Telling the Time in English: A Comprehensive Guide!

Knowing how to tell the time in English is an essential skill for every learner. Whether you’re arranging a meeting or simply making plans with friends, telling the time correctly is crucial for communication. In this blog post, we’ll explore all the different ways to say the time in English and how to use it with different numbers. By the end of this guide, you’ll be confident in telling the time in any situation.

1. Basic Vocabulary

Before we dive into how to tell the time, let’s first review the basic vocabulary related to time:

• O’clock: Used when referring to the hour exactly (e.g., 2:00).
• Minutes: The smaller units that divide an hour. They range from 1 to 59.
• AM and PM: These are used to specify whether the time is in the morning or afternoon/evening. AM refers to the time from 12:00 midnight to 11:59 in the morning. PM refers to the time from 12:00 noon to 11:59 at night.

2. Telling the Time on the Hour (Exact Hour)

When the time is exactly on the hour, we usually say the number followed by “o’clock.” For example:

• 2:00 → It’s two o’clock.
• 6:00 → It’s six o’clock.
• 12:00 → It’s twelve o’clock.

Alternatively, you might hear the 24-hour clock used, especially in formal or military contexts, like:

• 14:00 → It’s fourteen hundred hours (more common in military or official settings).

3. Minutes Past the Hour (From 1 to 30 Minutes)

When the minutes are past the hour, we say “X minutes past Y”. For example:

• 2:05 → It’s five minutes past two.
• 3:15 → It’s fifteen minutes past three or It’s a quarter past three (for 15 minutes).
• 5:25 → It’s twenty-five minutes past five.
• 8:30 → It’s thirty minutes past eight or It’s half past eight (for 30 minutes).

Note that for 15 minutes, the expression “a quarter” is often used. So instead of saying “15 minutes past,” we often say “a quarter past.”

4. Minutes to the Next Hour (From 31 to 59 Minutes)

When the time is getting closer to the next hour, we say “X minutes to Y”. For example:

• 4:40 → It’s twenty minutes to five.
• 7:50 → It’s ten minutes to eight.
• 9:55 → It’s five minutes to ten.

For 45 minutes, we often say “a quarter to” the next hour. So:

• 2:45 → It’s a quarter to three.

5. Using “AM” and “PM”

When telling the time, it’s common to use AM and PM to distinguish between morning and afternoon/evening times. Here are some examples:

• 7:00 AM → It’s seven o’clock in the morning or It’s seven AM.
• 12:00 PM → It’s twelve o’clock in the afternoon or It’s twelve PM.
• 9:30 PM → It’s nine thirty in the evening or It’s nine thirty PM.

6. 24-Hour Time Format

In more formal situations or in some countries, the 24-hour time format is used, especially for things like timetables or flight schedules. In this case, times are expressed as a number from 00:00 to 23:59. Here’s how you say them:

• 00:00 → It’s midnight.
• 13:00 → It’s thirteen hours or It’s thirteen hundred hours or It’s one PM.
• 18:45 → It’s eighteen forty-five or It’s a quarter to seven PM.

7. Common Expressions for Time

Here are some other common expressions related to time that might come in handy:

• Noon (12:00 PM) → It’s noon.
• Midnight (12:00 AM) → It’s midnight.
• Early → It’s early in the morning. (e.g., It’s early at 5:00 AM.)
• Late → It’s late in the night. (e.g., It’s late at 11:45 PM.)

8. Examples for Different Hours

Let’s look at how to tell the time with various numbers. We’ll give you the number in both formats (12-hour and 24-hour clock) and how you can say them:

• 1:00

  • It’s one o’clock. (12-hour clock)
  • It’s thirteen hours. (24-hour clock)

• 2:30

  • It’s half past two.
  • It’s two thirty.

• 3:15

  • It’s a quarter past three.
  • It’s three fifteen.

• 4:45

  • It’s a quarter to five.
  • It’s sixteen forty-five.

• 5:50

  • It’s ten to six.
  • It’s seventeen fifty.

9. Using “About” or “Around” for Approximate Times

When you’re not giving the exact time but an approximation, you can use the words about or around. For example:

• 6:05 → It’s about six o’clock. or It’s around six o’clock.
• 7:19 → It’s about twenty past seven.

Telling the time in English might seem complicated at first, but with practice, you’ll get the hang of it. Whether you’re giving the time on the hour, talking about minutes past or to the next hour, or using the 12-hour or 24-hour format, this guide covers all the ways to tell time in English. Make sure to listen carefully to how proficient speakers say the time, as there are some regional variations. And of course, practice is key!

So, what time is it now? It’s time to practice!