Scribd
Upload
284 views

Asking For Time

The document provides common expressions for asking for the time and giving the time in response. It explains that when giving the time, it is formal to say the hours first and then the minutes, such as seven forty-five for 7:45. More commonly, minutes are said first followed by the hours, using terms like past or to to indicate before or after the hour. Some examples of indicating the time are also given, such as a quarter past or a quarter to for times like 7:15 or 7:45. The document also notes the use of a.m. and p.m. to distinguish times before and after noon.

Uploaded by

Eliana Colsan
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
284 views

Asking For Time

The document provides common expressions for asking for the time and giving the time in response. It explains that when giving the time, it is formal to say the hours first and then the minutes, such as seven forty-five for 7:45. More commonly, minutes are said first followed by the hours, using terms like past or to to indicate before or after the hour. Some examples of indicating the time are also given, such as a quarter past or a quarter to for times like 7:15 or 7:45. The document also notes the use of a.m. and p.m. to distinguish times before and after noon.

Uploaded by

Eliana Colsan
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 7

Asking for time

Common expressions
Whats the time? /Qu hora es? Do you have the time?/Tiene la hora? What time is it now?/ Qu hora es? Can you tell me the time, please?/ Podra decirme la hora, por favor? Do you know what time it is?7 Sabe qu hora es? Have you got the time?/ Tiene la hora?

Giving the time


Formal but easier way
Say the hours first and then the minutes.

Example: 7:45 - seven forty-five


For minutes 01 through 09, you can pronounce the '0' as oh.

Example: 11:06 - eleven (oh) six More popular way


Say the minutes first and then the hours. Use past and the preceding hour for minutes 01 through 30. Use to and the forthcoming hour for minutes 31 through 59, but .

Example: 7.15 - fifteen minutes past seven Example: 7.45 - fifteen minutes to eight
Another possibility of saying '15 minutes past' is: a quarter past Another possibility of saying '15 minutes to' is: a quarter to Another possibility of saying '30 minutes past' is: half past

Example: 5:30 - half past five

Watch

Note
Use o'clock only at the full hour.

Example: 7:00 - seven o'clock (but 7:10 - ten past seven)


In English ordinary speech, the twelve-hour clock is used.

Beispiel: 17:20 - twenty past five


For times around midnight or midday you can use the

expressions midnight or midday / noon instead of the number 12.

Beispiel: 00:00 - midnight Beispiel: 12:00 - midday or noon


To make clear (where necessary) whether you mean a time before 12 o'clock noon or after, you can use in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, at night. Use in the morning before 12 o'clock of time. noon, after 12 o'clock noon use in the afternoon. When to change from afternoon to evening, from evening to night and from night to morning depends on your sense

Example: 3:15 - a quarter past three in the morning OR a quarter past three at night

More formal expressions to indicate whether a time is before noon or after are a.m. (also: am ante meridiem, before noon) and p.m. (also: pm - post meridiem, after noon). Use these expression only with the formal way of telling the time.

Example: 3:15 - three fifteen a.m.


It is not usual to use a.m. and p.m. with past/to.

Example: 3:15 - fifteen minutes past three OR a quarter past three


American English Beside past Americans often use after.

Example: 06:10 - ten past/after six


But: in time expressions with half past it is not usual to replace past by after. Beside to Americans often use before, of or till.

Example: 05:50 - ten to/before/of/till six


Changed: 10th Dec 2010 19:36 URL: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/vocabulary/time

Listen to the recording and complete the conversation (15 points)

1) a. Excuse me, Whats ____ _______ ? b. Ah, its _______ _______ . a. Thanks. 2) a. _____ you have ____ _____ ? b. Let me ____ . Yeah. _____ ____ a. Two ten. Thanks 3) a. What ______ _______ _____ now? b. Hey, its exactly ______ _______. _______. Happy New Year. 4) a. ________________________, please? b. Yeah, ____________________ . a. Wow. Im late. Thanks. 5) a. ______________________ time it is? b. Yeah, ___________________. a. Thanks a lot. 6) a. Im late again. ____________________ ? b. __________________________. a. Thanks

Key

1)a. Excuse me, Whats the time ? b. Ah, its ten fifteen . a. Thanks. 2)a. Do you have the time ? b. Let me see. Yeah. Two ten. a. Two ten. Thanks 3)a. What time is it now? b. Hey, its exactly 12 oclock. Midnight. Happy New Year. 4) a. Can you tell me the time, please? b. Yeah, its eleve-thirty . a. Wow. Im late. Thanks. 5) a. Do you know time it is? b. Yeah, its three forty-five. a. Thanks a lot. 6) a. Im late again. What time is it now ? b. its seven fifity-five.

a. Thanks

You might also like