How to Ask and Give the Time in English (Formal and Informal) | Vocabulary and Expressions ⏰

Knowing how to ask and tell the time is a fundamental skill in any language. In this article, we will focus on the vocabulary and expressions necessary to ask questions and provide information about the time in English. We will also delve into the ability to read the clock in English. --------- 📝 Explanation Exercises: --------- ⭐️ Premium Services and Products: 👩🏻‍💻 Individual Classes: ❤️ Donation: --------- Haven’t done it yet? Stay informed, follow us on: 👉🏽 Instagram: 👉🏽 Facebook: 👉🏽 Pinterest: 👉🏽 Tiktok: @learnenglishfluentlyacad 👉🏽 Twitter: 👉🏽 Telegram: --------- 👇🏽 I ADVISE YOU TO ALSO CHECK OUT: 👇🏽 Singular and Plural Nouns 🔥👉🏼 Learn Numbers and Counting 🔢👉🏼 --------- Different Ways to Say the Time Sometimes, figuring out how to say the time can be tricky because there are different types of clocks and ways to express the time. These are all the ways to tell the time. You can choose any of them depending on the type of clock you’re currently using. 1. The 12-hour clock The usual way we tell time in English is with the 12-hour clock. It uses numbers from 1 to 12 for the hours and adds «am» or «pm». «Am» like I told you indicates morning while «pm» is for afternoons and evenings to indicate if it’s before or after noon. For instance, if it’s 3:30 pm, we say «It is three thirty in the afternoon». 2. The 24-hour Clock Another way people tell time is with the 24-hour clock, which is also known as military time. This clock uses numbers from 0 to 23 for the hours and doesn’t use am or pm to tell us if it’s morning or afternoon/evening. For instance, if it’s 17:30, we just say «seventeen thirty». In English, we don’t need to bother with ‘am’ and ‘pm’ when using this kind of 24-hour clock. It is important to note that, after 12 noon, we don’t go back to 1,2, 3. With the 24-hour clock, after 12 noon, we go to 13,14, 15… 13 indicates 1 o’clock in the 12-hour clock, 14 indicates 2 o’clock in the 12-hour and so on. 3. Digital Clock Style Digital clocks show time using numbers and are commonly found on devices like phones and computers. They can show time in the 12-hour format or in the 24-hour format. For instance, if it’s 2:45 pm or 14:45, we’d say «two forty-five». Using «o’clock» When the time is right on the hour, we would say «o’clock». For instance, if the hour time is on 4, we’d say «It is four o’clock». Another example, if the time shows 5:00, we’d say «It is 5 o’clock». Vocabulary for telling the time in English We use vocabularies such as «o’clock», «past» and «to» to tell time in English. For minutes after the hour but before the half-hour, just say «past» before the hour or read the full numbers. Examples with ‘past’: «Four thirty-five» (4:35) – or «thirty-five past four» «Two ten» (2:10) – or «ten past two» «Six fifteen» (6:15) – or «fifteen past six» Examples with ‘to’: «Forty to seven» (6:20) – or «six twenty» «Fifteen to eight» (7:45) – or «seven forty-five» «Fifty to nine» (8:10) – or «eight ten» How did I get these numbers? Remember that 60 minutes make one hour and since it’s eight ten, ten minutes is already past so just take 60-10 to get 50. So please, you need to know your addition and your subtraction also in telling the time. Now when talking about general time periods, we can use phrases that aren’t exact, for example we can use words like «about» or «around». For example: «It will take about half an hour» / «I am talking about 30 minutes». - Why? Because 60 minutes make 1 hour so, half of it is 30 minutes. «I’ll meet you in about a quarter of an hour» / «I am talking ‘about 15 minutes.» «It should be about an hour and a half» / «I’m talking ‘about 90 minutes». - Why? An hour= 60 minutes, half an hour=30 minutes. 60 30=90 minutes. How to ask the time in English You can say: «Can you tell me the time, please?» «Excuse me, do you have the time?» «Have you got the time?» «Do you know the time?» All these expressions can be used to ask the time in English. #english #englishlearning #learnenglish #studyenglish #englishonline