{"id":272789,"date":"2026-07-19T03:00:03","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T08:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langcom.org\/?p=272789"},"modified":"2026-07-19T03:00:03","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T08:00:03","slug":"tell-time-english-a1-a1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langcom.us\/ja\/blog\/tell-time-english-a1-a1\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Tell Time in English: A1 Vocabulary Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"lc-answer\"><strong>To tell time in English, you can use two main ways: the &#8216;past\/to&#8217; method or the simpler &#8216;digital&#8217; method.<\/strong> The &#8216;past\/to&#8217; method uses words like <span data-no-translation>past<\/span> for minutes after the hour and <span data-no-translation>to<\/span> for minutes before the hour. For example, <span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s ten past three<\/span> (3:10) or <span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s twenty to five<\/span> (4:40). The &#8216;digital&#8217; method is very easy: you just say the numbers you see, like <span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s three ten<\/span> (3:10) or <span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s four forty<\/span> (4:40). You will also learn special phrases for 15 minutes (<span data-no-translation>a quarter<\/span>) and 30 minutes (<span data-no-translation>half past<\/span>). This guide will help you understand both methods clearly.<\/div>\n<h2>How do you ask about the time?<\/h2>\n<p>When you want to know what time it is, you can use a simple question.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation>What time is it?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>What&#8217;s the time?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These are the most common ways to ask.<\/p>\n<div class=\"lc-cta lc-cta-blended\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding:30px;margin:30px 0;text-align:center;color:#fff;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#0E63C4,#0A2540);\"><h3 style=\"color:#fff;font-size:22px;font-weight:800;margin:0 0 8px;\">\ud83c\udf93 \u30d6\u30ec\u30f3\u30c7\u30c3\u30c9\u65b9\u5f0f\u3067\u82f1\u8a9e\u3092\u5b66\u307c\u3046<\/h3><p style=\"margin:0 0 10px;opacity:.95;\">\u5c11\u4eba\u6570\u5236\u30fb24\u6642\u9593365\u65e5\u5bfe\u5fdc\u306eAI\u30c1\u30e5\u30fc\u30bf\u30fc\u30fb\u30b1\u30f3\u30d6\u30ea\u30c3\u30b8\u8a66\u9a13\u5bfe\u7b56<\/p><p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;font-size:18px;\">\u4ee5\u4e0b\u306e\u30d7\u30e9\u30f3\u304b\u3089 <strong><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-amount amount\"><bdi><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-currencySymbol\" translate=\"no\">$<\/span>39<\/bdi><\/span><\/strong> <s style=\"opacity:.6;\"><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-amount amount\"><bdi><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-currencySymbol\" translate=\"no\">$<\/span>79<\/bdi><\/span><\/s> \u6708\u984d<\/p><a href=\"\/ja\/\" style=\"display:inline-block;margin-top:8px;padding:13px 30px;border-radius:8px;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;background:#fff;color:#0E63C4;\">\u30af\u30e9\u30b9\u306e\u4e88\u7d04\u3092\u3059\u308b<\/a><\/div>\n<h2>How do you say exact hours?<\/h2>\n<p>For exact hours, we use the word <span data-no-translation>o&#8217;clock<\/span>. This means &#8216;of the clock&#8217;.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s one o&#8217;clock.<\/span> (1:00)<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s seven o&#8217;clock.<\/span> (7:00)<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s eleven o&#8217;clock.<\/span> (11:00)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We only use <span data-no-translation>o&#8217;clock<\/span> when there are no minutes.<\/p>\n<h2>How do you say minutes after the hour? (The &#8216;past&#8217; method)<\/h2>\n<p>When the minutes are from 1 to 30, we use the word <span data-no-translation>past<\/span>. We say the minutes first, then <span data-no-translation>past<\/span>, then the hour.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s five past two.<\/span> (2:05)<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s ten past nine.<\/span> (9:10)<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s twenty-five past six.<\/span> (6:25)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Remember: minutes first, then <span data-no-translation>past<\/span>, then the hour.<\/p>\n<h2>How do you say minutes before the hour? (The &#8216;to&#8217; method)<\/h2>\n<p>When the minutes are from 31 to 59, we use the word <span data-no-translation>to<\/span>. We say how many minutes are left until the next hour.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s twenty-five to four.<\/span> (3:35)<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s ten to eight.<\/span> (7:50)<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s five to twelve.<\/span> (11:55)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Think about the next hour. How many minutes until then?<\/p>\n<h2>What about special times: 15 and 30 minutes?<\/h2>\n<p>For 15 minutes and 30 minutes, we have special words:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>15 minutes:<\/strong> We say <span data-no-translation>a quarter<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s a quarter past three.<\/span> (3:15)<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s a quarter to nine.<\/span> (8:45)<\/li>\n<li><strong>30 minutes:<\/strong> We say <span data-no-translation>half past<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s half past five.<\/span> (5:30)<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s half past ten.<\/span> (10:30)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These are very common ways to say these times.<\/p>\n<h2>How do you say time the &#8216;digital&#8217; way?<\/h2>\n<p>This is often the easiest way for beginners. You just say the numbers you see on a digital clock.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s three fifteen.<\/span> (3:15)<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s seven thirty.<\/span> (7:30)<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s one forty-two.<\/span> (1:42)<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s nine fifty-five.<\/span> (9:55)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This method is simple and always correct.<\/p>\n<table>\n<caption>Summary of How to Tell Time in English<\/caption>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Time<\/th>\n<th>Common Way (Past\/To)<\/th>\n<th>Digital Way<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>1:00<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s one o&#8217;clock.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s one o&#8217;clock.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>2:05<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s five past two.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s two oh five.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>3:15<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s a quarter past three.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s three fifteen.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>4:30<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s half past four.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s four thirty.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>5:40<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s twenty to six.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s five forty.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>6:45<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s a quarter to seven.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s six forty-five.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>\u4f8b<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation>What time is it? It&#8217;s six o&#8217;clock.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>The train leaves at a quarter past eight.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>I have lunch at half past twelve.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>The movie starts at twenty to seven.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Can we meet at four forty-five?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s eight minutes past three.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>\u7df4\u7fd2<\/h2>\n<div class=\"h5p-iframe-wrapper\"><iframe id=\"h5p-iframe-366\" class=\"h5p-iframe\" data-content-id=\"366\" style=\"height:1px\" src=\"about:blank\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"B05 L6 VOCABULARY Time\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"lc-cta lc-cta-whatsapp\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding:30px;margin:30px 0;text-align:center;color:#fff;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#3DB16A,#1f8a4c);\"><h3 style=\"color:#fff;font-size:22px;font-weight:800;margin:0 0 8px;\">\ud83d\udcac \u500b\u5225\u306e\u30a2\u30c9\u30d0\u30a4\u30b9\u304c\u5fc5\u8981\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f<\/h3><p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;opacity:.95;\">\u5f53\u6821\u306f\u30b1\u30f3\u30d6\u30ea\u30c3\u30b8\u8a66\u9a13\u306e\u516c\u8a8d\u6e96\u5099\u30bb\u30f3\u30bf\u30fc\u3068\u3057\u3066\u3001\u7686\u69d8\u306b\u6700\u9069\u306a\u30b3\u30fc\u30b9\u3084\u8cc7\u683c\u53d6\u5f97\u3078\u306e\u9053\u3092\u3054\u6848\u5185\u3044\u305f\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002\u305c\u3072\u4eca\u3059\u3050\u30a2\u30c9\u30d0\u30a4\u30b6\u30fc\u306b\u3054\u76f8\u8ac7\u304f\u3060\u3055\u3044\u3002.<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/51980473286\" style=\"display:inline-block;margin-top:8px;padding:13px 30px;border-radius:8px;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;background:#fff;color:#1f8a4c;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WhatsApp\u3067\u30a2\u30c9\u30d0\u30a4\u30b6\u30fc\u3068\u30c1\u30e3\u30c3\u30c8<\/a><\/div>\n<h2>\u30b9\u30da\u30a4\u30f3\u8a9e\u8a71\u8005\u304c\u3088\u304f\u72af\u3059\u9593\u9055\u3044<\/h2>\n<p>Spanish speakers sometimes make these mistakes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Using &#8216;hour&#8217; instead of &#8216;time&#8217;:<\/strong> In Spanish, you might say &#8216;\u00bfQu\u00e9 hora es?&#8217;. In English, we say <span data-no-translation>What time is it?<\/span> (NOT: <span data-no-translation>What hour is it?<\/span>)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Missing &#8216;at&#8217; for appointments:<\/strong> In Spanish, &#8216;a las cinco&#8217;. In English, it&#8217;s <span data-no-translation>at five o&#8217;clock<\/span>. (NOT: <span data-no-translation>in five o&#8217;clock<\/span> \u307e\u305f\u306f <span data-no-translation>the five o&#8217;clock<\/span>)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Confusing &#8216;past&#8217; and &#8216;to&#8217;:<\/strong> Remember <span data-no-translation>past<\/span> is for minutes after the hour, and <span data-no-translation>to<\/span> is for minutes before the next hour.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Saying &#8216;and a half&#8217; for 30 minutes:<\/strong> In Spanish, &#8216;y media&#8217;. In English, it&#8217;s <span data-no-translation>half past<\/span>. (NOT: <span data-no-translation>three and a half<\/span> for 3:30)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>\u3088\u304f\u3042\u308b\u8cea\u554f<\/h2>\n<h3>What is the difference between &#8216;AM&#8217; and &#8216;PM&#8217;?<\/h3>\n<p><span data-no-translation>AM<\/span> is for times from midnight (12:00 at night) to just before noon (12:00 in the day). <span data-no-translation>PM<\/span> is for times from noon (12:00 in the day) to just before midnight. For example, <span data-no-translation>7 AM<\/span> is morning, and <span data-no-translation>7 PM<\/span> is evening.<\/p>\n<h3>Do I always need to say &#8216;It&#8217;s&#8217; when telling the time?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, usually. When you answer the question <span data-no-translation>What time is it?<\/span>, you start with <span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s&#8230;<\/span>. For example, <span data-no-translation>It&#8217;s ten o&#8217;clock.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Can I use the digital way for all times?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, the digital way (e.g., <span data-no-translation>three fifteen<\/span>) is always correct and easy to understand. It is very common, especially in informal situations.<\/p>\n<h3>What does &#8216;a quarter&#8217; mean in time?<\/h3>\n<p>A quarter means 15 minutes. So, <span data-no-translation>a quarter past three<\/span> means 15 minutes after 3 (3:15), and <span data-no-translation>a quarter to four<\/span> means 15 minutes before 4 (3:45).<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To tell time in English, you can use two main ways: the &#8216;past\/to&#8217; method or the simpler &#8216;digital&#8217; method. The &#8216;past\/to&#8217; method uses words like past for minutes after the hour and to for minutes before the hour. For example, It&#8217;s ten past three (3:10) or It&#8217;s twenty to five (4:40). The &#8216;digital&#8217; method is very easy: you just say the numbers you see, like It&#8217;s three ten (3:10) or It&#8217;s four forty (4:40). You will also learn special phrases for 15 minutes (a quarter) and 30 minutes (half past). This guide will help you understand both methods clearly. How do you ask about the time? When you want to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":192,"featured_media":272916,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"bwfblock_default_font":"","langcom_teaches":"Clock time","langcom_cefr":"A1","langcom_type":"vocabulary","langcom_faq":"[{\"q\": \"What is the difference between 'AM' and 'PM'?\", \"a\": \"<span data-no-translation>AM<\/span> is for times from midnight (12:00 at night) to just before noon (12:00 in the day). <span data-no-translation>PM<\/span> is for times from noon (12:00 in the day) to just before midnight. For example, <span data-no-translation>7 AM<\/span> is morning, and <span data-no-translation>7 PM<\/span> is evening.\"}, {\"q\": \"Do I always need to say 'It's' when telling the time?\", \"a\": \"Yes, usually. When you answer the question <span data-no-translation>What time is it?<\/span>, you start with <span data-no-translation>It's...<\/span>. For example, <span data-no-translation>It's ten o'clock.<\/span>\"}, {\"q\": \"Can I use the digital way for all times?\", \"a\": \"Yes, the digital way (e.g., <span data-no-translation>three fifteen<\/span>) is always correct and easy to understand. It is very common, especially in informal situations.\"}, {\"q\": \"What does 'a quarter' mean in time?\", \"a\": \"A quarter means 15 minutes. So, <span data-no-translation>a quarter past three<\/span> means 15 minutes after 3 (3:15), and <span data-no-translation>a quarter to four<\/span> means 15 minutes before 4 (3:45).\"}]","rank_math_title":"Learn to Tell Time in English (A1 Level)","rank_math_description":"Master telling time in English with this A1 guide from Langcom. Learn 'o'clock,' 'past,' 'to,' and digital time. Simple explanations for learners.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"tell time in English","rank_math_canonical_url":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[604],"tags":[781,649],"formats":[],"class_list":["post-272789","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-a1-beginner-english","tag-time","tag-vocabulary"],"dsm_author":{"name":"\u30e9\u30a6\u30eb","avatar_url":"https:\/\/cdn.langcom.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/05230819\/1de86ea706740d324aaef3dd8bf0843b.png","archive_link":"https:\/\/langcom.us\/ja\/author\/raulmaguinahamann\/","biodata":""},"dsm_categories":[{"term_name":"A1 Beginner 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