15 March 2012 / by Radmila Gurkova

What time is it?



 

 

Do you know how to tell the time in English?

 

 

  • am before noon (ante meridiem)

  • pm after noon (post meridiem)


We use o'clock at the full hour

  • 12:00 o'clock

  • 12:10 ten past twelve


For 15 minutes past we use quarter past

  • 12:15 (a) quarter past twelve


For 30 minutes past the hour we use

  • 12:30 half past twelve


For 15 minutes to the hour we use quarter to

  • 12:45 (a) quarter to one


For 00:00 and 12:00 we use the expressions midnight and midday or AM/PM

  • 00:00 Midnight or 12 am

  • 12:00 Midday or 12 pm


Do not use quarter past/to with AM/PM

For example:
it is a quarter past twelve pm
It is twelve fifteen pm
or
It is a quarter past twelve

Click here to see an example

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