Lesson 2: Telling Time (Intermediate)
Quarter Past, Quarter To, and Minutes
In our A1 lessons, you learned to tell time with 'o'clock' and 'half past'. Now, we will learn how to be more precise by using 'quarter past', 'quarter to', and by talking about the exact minutes. This will help you understand and speak about time more naturally.
Word Bank: Phrases for Telling Time
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Precise
Exact and accurate.
-
a quarter past
15 minutes after the hour.
Example: "7:15 is a quarter past seven." -
a quarter to
15 minutes before the next hour.
Example: "7:45 is a quarter to eight." -
minutes past
Used for minutes 1-29 after the hour.
Example: "7:10 is ten minutes past seven." -
minutes to
Used for minutes 31-59, counting to the next hour.
Example: "7:50 is ten minutes to eight."
Usage Note: The Two Halves of the Clock
Think of the clock in two halves. This helps you know when to use "past" and when to use "to".
- Minutes 1-30 ➞ use PAST the current hour.
Example: 8:20 is "twenty minutes past eight." - Minutes 31-59 ➞ use TO the NEXT hour.
Example: 8:40 is "twenty minutes to nine."
In Conversation
Bora and Srey are getting ready for a meeting.
Bora: Srey, are you ready? What time is it?
Srey: It's a quarter past nine (9:15).
Bora: Oh no! The meeting is at half past nine. We only have 15 minutes!
Srey: Don't worry, the office is close. What time does the meeting finish?
Bora: It finishes at ten fifty (10:50). In other words, ten minutes to eleven.
Srey: Okay, good to know. And what time is our lunch with Maria?
Bora: Lunch is at a quarter to one (12:45). We must not be late!
Check Your Understanding
- If the clock shows 3:15, what is a common way to say it?
- a) Fifteen minutes past three
- b) A quarter past three
- c) A quarter to three
Answer: b) A quarter past three
- If it is 10:45, you can say, "a quarter ______ eleven."
- a) past
- b) at
- c) to
Answer: c) to
- How do you say 6:55 in English?
- a) Five minutes past seven
- b) Five minutes to seven
- c) Fifty-five minutes past six
Answer: b) Five minutes to seven
Your Mission
- My Schedule: Look at your schedule for tomorrow. Write two sentences using the new time phrases. (e.g., "My class starts at a quarter past eight." "I have lunch at ten minutes to one.")
- Practice Clock: Draw a clock face. Draw the hands for these times and write the time in words: 2:15, 2:45, 2:35.
- Speak: Your mission is to look at a clock with a friend. Ask them, "What time is it?" Then, try to say the time using "past" or "to".