English Speaking Topic
Telling time in English
Listen to the telephone conversation between a secretary and a man calling to make an appointment. This speaking topic will help you learn how to make a phone call, how to make an appoinment and how to tell time and date in English.
Language Notes:
appointment (n)
an arrangement to meet a person or be at a place at a certain time.
to make an appointment
to arrange a meeting with someone.
certainly (adv)
of course, surely, definitely
conference (n)
a meeting for consultation, exchange of information, or discussion
quarter (n)
one fourth of an hour; 15 minutes.
a quarter past ten
fifteen minutes past ten
How to tell the time in English?
A new day starts at midnight when it is 00:00 hour. The morning is a.m which starts from 00:00 to 12:00 at midday or noon. The sunrise is called at dawn at around 06:00 or 06am.
The afternoon is from 12:00pm to 06:00pm when it is sunset or at dusk. The p.m. is from 12:00 midday to 12:00 or 00:00 midnight.
Look at the table below and learn how to read the clock with past and to: the orange color is past and green color is to
| 1 | five past | 7 | twenty five to |
| 2 | ten past | 8 | twenty to |
| 3 | quarter past | 9 | quarter to |
| 4 | twenty past | 10 | ten to |
| 5 | twenty five past | 11 | five to |
| 6 | half past | 12 | o’ clock |
| 03:00 – It’s three o’clock. | 03:35 – It’s twenty five to four. |
| 03:05 – It’s five past three. | 03:40 – It’s twenty to four. |
| 03:10 – It’s ten past three. | 03:45 – It’s fifteen to four. |
| 03:15 – It’s fifteen past three. | 03:50 – It’s ten to four. |
| 03:20 – It’s twenty past three. | 03:55 – It’s five to four. |
| 03:25 – It’s twentyfive past three. | 03:15 – It’s a quarter past three |
| 03:30 – It’s half past three. | 03:45 – It’s a quarter to four. |
Click here to learn more about how to tell the time in English.
Use At+time when giving the time of a specific event.
- The train leaves at seven o’clock
- The yoga class starts at a quarter to six.
Use It’s or It is to answer a question that asks for the time right now.
- What’s the time? – It’s twenty past eleven.
- What time is it? – It is seven o’clock.
Learn more: “On time” and “in time”, what is the difference?
Telling the time exercises
[rapid_quiz question=”What time is it?” answer=”It’s seven o’clock.” options=”It’s half past seven.|It’s twenty to twelve.|It’s seven o’clock.” notes=”Correct answer: It’s seven o’clock.”]
[rapid_quiz question=”What time is it?” answer=”It’s twelve o’clock.” options=”It’s twelve o’clock.|It’s half past twelve.|It’s a quarter to twelve.” notes=”Correct answer: It’s twelve o’clock.”]
[rapid_quiz question=”What time is it?” answer=”It’s ten past three.” options=”It’s a quarter past two.|It’s ten past three.|It’s fifteen past two” notes=”Correct answer: It’s ten past three.”]
[rapid_quiz question=”What time is it?” answer=”It’s ten to five.” options=”It’s five to ten.|It’s twenty past five.|It’s ten to five.” notes=”Correct answer: It’s ten to five.”]
[rapid_quiz question=”What time is it?” answer=”It’s fifteen to eleven” options=”It’s fifteen to eleven|It’s five to nine|It’s fifteen past eleven” notes=”Correct answer: It’s fifteen to eleven”]
[rapid_quiz question=”What time is it?” answer=”It’s twenty five to nine.” options=”It’s half past eight.|It’s twenty five to nine.|It’s twenty five past eight.” notes=”Correct answer: It’s twenty five to nine.”]
[rapid_quiz question=”What time is it?” answer=”It’s a quarter past nine.” options=”It’s fifteen to nine|It’s a quarter past nine.|It’s a quarter to three.” notes=”Correct answer: It’s a quarter past nine.”]
[rapid_quiz question=”What time is it?” answer=”It’s five past eleven.” options=”It’s five past eleven.|It’s eleven past five.|It’s five to one.” notes=”Correct answer: It’s five past eleven.”]
[rapid_quiz question=”What time is it?” answer=”It’s ten past two” options=”It’s ten past ten|It’s ten past two|It’s two past ten” notes=”Correct answer: It’s ten past two.”]
[rapid_quiz question=”What time is it?” answer=”It’s half past six.” options=”It’s half past six.|It’s twenty five to seven.|It’s half past seven.” notes=”Correct answer: It’s half past six.”]
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