Telling Time
Important verbs for asking about and telling time:
have, know, be, tell
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Questions: | Answers: |
| Do you have the time? | Sure, it’s 6:00. |
| Do you know what time it is? | Sorry, I’m not wearing a watch. |
| What time is it? | 5:50 |
| Can you tell me what time it is, please? | It’s a quarter after two. |
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Important vocabulary
- o’clock = :00 ( 7:00 = seven o’clock )
- a quarter after = 15 minutes after the hour ( 3:15 = It’s a quarter after three.)
- a quarter past = 15 minutes after the hour (3:15 = It’s a quarter past three.)
- a quarter before = 15 minutes before the hour( 3:45 = It’s a quarter before four )
- a quarter to = 15 minutes before the hour (3:45 = It’s a quarter to four.)
- half past = 30 minutes after the hour ( 11:30 = It’s half past eleven)
- thirty = 30 minutes after the hour. (11:30 = It’s eleven thirty.)
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The easiest way to tell someone the time is to use a digital format. For example, when someone asks you what time it is, you can say, “It’s 5:30.” Instead of, “It’s half past five.” “It’s 5:13.” = (five thirteen) or “It’s 5:02.” (five o two)* or “It’s 5:50.” (five fifty) *Note: 0 is pronounced “O” not “zero.” |
Giving the Date
Question: | Answers: |
| What’s today? or What day is it today? | Today’s Tuesday, June 6. (June sixth) |
| What’s the date? | It’s June 6. or It’s the 6th of June. |
There’s a difference between “day” and “date“
- day: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, etc.
- date: June 6
When someone asks you the date, it’s not necessary to give the year. For example:
- What’s the date? —-> It’s June 6. (Not
It’s June 6, 2005)
Make sure you use ordinal numbers when you say the date . When someone asks about time in the future or the past, use the year.
- When were you born? —-> March 25, 1965When did you arrive in the U.S.? —-> In 2002.
- When is the next election? —-> In November of 2010.
source:http://www.learnamericanenglishonline.com/