's pointing directly at a number, that's the current hour. If it's between two numbers, the hour is the lower number.
• Minute Hand: The longer hand points to the minutes. Each number on the clock represents five-minute intervals. For example, if the minute hand is on the 1, it represents 5 minutes past the hour. If it's on the 2, it's 10 minutes past the hour, and so on.

For example, if the hour hand is on 3 and the minute hand is on 6, the time is 3:30.

Reading Digital Clocks

Digital clocks display time in a numerical format, usually with a colon separating the hours and minutes. For example, 7:45 means 7 hours and 45 minutes. Digital clocks often use a 24-hour format or a 12-hour format with AM/PM to distinguish between morning and afternoon/evening times.

12-Hour vs. 24-Hour Format

• 12-Hour Format: This format divides the day into two 12-hour periods: AM (Ante Meridiem) for morning times and PM (Post Meridiem) for afternoon and evening times. For example, 2:00 PM is 2 hours after noon.
• 24-Hour Format: This format runs from 0:00 to 23:59, with no AM or PM. For example, 14:00 in the 24-hour format is equivalent to 2:00 PM in the 12-hour format.

Common Time Expressions

When discussing time, we use various expressions to convey specific moments or durations. Here are some common ones:

• O'clock: Used when the minute hand is on the 12, indicating the start of an hour. For example, 4:00 is read as "four o'clock."
• Quarter Past: Refers to 15 minutes after an hour. For example, 3:15 is "quarter past three."
• Half Past: Refers to 30 minutes after an hour. For example, 5:30 is "half past five."
• Quarter To: Refers to 15 minutes before the next hour. For example, 7:45 is "quarter to eight."
• Minutes Past: Indicates the number of minutes after the hour. For example, 2:10 is "ten past two."
• Minutes To: Indicates the number of minutes before the next hour. For example, 8:50 is "ten to nine."

Practice with Examples

Let's practice telling time with some examples:

1. What time is it? The clock shows the hour hand on 9 and the minute hand on 12. The time is 9:00, or "nine o'clock."
2. What time is it? The hour hand is on 10, and the minute hand is on 3. The time is 10:15, or "quarter past ten."
3. What time is it? The hour hand is between 4 and 5, and the minute hand is on 6. The time is 4:30, or "half past four."
4. What time is it? The hour hand is on 11, and the minute hand is on 9. The time is 11:45, or "quarter to twelve."
5. What time is it? The hour hand is on 1, and the minute hand is on 8. The time is 1:40, or "twenty to two."

Using Time in Daily Conversations

Being able to tell time is crucial for making plans and discussing schedules. Here are some examples of how you might use time in everyday conversations:

• Setting Appointments: "Let's meet at 3:00 PM for coffee."
• Discussing Schedules: "The meeting starts at 10:30 AM and ends at noon."
• Making Plans: "I will pick you up at 7:15 in the evening."
• Talking About Daily Routines: "I usually wake up at 6:00 AM and go to bed at 10:00 PM."

Practice Exercises

Practice is key to mastering time-telling skills. Try these exercises to improve your ability to tell time:

1. Look at an analog clock and write down the time in both 12-hour and 24-hour formats.
2. Listen to conversations or watch videos where people discuss time. Write down the times mentioned.
3. Set alarms on your digital device and practice reading the time when they go off.
4. Use flashcards with different times and practice saying them out loud.

Conclusion

Telling time is a fundamental skill in learning English. It allows you to communicate effectively about schedules, appointments, and daily activities. By understanding how to read both analog and digital clocks and using common time expressions, you can confidently engage in conversations about time. Practice regularly, and soon you'll find it easy to tell time in any situation.

Remember, practice makes perfect! Keep working on your time-telling skills, and you'll become more fluent and confident in using English in no time.