How to Tell Time in English: Vocabulary and Dialogues

Use this role play to practice telling the time. Make sure you know how to use the twelve-hour clock to speak about times in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening. Use the preposition "at" to speak about specific times.

• Excuse me, could you tell me the time, please?
• What time is it?
• It's half past...
• It's quarter past...
• It's ten to...
• It's quarter to...
• It's twenty to
• It's twenty past
• It's ten forty-five.
• 1:00 — One o’clock
• 2:00 — Two o’clock
• 3:00 — Three o’clock
• 4:00 — Four o’clock
• 5:00 — Five o’clock
• 6:00 — Six o’clock
• 7:00 — Seven o’clock
• 8:00 — Eight o’clock
• 9:00 — Nine o’clock
• 10:00 — Ten o’clock
• 11:00 — Eleven o’clock
• 12:00 — Twelve o’clock

There are many ways to talk about the time of day in English without using an exact time. Here are some of those vocabulary words.

• Dawn: Early morning before or just as the sun rises.
• Sunrise: When the sun rises.
• Sunset: When the sun sets.
• Noon: Exactly 12 P.M.
• Midnight: Exactly 12 A.M.
• Midday: The stretch of time in the middle of the day, from approximately 11 am to 1 pm.
• Afternoon: Literally, the hours afternoon, but more specifically from 1 to 4 P.M.
• Early: The morning hours, approximately before 9 A.M.
• Day/daytime
• Twilight: The time just before the stars come out.
• Dusk: Early evening, just before or as the sun is setting.
• Early evening: From about 4:30 to 6 P.M.
• Evening: The period of time after sunset but before night.
• Late: The evening hours, approximately after 11 P.M.
• Night/nighttime
• o'clock
• A.M.--Used with a 12-hour clock for talking about times before noon and after midnight.
• P.M.--Used with a 12-hour clock for talking about times before midnight and afternoon.

• Jane: Could you tell me the time, please?
  
• Steve: Certainly. It's 3 P.M.
  
• Jane: That late? I thought it was early afternoon still.
  
• Steve: Time flies when you are busy. Did you enjoy your morning?
  
• Jane: I did, but now I have to rush in order to get home before dusk.
  
• Steve: Have a good evening. See you back here tomorrow bright and early!
  
• Jane: Yes! I'll arrive by dawn or shortly thereafter.