What Are Time-Asking Phrases?
Asking and telling the time is one of the most fundamental communication skills in everyday English. From catching a bus to meeting a friend, knowing how to ask — and answer — time-related questions helps you navigate daily life with confidence. These phrases are short, simple, and used by millions of English speakers every single day.
At the A1 level, time expressions revolve around a handful of key patterns. Once you grasp these core structures, you can handle almost any basic time-related exchange. The vocabulary is straightforward. The grammar is minimal. The impact? Immediate and practical. You will use these phrases from your very first day in an English-speaking environment.
Why Learn This?
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Ask what time it is using standard English phrases
- Understand and respond when someone tells you the time
- Read and say clock times correctly — on the hour, half past, and quarter past/to
- Use time expressions like in the morning, in the afternoon, and at night naturally in sentences
- Distinguish between formal and informal ways of asking the time
- Handle simple time-related conversations in real-life settings
Essential Vocabulary
time - The measured period shown on a clock; what you ask about when you say "What time is it?"
clock - A device that shows the current time, found on walls, phones, and watches
hour - A unit of time equal to 60 minutes; clocks show 12 or 24 hours
minute - A unit of time equal to 60 seconds; there are 60 minutes in one hour
o'clock - Used after a number to indicate an exact hour — for example, "three o'clock" means exactly 3:00
half past - Thirty minutes after the hour; "half past two" means 2:30
quarter past - Fifteen minutes after the hour; "quarter past four" means 4:15
quarter to - Fifteen minutes before the next hour; "quarter to five" means 4:45
noon - Exactly 12:00 in the daytime; the middle of the day
midnight - Exactly 12:00 at night; the middle of the night
early - Before the expected or usual time; the opposite of late
late - After the expected or usual time; not on time
Pronunciation Guide
o'clock - /əˈklɒk/ - Stress on the second syllable; the apostrophe replaces the word "of the"
quarter - /ˈkwɔːr.tər/ - Stress on the first syllable; the "r" is soft in British English
past - /pæst/ - Short "a" sound, rhymes with "fast"
half - /hæf/ - The "l" is silent; rhymes with "staff"
midnight - /ˈmɪd.naɪt/ - Stress on the first syllable; two clear parts: MID + night
What time is it? - /wɒt taɪm ɪz ɪt/ - Natural speech links the words together smoothly
excuse me - /ɪkˈskjuːz miː/ - Stress on "skjuuz"; used politely before asking a question
minute - /ˈmɪn.ɪt/ - Stress on first syllable; do NOT pronounce the "u" like "minoot"
Grammar Structure
Asking the time: Use "What time is it?" or "What time is it, please?" The structure is: Question word + noun + verb.
Answering with exact hours: Use "It is + number + o'clock." — Short form: "It's three o'clock."
Answering with half and quarter: Use "It's half past" or "It's quarter past/to" followed by the hour number.
Important note: With "past", give the previous hour. With "to", give the next hour. For example: 4:45 = quarter to five (not quarter to four).
When To Use
In Public Places
- At a bus stop when you are unsure of the schedule
- In a shop or market when you need to check closing time
- At a train station when you want to confirm departure time
- On the street when your phone has no battery
In Social Situations
- Before a meeting or appointment with a friend
- At school or work to check if a class or session has started
- During a meal when you want to know how long you have been eating
Formal vs. Informal Contexts
- Formal: Always add "excuse me" before asking and "please" in the question
- Informal: A simple "Hey, what time is it?" is perfectly acceptable with friends
- Very casual: "Got the time?" — used among close friends or peers
Digital vs. Traditional Clock Reading
- Digital: say the numbers directly — "It's seven forty-five"
- Traditional: use past/to/half patterns — "It's quarter to eight"
- Both styles are widely understood and correct
Example Sentences
- "Excuse me, what time is it, please?"
- "It's three o'clock."
- "What time is it now?"
- "It's half past seven." (7:30)
- "It's quarter past nine." (9:15)
- "It's quarter to six." (5:45)
- "Do you know what time it is?"
- "It's almost noon."
- "Sorry, I don't have a watch. I don't know the time."
- "The meeting is at ten o'clock in the morning."
- "We have class at half past eight."
- "The train leaves at quarter to four."
Mini Dialogues
Tom: "Excuse me, do you know what time it is?"
Woman: "Yes, it's quarter past three."
Tom: "Thank you so much. The bus comes at half past three, right?"
Woman: "Yes, that's right. Only fifteen minutes to wait."
Tom: "Great. Thank you!"
Student: "Excuse me, what time is it, please?"
Teacher: "It's ten o'clock. Why?"
Student: "The lesson starts at ten, doesn't it?"
Teacher: "Yes, it does. Please sit down."
Student: "Sorry, I'm a little late. Thank you."
Lisa: "Hey, what time is it?"
Mark: "It's half past one."
Lisa: "Oh no! We are late. The film starts at quarter to two!"
Mark: "That's only fifteen minutes from now. Let's go!"
Lisa: "Yes, hurry!"
Customer: "Excuse me, what time do you close tonight?"
Server: "We close at ten o'clock."
Customer: "And what time is it now, please?"
Server: "It's quarter past eight."
Customer: "Perfect. We have enough time. Thank you."
Correct vs. Incorrect Usage
Practical Tips
- The "to" trick: When you see "to" in a time expression, always think of the NEXT hour. Quarter to eight = 7:45. Simple rule. Never forget it.
- Always add "Excuse me": In English-speaking countries, it is considered polite to say "excuse me" before asking a stranger the time. It costs nothing. It makes a strong impression.
- Practice both styles — digital ("seven forty-five") and traditional ("quarter to eight"). Native speakers use both. You should understand both.
- When you do not have a watch or phone, say: "I'm sorry, I don't know the time." This is far more natural than silence or a confused expression.
- Use a.m. and p.m. carefully: "a.m." means before noon. "p.m." means after noon. "8 a.m." is morning. "8 p.m." is evening. Easy to mix up. Vital to get right.
- Set your phone or computer to English and practice reading the time aloud every hour. Just one sentence. Daily habit. Rapid improvement.
Alternative Expressions
Alternative Ways to Ask the Time:
Alternative Ways to Tell the Time (for 3:30):
Expressions for Approximate Time:
Cultural Notes
Punctuality Matters: In most English-speaking cultures — particularly in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia — being on time is a sign of respect. Arriving late to a meeting, class, or appointment without explanation is considered impolite. Knowing how to ask and understand the time is therefore not just a language skill — it is a social one.
12-Hour vs. 24-Hour Format: In everyday conversation, English speakers almost always use the 12-hour clock system. They say "three in the afternoon" or "three p.m." rather than "fifteen hundred hours." The 24-hour format appears mainly on transport timetables and in medical or military contexts. For daily use, stick with 12-hour expressions.
British vs. American Differences: British English commonly uses traditional patterns like "half past" and "quarter to." American English more frequently uses the digital format — saying "seven thirty" instead of "half past seven." Both are correct globally. Both are understood everywhere. Knowing both styles makes you a more versatile, confident communicator.