ASKING AND TELLING TIME

We're all, it seems, obsessed by time. It’s part of our everyday lives. If we know the time it can stop us from being late and missing important moments.
We can check the time on watches, clocks and even our phones. But what if you don’t have any of these? What if, for example, you are at a bus stop and you need to know what time it is now? How should you ask a complete stranger? Find out in this lesson.

Asking for the time
Excuse me, Excuse me, mate Sorry,	What time is it? What time is it right now? What time do you have? What’s the time? Do you have the correct time?
	have you got the time do you have the time	please?

Telling Time

Generally, there are 2 ways to tell time; formal and popular way.

Formal Way

Tell hour first then followed by minute.

e.g: 7:45 - seven forty-five

For 01 until 09 minutes, we can say ‘0’ as oh

e.g: 11:06 - eleven (oh) six

Populer Way

Tell minute first then followed by hour. Use “past” and previous hour for minute 01 until 30. Us e “to” dan following hour for minute 31 until 59.

e.g: 7.15 - fifteen minutes past seven

e.g: 7.45 - fifteen minutes to eight

Another way to say “fifteen minutes past”: a quarter past

Another way to say “fifteen minutes to”: a quarter to

Another way to say “30 minutes past”: half past

e.g: 5:30 - half past five

To make you easier to understand, look at the picture below:

Here are some conversations about asking and telling time

Questions and Responses
What time do you have? It's ten o'clock sharp. Thanks a lot. Don't mention it.	What's the time? It’s almost eight. Do you have the exact time? Yes, it's two minutes to eight.	Excuse me. What time is it? Its a quarter of two. I guess my watch is slow then. Well, I know mine isn't fast.	What time is it right now? It’s a five twenty five. I've got five thirty five. You're ten minutes fast then.

Vocabulary

mate friend Examples: I first met Pete at school. We've been mates ever since then. On Friday nights I usually go out to a club with a few mates. mate informal way to address a stranger Examples: Excuse me mate, have you got the time? Excuse me mate, have you got a light?

Vocabulary connected to time

To be on time: to arrive at the correct time and not be late Examples: The trains here are never on time. They're always late. We're leaving at 10.00 sharp. So be sure you're on time. To be in time (for something): to arrive early enough (for something) Examples: I don't use an alarm clock but I always wake up in time for the 7 o'clock news on the radio. Sorry, I won't be home in time for dinner, I have to work late at the office. To kill time to do something to make time appear to pass more quickly Examples: The film doesn't start for another 2 hours, so we'll have to kill time for a bit. On my way back from Australia I had a lot of time to kill at Singapore Airport - the shopping was great! in (next to) no time very soon, very quickly Example: On my bike I can get to the Sports Centre in next to no time. It takes longer by car because of the traffic.

Note:

Use o’clock just to tell the exact time.

e.g: 7:00 - seven o’clock (but 7:10 - ten past seven)

In common English conversation, using 24 hours.

e.g: 17:20 - twenty past five

To time about midnight or midday, we can use expression “midnight” or “midday/noon” instead of the number 12.

e.g: 00:00 – midnight

e.g: 12:00 - midday atau noon

To make it clear whether you mean is time before 12 o’clock or after it, we can use “in the morning”, “in the afternoon”, “in the evening”, “at night”.

Use “in the morning” before 12 a.m, and use “in the afternoon” after 12 a.m

e.g: 3:15 - a quarter past three in the morning or a quarter past three at night

More formal expression to show whether the time which is meant is forenoon or afternoon is “a.m (ante merediem – between 00.00 until 12.00 at noon)” and “p.m (post meridiem – between 12.00 at noon until 00.00).

e.g: 3:15 - three fifteen a.m.

It’s not usual to use “a.m” and “p.m” with “past” or “to”.

e.g: 3:15 - fifteen minutes past three or a quarter past three

American-English

Beside “past”, American often use “after”

e.g: 06:10 - ten past/after six

But in expressing time by “half past”, not usual to change “past” by “after”

Beside “to”, American often use “before, of or till”

e.g: 05:50 - ten to/before/of/till six

Activity
For each question choose the one correct answer.
1.   I hate waiting for him. Why can’t he just …

a)      Kill time

b)      Be in no time

c)      Be on time

2.      Excuse me, …

a)      What the time is?

b)      Please say the time mate.

c)      Have you got the time, please?

3.      I don’t mind waiting. I’m happy to … for an hour or two.

a)      Have time

b)      Kill time

c)      Do time

4.      I had to call an ambulance the other day. It arrived in next to …

a)      No time

b)      On time

c)      In time