Expressing Time in English - Basic / Beginner lesson in English

Expressing Time in English - Basic/ Beginner lesson in English

In this lesson you will learn, how to express time in different ways. n English, the 12-hour clock is normally used for telling the time. The 24-hour clock is only used for travel timetables.

Asking the time

what's the time?
what time is it?
Could you tell me the time, please?
Do you happen to have the time?
Do you know what time it is?

Telling the time

It's ...........
one o'clock
two o'clock
three o'clock
four o'clock
five o'clock
six o'clock
seven o'clock
eight o'clock
nine o'clock
ten o'clock
eleven o'clock
twelve o'clock

It's quater past...........
one
two
three

It's half past...........
one
two
three

It's quarter to........
one
two
three

five past one
ten past one
twenty past one
twenty-five past one
five to two
ten to two
twenty to two
twenty-five to two
ten fifteen
ten thirty
ten forty-five
ten am
six pm

It's also possible to state the time in English by saying the hour followed by the minutes, followed by am or pm if necessary,

eg:

11.47am
2.13pm