Digital time is straightforward:
- 3:00 = "three o'clock"
- 3:15 = "three fifteen"
- 9:45 = "nine forty-five"
Common expressions for analog clocks:
When the minute hand is at 12: use "o'clock"
When the minute hand is at 3: use "quarter past"
- 3:15 = quarter past three
When the minute hand is at 6: use "half past"
When the minute hand is at 9: use "quarter to" (the next hour)
Other minutes:
- 0-30 minutes: use "past" → 3:10 = ten past three
- 31-59 minutes: use "to" (next hour) → 3:50 = ten to four
AM/PM:
- AM = morning (midnight to noon)
- PM = afternoon/evening (noon to midnight)
Practice:
- 7:30 = half past seven / seven thirty
- 8:15 = quarter past eight / eight fifteen
- 6:45 = quarter to seven / six forty-five