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Telling the time

Saying what time it is​

There are two common ways of saying what time it is.

  • 8.05 = eight (oh) five (or five past eight)
  • 8.10 = eight ten (or ten past eight)
  • 8.15 = eight fifteen (or a quarter past eight)
  • 8.25 = eight twenty-five (or twenty-five past eight)
  • 8.30 = eight thirty (or half past eight)
  • 8.35 = eight thirty-five (or twenty-five to nine)
  • 8.45 = eight forty-five (or a quarter to nine)
  • 8.50 = eight fifty (or ten to nine)
  • 9.00 = nine o’clock

Americans prefer to write a colon between the hours and the minutes: 8:50.

People generally prefer to say minutes past/to for times between the five-minute divisions.

  • seven minutes past eight (More natural than seven past eight.)
  • three minutes to nine (More natural than three to nine.)

The expression o’clock is only used at the hour. Compare:

  • Wake me at seven (o’clock).
  • Wake me at ten past seven. (not … ten past seven o’clock.)

Past is often dropped from half past in informal speech.

  • OK, see you at half two. (= … half past two.)

In American English after is often used instead of past (e.g. ten after six); but Americans do not say half after. And in American English of, before and till are possible instead of to (e.g. twenty-five of three).

Asking what time it is​

Common ways of asking about time are:

  • What time is it?
  • What’s the time?
  • Have you got the time? (informal)
  • Could you tell me the time? (more formal)
  • What time do you make it? (or What do you make the time? BrE, meaning ‘What time is it by your watch?’)

The twenty-four hour clock​

The twenty-four hour clock is used mainly in timetables, programmes and official announcements. In ordinary speech, people usually use the twelve-hour clock. Compare:

  • Last check-in time is 20.15.
    I’m seeing Oliver at a quarter past eight this evening.
  • The next train from Platform 5 is the 17.30 departure for Carlisle.
    ‘What time do you stop work?’ ‘Half past five.’
  • The meeting will begin at fourteen hundred.
    Jack and I are meeting up at two o’clock.

If necessary, times can be distinguished by using in the morning/afternoon/evening. In a more formal style, we can use am (= Latin ante meridiem – ‘before midday’) and pm (= post meridiem – ‘after midday’).

  • 09.00 = nine o’clock in the morning (or nine am)
  • 21.00 = nine o’clock in the evening (or nine pm)