A Lesson

Sponsors

Learn to talk about time and ask the time in English (requires Real Player).
On the hour
Past / to the hour
Prepositions
What to say

Time (1)

12 o'clock Twelve o'clock 6 o'clock Six o'clock
1 o'clock One o'clock 7 o'clock Seven o'clock
2 o'clock Two o'clock 8 o'clock Eight o'clock
3 o'clock Three o'clock 9 o'clock Nine o'clock
4 o'clock Four o'clock 10 o'clock Ten o'clock
5 o'clock Five o'clock 11 o'clock Eleven o'clock

Time (2)

12 o'clock Twelve o'clock 12:15 Twelve fifteen

or

Quarter past twelve
12:30 Twelve thirty

or

Half past twelve		 12:45 Twelve forty-five

or

Quarter to one

Prepositions used with time

At a point in time In a length of time
"When shall we meet? 12:30 "Let's meet at 12.30." "It's 12.45, when will you be ready? 12:45 "I'll see you in an hour, at about 1.45."

Naturally speaking

How to ask the time in English.
8:00
  • It's exactly eight o'clock.

or
  • It's eight.
12:30
  • It's half past twelve.

or
  • It's twelve thirty.
11:28
  • It's about half past eleven.

or
  • It's around eleven thirty.