Grammar 1-15 | True Beginner | CEFR A1

Telling Time

Listen to four conversations about telling time.

Script
Grammar
Quiz

Conversation #1

Man: What time is the meeting?
Woman: It starts at 6 o'clock.
Man: When is it over?
Woman: It is over at 7:30.
Man: Wow! So long!
Woman: Well, it might finish by 7:15.

Conversation #2

Man: When is your first class?
Woman: It is at 8:30.
Man: Me too! When is your last class?
Woman: My last class is at 3:45.
Man: When does it finish?
Woman: At 5:15
Man: Wow, so late!
Woman: I know.

Conversation #3

Man: Excume me. What time is it?
Woman: It is half past ten.
Man: I'm sorry, I don't understand.
Woman: It is 10:30.
Man: Oh, thanks. Half past ten means 10:30.
Woman: Yes, it does.
Man: So half past seven means 7:30.
Woman: Yes, you got it.

Conversation #4

Man: When is the next bus?
Woman: It is at quarter past eight.
Man: 8:15! That's too early. I want to get a coffee. And when is the next one?
Woman: The next bus is at quarter to nine.
Man: 8:45. OK, I can take that one.
Woman: There is also one at 9:15.
Man: Hmm. 9:15 is too late. I have class at 9:30.
Woman: Don't miss it then!

Telling time - Grammar Notes

Point 1: You can use o'clock at the top of the hour, but often it is not spoken.

It is six o'clock. - It is six.
It is eight o'clock. - It is eight.
It is twelve o'clock. - It is twelve.
It is two o'clock. - It is two.

Point 2: Twelve o'clock has two special names. Noon for daytime and midnight for night time.

The meeting is at noon.
Great! See you at twelve.
I was asleep at midnight.
I was still awake at 12.

Point 3: For time 30 minutes past the hour, you can use the term "half past".

2:30 | half past two
6:30 | half past six
9:30 | half past nine
11:30 | half past eleven

Point 4: For time 15 minutes past the hour, you can use the term "a quarter past".

2:15 | a quarter past two
4:15 | a quarter past four
7:15 | a quarter past seven
12:15 | a quarter past noon

Point 5: For time 45 minutes past the hour, you can use the term "a quarter to/till".

1:45 | a quarter to two
4:45 | a quarter to five
9:45 | a quarter till ten
12:45 | a quarter to one

Answer the following questions about the interview.

More Lessons

11 Demonstrative Pronouns
Four short conversations about things.

12 Adverbs + Adjectives
Four short conversations about people.

13 Months of the Year
Four short conversations months.

14 Ordinals
Four short conversations about numbers.

15 Telling Time
Four short conversations about time.