Day One of Spoken English: Learning How to Tell Time

Hi friends, my name is Kundan Singh.

Today we are starting spoken English from day one. On the very first day, we are going to learn how to tell time in English. You might wonder, why time? Why start with the clock?

When I think about my own life and education, the first thing I remember learning is how to read a clock. I was living in West Bengal at that time. Behind my house, there was a shared courtyard where several families lived. One elder sister who lived there taught me how to read time. She explained the difference between hours, minutes, and seconds. That was the very first lesson I remember clearly.

I do not remember exactly when I got admitted to school, but I clearly remember learning how to see time on a clock. That is why I feel starting spoken English with time is a good idea. My journey started there, so this course will also start from there.

It (It का उपयोग समय, दिन, महीना, मौसम इत्यादि में किया जाता है)

It is (It’s)

११ बजे हैं / ११ बज रहे हैं / ११ बज चुके हैं

It is 11 o’clock (It is 11 of clock)

How to Say Exact Time

Let us say the time is three thirteen. In English, we say: It is thirteen minutes past three.

If the time is exactly three o’clock, we say: It is three o’clock.

We always start with “It is”, then say the hour, and finally add “o’clock” if it is an exact hour.

Morning, Afternoon, and Evening

Sometimes, just saying the time is not enough. We also need to tell whether it is morning, afternoon, or evening.

For example:

• It is three o’clock in the morning
• It is three o’clock in the afternoon
• It is six o’clock in the evening

You can also say “at noon” for afternoon time if needed.

Minutes Past the Hour बजकर (Past)

बजकर (Past): It is + मिनट + Past + बजे

It is 23 minutes past 11

If the time is three minutes past three, we say: It is three minutes past three.

When the minutes are five, ten, fifteen, twenty, or twenty-five, you do not need to say “minutes”.

For example:

• 3:10 → It is ten past three
• 3:15 → It is fifteen past three
• 3:20 → It is twenty past three

But if the minutes are not in multiples of five, you must say “minutes”. For example: It is six minutes past three.

Minutes To the Next Hour बाकी हैं (To)

बाकी हैं (To): दस बजने में २० मिनट बाकी हैं

It is 20 to 10

It is 19 minutes to 11

If the time is ten minutes before three o’clock, we say: It is ten to three.

If it is nine minutes before four o’clock, we say: It is nine minutes to four.

The rule is simple: first say the remaining minutes, then use “to”, and then say the next hour.

Using “Getting” for Almost Time | बजने वाला है (Getting)

Sometimes we say that the time is about to change, like it is almost three o’clock. In that case, we say: It is getting three o’clock.

बजने वाला है (Getting): साढ़े ११ बजने वाला है

It is getting 11 o’clock

It is getting half past 11

It is getting quarter to 11

You can also add morning, afternoon, or evening if needed.

Using “Sharp” for Exact Time (ठीक)

If you want to say the time is exact, not early and not late, you can use the word “sharp”.

For example:

• It is sharp ten past three(3:10)
• It is sharp five to four (3:55)

“Sharp” means exact time.

Sharp (ठीक): ठीक ११ बज रहे हैं

It is sharp 11 o’clock

It is sharp quarter to 11

It is sharp quarter past 11

Half and Quarter

Half = 30, Quarter = 15

हाफ मतलब 30 मिनट, क्वार्टर मतलब 15 मिनट

When the time is thirty minutes past an hour, we say: It is half past three.

You can also say: It is thirty past three.

When the time is fifteen minutes past an hour, we say: It is quarter past three.

You can also say: It is fifteen past three.

Final Words

This is all for today’s lesson. If you feel I made any mistake, please comment and correct me. That is very important because I am also learning.

Thank you for reading. We will meet again in the next lesson. Bye.