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Remember It

Revise (do again) the time expressions (Time 1) and (Time 2).

Learn It

Requires Real Player Basic

Telling the time

To the minute

In five minute increments we say:-
Telling the time Five past one Telling the time Ten past one Telling the time One twenty Telling the time One twenty-five
Telling the time

Twenty-five to two

 Telling the time Twenty to two Telling the time

Ten to two

 Telling the time Five to two
At other "odd" times, when we want to be accurate, we add the word "minute(s)":-
Telling the time It's twenty-eight minutes to twelve. Telling the time It's one minute past three.

Naturally Speaking

Digital clocks often show the time this way using the 24-hour-clock, only the police and the military actually speak using the 24 hour clock:-
If it's before noon we tend to say "in the morning". If it's after noon we say "in the afternoon". If it's late we say "at night".
07:00
It's seven o'clock in the morning
14:00
It's two o'clock in the afternoon
22:00
It's ten o'clock at night
15 minutes past the hour is quarter past:    
07:15
It's quarter past seven in the morning
14:15
It's quarter past two in the afternoon
22:15
It's quarter past ten at night
30 minutes past the hour is half past:    
07:30
It's half past seven in the morning
14:30
It's half past two in the afternoon
22:30
It's half past ten at night
45 minutes past the hour is quarter to:    
07:45
It's quarter to eight in the morning
14:45
It's quarter to three in the afternoon
22:45
It's quarter to eleven at night

Test It

Test It - Test your time-telling skills (opens in new window).

Practise It

On the Forum - What time is it exactly where you are right now?

Print Version - You can print this lesson out here
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Week 18