Vocabulary: Core & Everyday Vocabulary (A1) - Lesson 10: Telling Time (O'clock, Half past - very basic)

Lesson 10: Telling Time (Basic)

O'clock and Half Past

After learning about days and months, let's learn about the hours in a day! Knowing how to ask for and tell the time is a very important skill for everyday life, from going to work to meeting your friends.

Word Bank

• Time (noun) | ពេលវេលា
  The measurement of hours and minutes.
  Example: "What time is it?"
• O'clock (adverb) | ម៉ោង...គត់
  Used for the exact hour (when minutes are 00).
  Example: "It is seven o'clock." (7:00)
• Half past (phrase) | ...កន្លះ
  Means 30 minutes after the hour.
  Example: "It is half past seven." (7:30)
• Hour (noun) | ម៉ោង
  A period of 60 minutes.
  Example: "The meeting is in one hour."
• Minute (noun) | នាទី
  A period of 60 seconds.
  Example: "Wait one minute, please."

Usage Note: Asking and Stating the Time

• The most common question is: "What time is it?"
• When the big hand (minute hand) is on the 12, we say o'clock. For example, 3:00 is three o'clock.
• When the big hand is on the 6, we say half past. For example, 3:30 is half past three.

In Conversation

Srey is worried she is late to meet Bora.

Srey: Hi Bora! Sorry I am late! What time is it?

Bora: Don't worry, you are not late. It's only half past nine (9:30).

Srey: Oh, good! My meeting is at ten o'clock.

Bora: You have plenty of time. It is a 30-minute walk from here.

Srey: Perfect! Thank you. I will see you later!

Check Your Understanding

1. If the clock shows 4:30, what do you say?
   • a) Four o'clock
   • b) Half past four
   • c) Half past three
   Answer: b) Half past four

2. What does "o'clock" mean?
   • a) 30 minutes past the hour
   • b) The exact hour (00 minutes)
   • c) 15 minutes past the hour
   Answer: b) The exact hour (00 minutes)

3. How do you ask for the time?
   • a) What is the hour?
   • b) How is the time?
   • c) What time is it?
   Answer: c) What time is it?

Your Mission

1. My Day: Write three sentences about your day using time. For example: "I wake up at six o'clock. I eat lunch at half past twelve."
2. Practice: Look at a clock right now. What time is it? Try to say the time in English using "o'clock" or "half past".
3. Speak: Your mission is to ask one person "What time is it?" today.