Learn how to tell the time in English.
In English, the 12-hour clock is normally used for telling the time. The 24-hour clock is only used for travel timetables.
Asking the time
| what's the time? |
| what time is it? |
| could you tell me the time, please? |
| do you happen to have the time? |
| do you know what time it is? |
Telling the time
| it's … |
| exactly ... |
| about ... |
| almost ... |
| just gone ... |
| one o'clock |
| two o'clock |
| three o'clock |
| four o'clock |
| five o'clock |
| six o'clock |
| seven o'clock |
| eight o'clock |
| nine o'clock |
| ten o'clock |
| eleven o'clock |
| twelve o'clock |
| quarter past … |
| one |
| two |
| three |
| half past … |
| one |
| two |
| three |
| English phrase guide | |
|---|---|
| Page 15 of 61 | |
← Time expressions |
Dates → |
| quarter to … |
| one |
| two |
| three |
| five past one |
| ten past one |
| twenty past one |
| twenty-five past one |
| five to two |
| ten to two |
| twenty to two |
| twenty-five to two |
| ten fifteen |
| ten thirty |
| ten forty-five |
| ten am |
| six pm |
| noon or midday |
| midnight |
It's also possible to state the time in English by saying the hour followed by the minutes, followed by am or pm if necessary, eg:
| 11.47am |
| 2.13pm |
Clocks
| my watch is … |
| fast |
| slow |
| that clock's a little … |
| fast |
| slow |
| English phrase guide | |
|---|---|
| Page 15 of 61 | |
← Time expressions |
Dates → |
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