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Telling The Time

4/20/2015

5 Comments

 
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Being able to tell the time is an important part of life. Just like Snoopy in this image, there are times when you'll need to be very specific. Someone might stop to ask you, "Excuse me, have you got the time?" or "Can you tell me what time it is?"

How about making a reservation at a restaurant? "I'd like to make a lunch reservation for 12:30" or making a doctor's appointment: "I'd like to schedule an appointment for 10:00 tomorrow"

Aside from knowing how to say the time, we also need to understand time being expressed by someone. One day you might be that person asking someone for the time and need to understand their response. Or even in understanding when to show up to a meeting or class! You never want to be late!

Take a look at the image below. The time usually has an hour hand (the short hand), a minute hand (the long hand). The hour hand is very easy as long as you know numbers, it's basically between one and twelve. The minute hand is usually the hardest for people to learn.

There are two ways we can express the minute hand. The first way is to say the hour time first and then express the minute hand.
For example:
1:30 = one thirty
3:14 = three fourteen
8:59 = eight fifty nine
11:00 = eleven o'clock

The second and considered more formal way to express time is to use "past" and "to." From one minute to 30 minutes, we use "past." The image below shows this. The number of minutes past the current hour. For example, 1:12 = twelve past one. It means twelve minutes past the hour of one o'clock.

Between 31 minutes and 59 minutes we use "to." The number of minutes to the approaching hour. For example, 1:40 = twenty to two. It means twenty more minutes until the hour of two o'clock.

When we use this form, it can be common to round it to the nearest five minutes, but not always the case. Some might even say, "It's almost ten past one."

This is a useful diagram for you to practice and learn this more formal way to express time. Use it, share it, learn it! !Try and see if you can complete the ten times below then download, print, and wear your own watch to help you practice!


The English Student, telling the time, reading the time, www.theenglishstudent.com, teaching resources
Telling the time, The English Student, www.theenglishstudent.com, teaching how to express time, clock for teaching telling time
Practice using "past" and "to":
(1) 3:35 =
(2) 6:00 =
(3) 12:07 =
(4) 9:30 =
(5) 2:35 =
(6) 11:50 =
(7) 8: 50 =
(8) 4:15=
(9) 4:45=
(10) 5:18=

Answers:
(1) twenty-five to four;  (2) six o'clock;  (3) seven past twelve;  (4) half past nine;  (5  )twenty five to three;  (6) ten to twelve;  (7) ten to nine;  (8) quarter past four;  (9) quarter to five;  (10) eighteen past five;
Picture
tellingthetimewatch.png
File Size: 369 kb
File Type: png
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5 Comments
Ana Kesegi Mihajlovic link
3/15/2017 01:54:02 am

Telling time can be difficult, I have a few ten-year-old students still struggling with telling time. Thank you! http://kandmclassroom.blogspot.com/

Reply
Angela
8/28/2017 09:27:29 am

This is an AWESOME illustration. How can I get a copy for my room? I love the individual wrist watches for my students too.

Reply
Eleni
10/26/2017 09:27:30 pm

Great idea! This is the cleverest resource for telling the time I have come across. Thank you.

Reply
Lisa
9/6/2018 06:55:31 am

I would love to get a copy if this as well! Getting ready to start clocks next week.

Reply
Josie M link
5/4/2020 11:02:43 am

I am a Teacher for the Deaf (high school) and I love your resources. It is considered that their sign language (American Sign Language) is their first language while English is a second language for them. Thank you so much! Saving your pins!

Reply



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