Three o'clock in the morning in English. How to tell the time in English

Time is the basis of life, and every new day is an opportunity to spend time usefully. Every day we are faced with the concept of time: when we arrange a meeting with a friend, make an appointment with a doctor, book a table in a restaurant, or simply tell the exact hour to a passerby on the street.

English learners need to know how to specify the exact time of day, and today we will figure out how to do this so as not to mislead anyone.

From this article you will learn how to correctly name the time of day in English, how to spell this time, how to name the exact hour, how it will be 30 minutes in English and other useful information on the topic of time.

Time of day in English

Time(time) consists of such basic concepts as seconds(seconds) minutes(minutes) hours(hours) and longer ones such as days(days) weeks(weeks) years(of the year), centuries(centuries) and others.

Of course, the most common question of this topic is "How to say what time it is in English".

First of all, you need to know the numbers on the dial and a kind of scheme by which you can tell about any time.

So, the main divisions of the dial in English:

1 (One) = 5 (five) minutes
2 (Two) = 10 (ten) minutes
3 (Three) = 15 (fifteen) minutes
4 (Four) = 20 (twenty) minutes
5 (Five) = 25 (twenty five) minutes
6 (Six) = 30 (fitry) minutes
7 (Seven) = 35 (thirty five) minutes
8 (Eight) = 40 (forty) minutes
9 (Nine) = 45 (forty five) minutes
10 (Ten) = 50 (fifty) minutes
11 (Eleven) = 55 (fifty five) minutes
12 (Twelve) = 60 (sixty) minutes

> Flat time

If the clock is at even time (one, three, five, etc.), then the most common way to say it is by simply adding o'clock to the number:

It's five o'clock - It's five o'clock now
It's ten o "clock - It's ten o'clock now

There are also more refined options for telling the exact time, but they are much less common in speech:

It's five o'clock sharp - It's exactly five o'clock now
It's ten o'clock on the dot - It's ten o'clock on the minute

> thirty minutes

If the clock shows exactly 30 minutes, then we use the expression half past(half after...).

Moreover, if in Russian we usually say that the time is “half of such and such an hour”, then the British will call the same time as “thirty minutes after such and such an hour”.

It's half past seven - Half past seven = Half past seven = Seven thirty

> Fifteen minutes and any number of minutes

When the time on the clock is not exact, but with minutes, then here you need to remember a simple basic rule:

If the clock is less than 30 minutes, then we say past(after such and such an hour), if more than 30 minutes, then we say to(until this hour). At the same time, the very word minutes(minutes) is not named, but implied.

And again, the rule that we learned a little higher is observed: what is ten minutes after two for a Russian-speaking person, then for an Englishman - ten minutes after two.

This rule is hard to get used to, but with a little practice, you can always keep it in your head in case you need to say the exact time in a conversation.

For example:

It's five past four- Five minutes past four = Five past four
It's five to four- Five minutes to four = Five minutes to four

It's twenty past nine- Twenty minutes after nine = Twenty past ten
It's twenty to nine- Twenty minutes to nine = Twenty minutes to nine

When we talk about fifteen minutes in Russian, we usually use the word "quarter". The English use the word for this. quarter».

Only if the minute hand shows 15 minutes - it will be quarter past(quarter after) and the previous hour will be named, and if the minute hand is at around 45 minutes, it will be quarter to(a quarter to) and the next hour will be called.

It's quarter past five- Quarter past five = Quarter past five = Fifteen past seven = Six fifteen

It's quarter to five- Quarter to five = Quarter to five = Fifteen to five = Four forty-five

> Approximate time

If you do not know the exact time and want to say only an approximate one, use the prepositions about (about) or almost (almost).

It's about five- It's about five now.
It's almost five- It's almost five now

A.M. and P.M.

These abbreviations are often used in English-speaking countries to indicate the time of day. They have 24 hours, which can be divided into the first 12 (from midnight to noon) - this will be a.m. (ante meridiem) and on the other 12 (from noon to midnight) - this will be p.m. (post meridium).

If in Russian we speak, for example, 5 o'clock in the morning, then in America they will say 5 a.m., and if it is 5 o'clock in the evening, then it will already be 5 p.m.

Many people get confused with the 12-hour format and symbols when it comes to specifying noon or midnight. Remember:

12 p.m. = Noon (12 noon)
12 a.m. = Midnight (12 midnight)

Important: abbreviations a.m. and p.m. never used with o'clock. That is, maybe five o'clock or 5 p.m., but not 5 o'clock p.m.

Together with o'clock, we can only use the indication of the time of day: in the morning(morning) in the afternoon(day) or in the evening(evenings).

It's seven a.m. = It’s seven o’clock in the morning = Seven in the morning

How to ask what time it is in English?

The easiest way to find out the time from the interlocutor is to ask him a question What time is it? or What is the time?(What time is it now?).

This question will be understood by everyone from young to old.

One of the most common mistakes in this matter for Russian speakers is translation. If in Russian we usually ask: “Could you tell me what time it is?” then, translating this phrase into English literally, a person may ask “Can you tell the time?”. Which essentially means we ask a person if he knows how to name and tell the time by the clock. This, of course, is not such a gross mistake, and a foreigner will understand what you want from him, but it is better to remember the most universal question:

What time is it?

Or if you want to be very polite, you can say:

Could you please tell me what time it is?

prepositions of time

Various prepositions will help express a more precise time or period of time in English.

> Prepositions to refer to a specific moment in time

If we are talking about days, we use the preposition on:

We will see her on Sunday - We'll see her in Sunday
my vacation begins on Friday - My vacation starts in Friday

If we are talking about a specific time in the day, noon, midnight or night in general, we use the preposition at:

His train arrives at midnight - His train arrives in midnight
We like to walk at night - We like to walk at night
The concert finished at 11 p.m. - The concert is over in 11 p.m

If we are talking about a different time of day (afternoon or morning), as well as months, years and seasons, we use the preposition in:

Cats usually sleep in the afternoon - Cats usually sleep during the day
The nights are long in December- IN december nights are long
The birds leave in late autumn - Birds fly away in late autumn
This town was founded in 1834 - This city was founded in 1834

> Prepositions for a period of time

If we are talking about a certain period in time in English, we use different prepositions depending on the situation: since, for, by, from-to, from-until, during, (with)in. For example:

They are going to Prague for a week - They are going to Prague on the week
Mary has been sick since yesterday - Mary is sick co yesterday
It often rains in St. Petersburg from March to June- C Martha on June in St. Petersburg it often rains
She will be on a business trip since august until the end of September - She will be on a business trip from august on end of September
We are going to visit Italy, Germany and Belgium during our vacation - We are going to visit Italy, Germany and Belgium during our holiday
John was the first student to finish up the work within an hour - John was the first student to finish the job during hours

Vocabulary on the topic "time" in English

Morning - morning
In the morning - in the morning
Afternoon - day
In the afternoon - in the afternoon
Noon / midday - noon
Evening - evening
In the evening - in the evening
Tonight - tonight
At noon / at midday - at noon
Night - night
At night - at night
Midnight - midnight
At midnight - at midnight
Today - today
Now - now
Yesterday - yesterday
Past October - last October
Tomorrow - tomorrow
Next summer - next summer
The day after tomorrow - the day after tomorrow
The day before yesterday - the day before yesterday
In a week - in a week

Seasons - Seasons
Month - month
Spring - spring
May - May
March - March
April - April
Summer - summer
June - June
July - July
august - august
Autumn / Fall - autumn
September - september
October - October
november - november
Winter - winter
december - december
January - January
February - February
Indian summer - Indian summer

Days of the week - days of the week
Monday - Monday
Tuesday - Tuesday
Wednesday - Wednesday
Thursday - Thursday
Friday - Friday
Saturday - Saturday
Sunday - Sunday

Clock - wall clock
Alarm clock - alarm clock
watch - wrist watch
To wind up - start
Rush hour
Minute - minute
quarter
half - half
Hour - hour

At odd hours - at your leisure, from time to time
Ahead of time - ahead of time
At a wrong time - not on time
Time flies - time flies
Time drags - time drags on
No time to lose - time does not wait (you need to hurry)
Time goes by / passes - time passes

Set expressions with the word time

In this section, you will learn common set expressions with the word time and when they are used. Don't worry, this doesn't take a lot of time(won't take long).

Perhaps one of the most common expressions about time in English is time is money(time is money). Also, you can often hear all in good time(everything has its time) and time heals all wounds(time heals everything). But there are a few more set expressions that are often found in English colloquial speech:

Not the time / hardly the time - not the time

It's not the time to ask my father about a favor - Now is not the time to ask my father for a favor

There's no time like the present - now is the right time(when talking about something that needs to be done right now)

When do you want to call him? I think, there's no time like the present -- When are you thinking of calling him? I think now is the right time.

To have all the time in the world - have a lot of time(literally: to have all the time in the world)

We don't have to rush, we have all the time in the world - We don't have to rush, we have plenty of time

To have no / little time to spare - no / little free time

Kate had no time to spare for cooking. Kate didn't have time to cook.

With time to spare - earlier than expected

We will arrive in Tokyo with time to spare - We will arrive in Tokyo earlier than expected.

Have time on your hands - have a lot of free time(don't know what to do)

Now that he started to live alone, he has too much time on his hands - Now that he lives alone, he does not know what to do with himself

Half the time - almost always(literally: half the time), is usually used in a negative way, as a reproach, therefore, when denied, it can be translated as “almost never”.

Half the time you don't even notice what I'm wearing - You almost never even notice what I'm wearing

At all times - always(commonly used in formal speeches or announcements)

Children must be supervised by adults at all times while in the museum - While in the museum, children must be under the constant supervision of adults

To take one's time - do not rush

Here is the menu, sir. I'll return in ten minutes, so, take your time. - Here's the menu, sir. I'll be back in ten minutes, so take your time.

(Right / bang / dead) on time - on time

The taxi arrived right on time - The taxi arrived just in time

Ahead of time - earlier than planned

The plane arrived 40 minutes ahead of time - The plane arrived 40 minutes ahead of time

Behind time - later than planned

The plane arrived 20 minutes behind time - The plane arrived 20 minutes late

In no time / in next to no time - very soon, quickly

Don't worry, I'll be back in next to no time

To make good time - get somewhere fast(literally: made a good time)

We made good time and were at home by five - We got there pretty quickly and were home by five

To race / work / battle against time - try to meet the deadline even though you don't have much time for it.

John was racing against time to complete the project by Monday - John tried his best to meet deadlines and finish the project by Monday

To kill time - take time while you are waiting for something(literally: to kill time)

We have 2 hours left before the meeting and we need to kill some time - We have 2 hours left before the meeting and we need something to take time

Everyone who is interested in learning English has had to deal with strange notation p. m. And a. m, and in general, wherever time is mentioned, for some reason only 12 hour format. Probably, for us living on a 24-hour pattern, this is really strange, but if you understand this phenomenon, everything will fall into place.

So, let's start with the fact that in Western countries it is accepted 12 hour time system. The idea is that the 24 hours that make up a day are divided into two intervals of 12 hours, which are denoted as a. m.(lat. Ante meridiem - “before noon”) and p. m.(lat. Post meridiem - “afternoon”). This format is predominant in the USA, Canada, Australia, France, Turkey and some other countries.

This tradition has ancient roots, as the 12-hour time format was used in Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt. The Egyptians used a sundial for use during the day, and at night they used a water clock or clepsydra (translated from Greek - “water thief”). The Romans also used the 12-hour time format.

You need to remember that the time from 12 noon to 12 night denoted by two letters p. m. (read - pi em).

For example:

3:30 p.m. m. – Fourth half (of the day)

6:15 p.m. m. – Fifteen past seven (pm)

8:40 p.m. m. – Twenty to nine (pm)

Time from 12 noon to 12 noon denoted by two letters a. m.

For example:

1.00 a. m.– Hour of the morning

7:45 a.m. m. – Fifteen minutes to eight (morning)

But, native speakers for convenience in spoken English instead of a. m. and p. m, after the numbers indicating the time, add:

in the morning(morning) - (from 01.00 to 11.59)

in the afternoon(in the afternoon after noon) - (from 12.00 to 16.59)

in the evening(approximately from 17:00 to 21:59)

at night(in the evening after 22:00 and before 00:59).

But as I said, if official English is used, then it is usually used a. m. And p. m.

For example:

19:45 – fifteen till eight in the morning

2:00 – two o'clock in the morning

(Remember, if you want to say the time in hours without specifying minutes, then we say the number of hours and add - o'clock, as in the example above).

14:05 – two zero five in the afternoon

21:30 – nine thirty at night

And now the basic rules:

To say that now is so much time, you need to start with the words: It is
	It is three o'clock a.m. - it's three o'clock in the morning.
If we want to say that at some time we are doing something, we use the preposition at :
	I will phone you at five minutes past 10 – I'll call you at five past nine
Use the preposition - pastwhen talking about minutes from the first to half an hour. (minute hand from 01 to 30) and say how many minutes have passed since the full hour:
	It is fifteen minutes past two fifteen minutes past two(literally: fifteen minutes after two). Often the word minutes in the sentence is omitted - It is fifteen past two
Use the preposition - to when talking about time after half an hour (from 31 to 59 minutes): It is six minutes to five - Without six minutes of a quarter (literally - six minutes to five)
	It is fifteen minutes to eight Quater to eight(literally - fifteen minutes to eight)
To denote "a quarter of an hour", i.e. 15 minutes the word quarter is used. This concept can be used both before and after half an hour, and it is always used with the indefinite article “a”:
	It is a quarter past three Fifteen minutes past three
Half an hour is denoted by the word - half. This word is used without an article:
	It is half past two Half past two

1 Voiced expressions on the topic

Additional words and expressions

time- time; clock- clock; hours- hour; second- second; minutes- minute

What time is it?(What is the time ?; What o "clock is it?) - What time is it (what time is it)?

About the watch

watch- watches (pocket, wrist); alarm clock– clock with an alarm clock; cuckoo clock- Cuckoo-clock; tick, ticking(of a clock) - colloquial. ticking (clock)

clock face- clock face; hand- clock hand; hour hand- hour hand; minute hand- minute hand; second hand- second hand

2 Time notation in English

The designation of time in English is somewhat different from that adopted in Russian. To designate an even number of hours numerals are used with words o "clock or a.m. And p.m., wherein a.m. stands for morning, but p.m. – afternoon or evening:

6 o "clock- 6 o'clock;
7 p.m.- 7 pm;
4 a.m.- 4 a.m.

(a.m., A.M.- short for lat. expressions ante meridiem, meaning "before noon";
p.m., P.M.- short for lat. expressions post meridiem, meaning "in the afternoon")

To designate hours with minutes two options are used:

1. Used only numerals, if necessary, with the addition a.m. And p.m.:

nine thirty two- nine thirty two
nine thirty-two a.m.– nine thirty-two in the morning (9:30 am)
two fifty- two fifty
two fifty p.m.– two fifty days (2:50 pm)

2. Expressions like "two minutes past one", "seventeen minutes to five" are used. For this, numerals are used, denoting the number of minutes with the preposition past if you mean first half of current hour,
with a pretext to, if you mean remaining minutes until the next hour:

ten past five- ten minutes after five (lit. ten minutes after five);
twenty past eight in the evening- twenty minutes past eight in the evening;
thirty minutes past twelve in the afternoon- thirteen minutes of the first day;
five to six- five minutes to six;
twenty five to eleven at night- twenty five minutes to eleven in the evening;
nineteen minutes to seven in the morning- nineteen minutes to seven in the morning.

At the same time, the numbers 10, 15, 20, 25 And 30 can be used without word mentions minutes, after all other numerals denoting the number of minutes, the use of words minutes or minutes necessarily. In this case, the following options are used to specify the time of day:

in the morning- morning ( from 01.00 to 11.59)
in the afternoon– days ( from 12.00 to 16.59)
in the evening- evenings ( from 17.00 to 21.59)
at night- nights ( from 22.00 to 00.59)

(More information about the time of day can be found.)

The construction is used to indicate half an hour. half past – half an hour after specified hour:

half past twelve- half past twelve;
half past six- half past six;
half past twelve at night- half past midnight;
half past six in the evening- Half past seven in the evening.

The word used to represent a quarter of an hour is quarter with a pretext past if you mean quarter of the current hour, with a suggestion to if you mean It is a quarter to one:

quarter past six- quarter past seven
quarter to three- a quarter to three
quarter past six in the morning- quarter past seven in the morning
quarter to three in the afternoon- quarter to three days

Please note that in constructions with the preposition past in English, the previous hour is used, and not the next, as in Russian.

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3 How to name an even number of hours (video)

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4 How to name hours with minutes (video)

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5 Time and clock in English idioms

like a clock- accurate, punctual, like a clock (about a person)
(a) round the clock– around the clock
eat up the clock(kill the clock) - Amer.; sport. play for time
clock in/off– note the time of arrival / departure from work
clock up- record in the asset, in the number of achievements
face that would stop a clock- a very unattractive face; very pretty face
turn (or put) back the clock- turn back time
five o "clock shadow- stubble, unshaven
against the clock- for a limited time

it beats my time- that beats me
sell time– provide airtime (for a fee on radio or television)
pass the time of day with smb.- greet, exchange greetings
not before time- It is high time
it is only a question of time- razg. it's just a matter of time
take your time!- do not hurry!
next time lucky- better luck next time

a bit over a minute- minute or two
a minute over- no more than a minute
up to the minute– cutting-edge

zero hour (= H-hour)- the hour chosen to start something; decisive hour, time "H", appointed hour,
the small hours (= week hours)- pre-dawn hours; first hours after midnight
happy hour- "happy hour" (the time when alcoholic drinks in the bar are sold at a discount)
pumpkin hour- the appointed hour (when the carriage turns into a pumpkin - in the fairy tale about Cinderella)
every hour on the hour- exactly at the beginning of each hour (at zero-zero minutes)
on the half hour- every half an hour
hours on end (for hours on end)- without end
(at) all hours- all day long
after (office) hours- after work
keep late hours- stay up late
one's finest hour- high point
rush hour- peak hour
ungodly hour- off-hours

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6 Time in English proverbs and sayings

One cannot put back the clock.
You can't bring back the past.

Lost time is never found again.
You can't get back lost time.

A stitch in time saves nine.
One stitch, but on time, is worth nine.

Time is money.
Time is money.

Procrastination is the thief of time.
Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

Take time by the forelock.
Strike while the iron is hot.

An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening.
The morning is wiser than the evening.

The darkest hour is just before the dawn.
The darkest hour is closest to dawn.

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7 Games, songs and fairy tales in English on the topic: hours and time (flash)

About the Greenwich Meridian

The Greenwich meridian, the prime meridian passing through the city of Greenwich, is the location of the old Greenwich Astronomical Observatory in Great Britain. It serves as the starting point for the geographical longitudes and time zones of the globe. Universal time (mean solar time of the Greenwich meridian) is counted from midnight and differs from Moscow time by 3 hours (15 hours Moscow time corresponds to 12 hours universal time).
The Greenwich meridian was adopted as the reference point for longitudes throughout the globe in 1884. Until that time, different countries used their national zero meridians (in France, the "Paris meridian" was used, in Russia - the "Pulkovo meridian").

Exercises and puzzles on the topic: hours and time (in English)

Children's songs on the theme: hours and time (in English)

hickory dickory dock

The clock

Inside Big Ben

"Big Ben" is a large bell (weighs more than 13 tons) on the clock tower of the British Parliament building, the name is also often attributed to the clock and the tower as a whole. Officially, until recently, the tower bore the name of St. Stephen, since September 2012 it has changed its name to "Elizabeth Tower". The tower was erected in 1858, the clock was put into operation in 1859. Since then, "Big Ben" has become one of the most recognizable symbols of the UK.

Big Ben and Little Bens

Charles Bury, the architect who built the Palace of Westminster, in 1844 asked Parliament for a grant to build a clock on St. Stephen's Tower. The mechanic Benjamin Valami undertook to build the clock. It was decided that the new clock would be the largest and most accurate in the world, and its bell the heaviest, so that its ringing could be heard, if not throughout the empire, then at least throughout its capital.
When the clock project was completed, disputes began between its author and the authorities over the required accuracy of the clock. The Astronomer Royal, Professor George Airy, insisted that the first strike of the bell every hour should be accurate to one second. Accuracy was to be checked hourly by telegraph linking Big Ben with the Greenwich Observatory.
Valami said that for watches open to winds and bad weather, such accuracy is not possible, and that no one needs it at all. This dispute lasted five years, and Airy won. Valami's project was rejected. Clocks with the required accuracy were designed by a certain Dent. They weighed five tons.
Then a lot of trouble began to cast the bell and debate in Parliament on this matter. It is to this time that the versions of the origin of the name "Big Ben" are attributed. The versions are as follows: this is either the name of the chairman of the parliamentary commission, Benjamin Hall, or the name of the famous boxer Benjamin Count.

Less Ben
When the clock and bell were already raised and mounted, it turned out that the cast-iron hands were too heavy, and they were poured from a lighter alloy. The clock was opened on May 31, 1859. Until 1912, the clock was lit by gas jets, which were later replaced by electric lamps. And on the radio for the first time the chimes sounded on December 31, 1923.
After a bomb hit the St. Stephen's Tower during the Second World War, the clock began to move not so accurately.
These watches have gained incredible popularity both in England and abroad. Many "Little Bens" appeared in London, small copies of St. Stephen's tower with a clock on top. Such towers - a cross between an architectural structure and a living room grandfather clock - began to be erected at almost all intersections.
The most famous "Little Ben" stands at Victoria railway station, but in fact, in almost every area of London you can find little Ben.

Alexander Voronikhin, bbcrussian.com

Although we are taught to tell the time in school, most have not learned how to do it properly. However, talk about time in the modern world cannot be avoided. The secret is to restructure your thinking and start thinking in English. Many try not to mention the time, or simplify, or avoid using the words quarter, half, past, to.

To avoid possible inaccuracies, sometimes they simply say:

7.05 - seven five or seven oh five
7.10 - seven ten
7.15 - seven fifteen

The reason is that many have not fully figured out how to correctly indicate the time in English. Today we will talk about how native speakers indicate time, how to use the words to and past, and talk about many other subtleties that will help you speak about time without errors and understand your interlocutors.

The first word you need to remember is o"clock . O "clock- this is an even hour, without minutes:

7.00 - seven o'clock
9.00 - nine o'clock
11.00 - eleven o'clock

Sometimes, especially at the initial stage of learning, they confuse words o "clock And hours. Please note the difference: o "clock- a mark on the clock face, and hours- 60 minutes, indicates duration, duration:

The lesson starts at 6 o "clock. - The lesson starts at six o'clock.

The lesson lasts for two hours. - The lesson lasts two hours.

To indicate the correct time, you need to mentally divide the dial in half and assign names to the halves:

first half hour: past(after)
second half hour: to(before)

Next important word: half half, half an hour. It is important to understand the difference in the perception of time in English, as in English they always say "half after" ( half past ) and called after what time:

2:30 - half past two

10:30 - half past ten - half past ten (half after ten)

12:30 - half past twelve - half past one (half after twelve)

By the way, in colloquial speech the word past often omitted from expression half past:

The number of minutes in the first half of the hour must be indicated using the word past in this format: how much time has passed + after how much:

9:05 - five past nine (five after nine)

9:10 - ten past nine (ten after nine)

9:20 - twenty past nine (twenty after nine)

9:25 - twenty-five past nine (twenty five after nine)

Please note that if the number of minutes is a multiple of five then don't say a word minutes.

Another keyword: (a) quarter - a quarter of an hour. When they indicate the time, they rarely say fifteen, as a rule, replace it with the word (a) quarter :

7:15 - quarter past seven (a quarter after seven)

3:15 - quarter past three

The last mark on the clock with the word past will half past. After half, another countdown begins, not after the last hour, but until the next hour, using the word to(before). The format of the expression is: how much is left + until how much:

5:35 - twenty five to six (twenty five to six)

5:40 - twenty to six (twenty to six)

5:45 - quarter to six (quarter to six)

5:50 - ten to six (ten to six)

5:55 - five to six (five to six)

If you need to specify number of minutes not a multiple of five, the word is used minutes :

Three minutes past four - 4:03

Sixteen minutes past eight

Twenty-two minutes to two- 1:38

Seven minutes to ten - 9:53

When indicating time, the preposition is used

At half past four - at half past four (half after four)

At three o "clock - at three o'clock

At quarter to seven - at fifteen to seven (a quarter to seven)

Twelve o'clock is usually called - twelve o'clock, but you can say:

at none- at noon
at midday- at noon
at midnight- at midnight

In everyday communication, they prefer to call the time according to the usual clock, in which there are twelve hours. Abbreviations are used to distinguish night from day. a.m. And p.m. As soon as they are not interpreted by the students! In fact, both abbreviations come from Latin:

a.m. - ante meridiem- before noon, denotes the time from midnight to noon (night and morning)

p.m. - post meridiem- after noon, time from noon to midnight (afternoon and evening).

These abbreviations can be heard in conversation when it is necessary to clarify what time of day is meant. Also, in American English, () is sometimes replaced past on the after, a to on the of:

Five past six - five after six - five past seven (five after six)

Twenty to eight - twenty of eight - twenty to eight (twenty to eight)

Time by electronic clock ( digital clock or twenty-four hour clock), in which the time is indicated by numbers from 0 hours to 24 hours, is indicated differently. This system is commonly used in schedules, schedules, programs, official announcements, military orders.

The 24-hour clock system, which we will now discuss, is also called " military time"(" Wartime "), because it is used in the army. It is so common to see these numbers on the airport scoreboard, in the train schedule, it is immediately clear what time is meant, however, "pronunciation" of time on an electronic clock is not an easy task. Watches and minutes are not separated from each other, so we are dealing with a four-digit number.
For comparison, we offer you a table for indicating the time according to the 12-hour system and the 24-hour system:

12 Hour Clock	24 Hour Clock
	0100 Zero one hundred hours
	0200 Zero two hundred hours
	0300 Zero three hundred hours
	0400 Zero four hundred hours
	0500 Zero five hundred hours
	0600 Zero six hundred hours
	0700 Zero seven hundred hours
	0800 Zero hundred eight hours
	0900 Zero nine hundred hours
	1000 ten hundred hours
	1100 Eleven hundred hours
	1200 Twelve hundred hours
	1300 Thirteen hundred hours
	1400 Fourteen hundred hours
	1500 Fifteen hundred hours
	1600 Sixteen hundred hours
	1700 Seventeen hundred hours
	1800 Eighteen hundred hours
	1900 Nineteen hundred hours
	2000 Twenty hundred hours
	2100 Twenty-one hundred hours
	2200 Twenty-two hundred hours
	2300 Twenty-three hundred hours
	2400 Twenty-four hundred hours

As you can see, if the hour is "even", without minutes, then the first digit is called and the words are added hundred hours. If minutes are present, then the four-digit number is divided by two and each is called separately + hours:

0945 - oh nine forty-five hours
1126 - eleven twenty-six hours
1757 - seventeen fifty-seven hours
0130 - zero one thirty hours

In everyday conversation, this notation of time is rarely used, usually the time is indicated in a 12-hour format.

To find out the time, they usually ask:

What time is it?
Have you got the time?
What's the time?
Could you tell me the time, please?

All of the above questions translate the same way: What time is it now? What time is it? The last question sounds the most polite: Can you tell me what time it is?

Be aware of the English time rules so you can always answer these questions. I wish you success!

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Almost immediately after mastering the basic grammar and vocabulary, they move on to the topic "". It would seem that it can be difficult? But even here there are many snags, since some points differ from how we used to call time in our native language.

Features of the topic "how to call time in English"

We'll see, how to say time in english right. It is important to pay attention to the fact that English speakers do not have 17.00, 20.00, 21.00 and so on. Their hours are quite limited: from 00.00 to 12.00. In order for the interlocutor to understand everything correctly, they specify part of the day. That is, to the phrase you need to add in the morning or in the evening. The most commonly used abbreviations in this case are: a.m.(for the first half of the day) and p.m.(for the afternoon). That is, seven in the morning in English will be 7 o'clock in the morning, and seven in the evening - 7 o'clock in the evening . When talking in English, one should generally forget that 19.00 exists in nature.

How to say time in English

Now let's expand our vocabulary so that we no longer think about how to say time in english. Here are some words that will definitely come in handy for you:

half– half (30 minutes)

quarter- quarter (15 minutes)

to- to (for phrases like "without 15 minutes")

past- after

sharp- exactly

Now we conditionally divide the clock face into two parts. In order to say 5, 10 or more minutes of an hour, one cannot do without a preposition past. If there are a certain number of minutes left before the round number, then we need an excuse from the left side of the dial - to.