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 |
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 |
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:
Clocks
That clock's a little … |
fast |
slow |