Telling time

Point 1: You can use o'clock at the top of the hour, but often it is not spoken.

1. It is six o'clock. - It is six.
2. It is eight o'clock. - It is eight.
3. It is twelve o'clock. - It is twelve.
4. It is two o'clock. - It is two.

Point 2: Twelve o'clock has two special names. Noon for daytime and midnight for nighttime.

1. The meeting is at noon.
2. Great! See you at twelve.
3. I was asleep at midnight.
4. I was still awake at 12.

Point 3: For time 30 minutes past the hour, you can use the term half past.

1. 2:30 | half past two
2. 6:30 | half past six
3. 9:30 | half past nine
4. 11:30 | half past eleven

Point 4: For time 15 minutes past the hour, you can use the term a quarter past.

1. 2:15 | a quarter past two
2. 4:15 | a quarter past four
3. 7:15 | a quarter past seven
4. 12:15 | a quarter past noon

Point 5: For time 45 minutes past the hour, you can use the term a quarter to/till.

1. 1:45 | a quarter to two
2. 4:45 | a quarter to five
3. 9:45 | a quarter till ten
4. 12:45 | a quarter to one