Use o'clock only at the full hour. Example: 7:00 - seven o'clock (but 7:10 - ten past seven)For times around midnight or midday you can use the expressions midnight or midday / noon instead of the number 12. 00:00 - midnight 12:00 - midday or noonTo make clear (where necessary) whether you mean a time before 12 o'clock noon or after, you can use in the morning before 12 o'clock noon, after 12 o'clock noon use in the afternoon. When to change to in the evening, at night depends on your sense of time.
Example: 3:15 - a quarter past three in the morning OR a quarter past three at nightMore formal expressions to indicate whether a time is before noon or after are a.m. (also: am - ante meridiem, before noon) and p.m. (also: pm - post meridiem, after noon). Use these expression only with the formal way of telling the time. Example: 3:15 - three fifteen a.m.It is not usual to use a.m. and p.m. with past/to. Example: 3:15 - fifteen minutes past three OR a quarter past three[American English
Beside past Americans often use after. Example: 06:10 - ten past/after six
But in time expressions with half past it is not usual to replace past by after.
Beside to Americans often use before, of or till. Example: 05:50 - ten to/before/of/till six]
Example: 3:15 - a quarter past three in the morning OR a quarter past three at nightMore formal expressions to indicate whether a time is before noon or after are a.m. (also: am - ante meridiem, before noon) and p.m. (also: pm - post meridiem, after noon). Use these expression only with the formal way of telling the time. Example: 3:15 - three fifteen a.m.It is not usual to use a.m. and p.m. with past/to. Example: 3:15 - fifteen minutes past three OR a quarter past three[American English
Beside past Americans often use after. Example: 06:10 - ten past/after six
But in time expressions with half past it is not usual to replace past by after.
Beside to Americans often use before, of or till. Example: 05:50 - ten to/before/of/till six]
TIMETABLES USUALLY USE THE 24 HOUR CLOCK. SPOKEN ENGLISH ONLY USES THE 24 HOUR CLOCK IN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS (AIRPORTS, TRAIN OR BUS STATIONS...) NOT IN ORDINARY SPEECH.
Formal but easier way
Say the hours first and then the minutes. Example: 7:45 - seven forty-fiveFor minutes 01 through 09, you can pronounce the '0' as oh. Example: 11:06 - eleven (oh) sixMore popular way
Say the minutes first and then the hours. Use past and the preceding hour for minutes 01 through 30. Use to and the forthcoming hour for minutes 31 through 59, but .
Example: 7.15 - fifteen minutes past seven
Example: 7.45 - fifteen minutes to eightAnother possibility of saying '15 minutes past' is: a quarter past
Another possibility of saying '15 minutes to' is: a quarter to
Another possibility of saying '30 minutes past' is: half past
Example: 5:30 - half past five
Say the hours first and then the minutes. Example: 7:45 - seven forty-fiveFor minutes 01 through 09, you can pronounce the '0' as oh. Example: 11:06 - eleven (oh) sixMore popular way
Say the minutes first and then the hours. Use past and the preceding hour for minutes 01 through 30. Use to and the forthcoming hour for minutes 31 through 59, but .
Example: 7.15 - fifteen minutes past seven
Example: 7.45 - fifteen minutes to eightAnother possibility of saying '15 minutes past' is: a quarter past
Another possibility of saying '15 minutes to' is: a quarter to
Another possibility of saying '30 minutes past' is: half past
Example: 5:30 - half past five
- Practice with these clocks: What time is it in each one?
- Link to more practice on telling the time
