Lesson No 3B-Telling The Time
Telling The Time
Understanding and being able to tell the time is an essential skill. Here’s a guide to help you master this important aspect of English, including common phrases used for telling the time, as well as their pronunciations in Devanagari script.
Understanding the Clock
A clock is divided into 12 hours, with each hour consisting of 60 minutes. Here are some basics:
- Hour Hand: The shorter hand that shows the current hour.
- Minute Hand: The longer hand that shows the current minute.
- Second Hand: Sometimes, there is a third hand that shows the seconds.
Common Phrases for Telling the Time
| English Phrase | Pronunciation (Devanagari) | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| What time is it? | व्हाट टाइम इज़ इट? | Asking for the current time |
| It is [hour] o’clock | इट इज़ [hour] ओ’क्लॉक | Telling the exact hour |
| It is half past [hour] | इट इज़ हाफ पास्ट [hour] | 30 minutes past the hour |
| It is quarter past [hour] | इट इज़ क्वार्टर पास्ट [hour] | 15 minutes past the hour |
| It is quarter to [hour] | इट इज़ क्वार्टर टू [hour] | 15 minutes before the hour |
| It is [minute] past [hour] | इट इज़ [minute] पास्ट [hour] | Specifying minutes past the hour |
| It is [minute] to [hour] | इट इज़ [minute] टू [hour] | Specifying minutes to the hour |
| A.M. (morning) | ए.एम. | Time from midnight to noon |
| P.M. (afternoon and evening) | पी.एम. | Time from noon to midnight |
Examples of Telling the Time
| Time | English Phrase | Pronunciation (Devanagari) |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 | One o’clock | वन ओ’क्लॉक |
| 2:15 | Quarter past two | क्वार्टर पास्ट टू |
| 3:30 | Half past three | हाफ पास्ट थ्री |
| 4:45 | Quarter to five | क्वार्टर टू फाइव |
| 5:10 | Ten past five | टेन पास्ट फाइव |
| 6:50 | Ten to seven | टेन टू सेवन |
| 7:00 | Seven o’clock | सेवन ओ’क्लॉक |
| 8:30 | Half past eight | हाफ पास्ट एट |
| 9:45 | Quarter to ten | क्वार्टर टू टेन |
| 10:20 | Twenty past ten | ट्वेंटी पास्ट टेन |
| 11:40 | Twenty to twelve | ट्वेंटी टू ट्वेल्व |
| 12:00 PM | Twelve noon/Noon | ट्वेल्व नून |
| 12:00 AM | Midnight | मिडनाइट |
Telling Time with Digital Clocks
On digital clocks, time is typically displayed in 24-hour format (military time) or 12-hour format:
24-Hour Format
| Time | English Phrase | Pronunciation (Devanagari) |
|---|---|---|
| 13:00 | Thirteen hundred hours (1:00 PM) | थर्टीन हंड्रेड आवर्स |
| 14:30 | Fourteen thirty hours (2:30 PM) | फोर्टीन थर्टी आवर्स |
| 17:45 | Seventeen forty-five hours (5:45 PM) | सेवेंटीन फोर्टी फाइव आवर्स |
| 20:10 | Twenty ten hours (8:10 PM) | ट्वेंटी टेन आवर्स |
| 23:59 | Twenty-three fifty-nine hours (11:59 PM) | ट्वेंटी-थ्री फिफ्टी-नाइन आवर्स |
12-Hour Format with AM/PM
| Time | English Phrase | Pronunciation (Devanagari) |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 AM | One o’clock in the morning | वन ओ’क्लॉक इन द मॉर्निंग |
| 2:30 PM | Two thirty in the afternoon | टू थर्टी इन द आफ्टरनून |
| 6:15 PM | Six fifteen in the evening | सिक्स फिफ्टीन इन द इवनिंग |
| 9:45 PM | Nine forty-five at night | नाइन फोर्टी-फाइव ऐट नाइट |
| 12:00 PM | Twelve noon / Noon | ट्वेल्व नून / नून |
Tips for Learning to Tell Time
- Practice with Real Clocks: Use both analog and digital clocks for practice.
- Regular Practice: Make it a habit to check and say the time regularly.
- Use Flashcards: Create flashcards with a time on one side and its pronunciation/phrase on the other.
- Games and Apps: Use educational games and mobile apps designed for learning to tell time.
- Daily Routine: Integrate learning into your daily routine by asking yourself or others about the time frequently.
By consistently practicing these concepts, you’ll gain confidence in telling the time in English, enhancing your overall communication skills. Happy learning!
