Telling Time

Telling Time

By Giselle Atabek

​We use O'CLOCK when the big hand is on the 12 and a little hand is pointed at a number.

​We use half past in British English when the big hand is on the 6 and the little hand is between two numbers. We can also say thirty (American English).

Multiple Choice

What time is it?

• six o'clock

• three o'clock

• five o'clock

• eight o'clock

Multiple Choice

What time is it in British English?

• 4 o'clock

• four thirty o'clock

• half past four

• quarter past four

Multiple Choice

What time is it in American English?

• quarter past nine

• nine thirty

• ten o'clock

• quarter to ten

​We use 'past' and 'to' to express time. If the big hand is after the 12 but before the 6 we say '(minutes) past'. If it is after the 6 but before the 12 we say '(minutes) to'. Let's try these together.

Multiple Choice

What's the time in British English: 8:15

• eight ten

• fifteen eight

• quarter past eight

• quarter to eight

Multiple Choice

What time is it in British English: 8:45

• quarter to nine

• quarter past nine

• eight nine

Multiple Choice

What time is it in American English?

• four past eight

• four to eight

• eight twenty

• quarter past eight

Multiple Choice

What time is it in British English?

• four past eight

• twenty past nine

• twenty past eight

• four nine

Multiple Choice

What time is it?

• eight past eight

• two past eight

• quarter past eight

• ten past nine

Multiple Choice

What time is it in British English?

• Three past seven

• quarter past seven

• quarter to seven

• half past seven

Multiple Choice

What time is it in American English?

• seven fifteen

• quarter past eight

• quarter to seven

• half past seven

Multiple Choice

What time is it? 9:10

• ten to nine

• two past nine

• ten to two

• ten past nine

Multiple Choice

What time is it? 7:20

• twenty past seven

• twenty past eight

• twenty to seven

• twenty to eight

Multiple Choice

What time is it? 10:55

• eleven past twelve

• five to twelve

• five to eleven

• five past eleven

Multiple Choice

What time is it? 6:05

• half past six

• five to six

• five past six

• six past one

Multiple Choice

What time is it? 6:25

• quarter past five

• twenty-five past six

• half past six

• five to six

Multiple Choice

What time is it?

• half past eleven

• eleven to twelve

• half past twelve

• quarter to eleven