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Expressing clock time and talking about parts of the day.
Practice: build the sentences →English uses several patterns to say what time it is, including digital-style readings, o’clock, and expressions with past and to.
For example, six o’clock, six fifteen, quarter past six, and quarter to seven.
It is six o'clock.
Сейчас шесть часов.
"O'clock" is used for exact whole hours.
It is six fifteen.
Сейчас шесть пятнадцать.
Digital-style reading uses hour + minutes.
It is quarter past six.
Сейчас четверть седьмого.
"Quarter past" means fifteen minutes after the hour.
It is quarter to seven.
Сейчас без четверти семь.
"Quarter to" means fifteen minutes before the next hour.
The meeting starts at half past nine.
Встреча начинается в половине десятого.
"Half past" means thirty minutes after the hour.
O'clock is used after whole hours when giving an exact clock time.
For example, It is five o'clock and The meeting starts at nine o'clock.
It is five o'clock.
Сейчас пять часов.
"O'clock" is used after whole hours.
The meeting starts at nine o'clock.
Встреча начинается в девять часов.
"O'clock" follows the hour.
She arrived at seven o'clock.
Она приехала в семь часов.
"O'clock" indicates exact hour.
The train leaves at six o'clock.
Поезд отправляется в шесть часов.
"O'clock" is used with "at".
It is twelve o'clock.
Сейчас двенадцать часов.
"O'clock" can be used for noon or midnight if context is clear.
Times written numerically can be read using the hour followed by the minutes.
For example, 7:15 can be read as seven fifteen and 10:30 as ten thirty.
7:15 is read as seven fifteen.
7:15 читается как семь пятнадцать.
Digital-style reading uses hour + minutes.
10:30 is read as ten thirty.
10:30 читается как десять тридцать.
Minutes are read as a number after the hour.
8:45 is read as eight forty-five.
8:45 читается как восемь сорок пять.
Digital reading uses hour + minutes.
3:20 is read as three twenty.
3:20 читается как три двадцать.
Minutes follow the hour directly.
12:05 is read as twelve oh five.
12:05 читается как двенадцать ноль пять.
"Oh" is used for zero minutes in digital reading.
Quarter past means fifteen minutes after the hour.
For example, 6:15 is quarter past six.
6:15 is quarter past six.
6:15 — это четверть седьмого.
"Quarter past" means fifteen minutes after the hour.
It is quarter past nine.
Сейчас четверть десятого.
"Quarter past" is used with the current hour.
She arrived at quarter past three.
Она приехала в четверть четвёртого.
"Quarter past" indicates 15 minutes after the hour.
The train leaves at quarter past seven.
Поезд отправляется в четверть восьмого.
"Quarter past" + hour.
It is quarter past twelve.
Сейчас четверть первого.
"Quarter past" can be used with 12.
Half past means thirty minutes after the hour.
For example, 6:30 is half past six.
6:30 is half past six.
6:30 — это половина седьмого.
"Half past" means thirty minutes after the hour.
It is half past eight.
Сейчас половина девятого.
"Half past" is used with the current hour.
The meeting starts at half past ten.
Встреча начинается в половине одиннадцатого.
"Half past" + hour.
She called at half past two.
Она позвонила в половине третьего.
"Half past" indicates 30 minutes after the hour.
We left at half past five.
Мы ушли в половине шестого.
"Half past" is common in British English.
Quarter to means fifteen minutes before the next hour.
For example, 6:45 is quarter to seven.
6:45 is quarter to seven.
6:45 — это без четверти семь.
"Quarter to" means fifteen minutes before the next hour.
It is quarter to nine.
Сейчас без четверти девять.
"Quarter to" refers to the next hour.
She arrived at quarter to five.
Она приехала без четверти пять.
"Quarter to" + next hour.
The train leaves at quarter to eight.
Поезд отправляется без четверти восемь.
"Quarter to" indicates 15 minutes before the hour.
It is quarter to twelve.
Сейчас без четверти двенадцать.
"Quarter to" can be used with 12.
Past can be used with a number of minutes to identify a time after the current hour.
For example, 6:10 is ten past six and 6:20 is twenty past six.
6:10 is ten past six.
6:10 — это десять минут седьмого.
"Past" is used for minutes after the hour.
6:20 is twenty past six.
6:20 — это двадцать минут седьмого.
"Past" + minutes + current hour.
It is five past seven.
Сейчас пять минут восьмого.
"Past" with minutes after the hour.
She called at twenty-five past three.
Она позвонила в двадцать пять минут четвёртого.
"Past" is used with multiples of five.
The meeting starts at ten past nine.
Встреча начинается в десять минут десятого.
"Past" indicates minutes after the hour.
To can be used with a number of minutes to identify a time before the next hour.
For example, 6:50 is ten to seven and 6:40 is twenty to seven.
6:50 is ten to seven.
6:50 — это без десяти семь.
"To" is used for minutes before the next hour.
6:40 is twenty to seven.
6:40 — это без двадцати семь.
"To" + minutes + next hour.
It is five to eight.
Сейчас без пяти восемь.
"To" with minutes before the hour.
She arrived at twenty-five to four.
Она приехала без двадцати пяти четыре.
"To" is used with multiples of five.
The train leaves at ten to nine.
Поезд отправляется без десяти девять.
"To" indicates minutes before the next hour.
Minutes in multiples of five can commonly be expressed with past or to.
For example, 8:05 is five past eight and 8:55 is five to nine.
8:05 is five past eight.
8:05 — это пять минут девятого.
"Five past" means five minutes after the hour.
8:55 is five to nine.
8:55 — это без пяти девять.
"Five to" means five minutes before the next hour.
It is five past six.
Сейчас пять минут седьмого.
"Five past" + current hour.
It is five to seven.
Сейчас без пяти семь.
"Five to" + next hour.
She called at five past ten.
Она позвонила в пять минут одиннадцатого.
"Five past" is common in everyday speech.
O'clock normally occurs only with whole hours, while minutes are used when the time is not exactly on the hour.
For example, five o'clock but five twenty for 5:20.
It is five o'clock.
Сейчас пять часов.
"O'clock" is used only for whole hours.
It is five twenty.
Сейчас пять двадцать.
Minutes are used when the time is not exactly on the hour.
The meeting is at three o'clock.
Встреча в три часа.
"O'clock" for exact hour.
The meeting is at three fifteen.
Встреча в три пятнадцать.
Minutes are used for non-exact times.
It is nine forty-five.
Сейчас девять сорок пять.
Digital reading with minutes.
Noon refers to 12:00 in the middle of the day and midnight refers to 12:00 at night.
For example, The meeting starts at noon and We arrived at midnight.
The meeting starts at noon.
Встреча начинается в полдень.
"Noon" refers to 12:00 in the middle of the day.
We arrived at midnight.
Мы приехали в полночь.
"Midnight" refers to 12:00 at night.
Lunch is at noon.
Обед в полдень.
"Noon" is 12 p.m.
The party ended at midnight.
Вечеринка закончилась в полночь.
"Midnight" is 12 a.m.
She called at noon.
Она позвонила в полдень.
"Noon" is used without "at" sometimes? Actually "at noon" is correct. Here note: "noon" takes "at".
Midday refers approximately to the middle of the day and is commonly used as a synonym for noon.
For example, We arrived around midday.
We arrived around midday.
Мы приехали около полудня.
"Midday" refers approximately to the middle of the day.
The sun is highest at midday.
Солнце выше всего в полдень.
"Midday" is often a synonym for noon.
We stopped for lunch at midday.
Мы остановились на обед в полдень.
"Midday" is used for the middle of the day.
It was very hot at midday.
В полдень было очень жарко.
"Midday" is common in British English.
The meeting is scheduled for midday.
Встреча назначена на полдень.
"Midday" can be used in schedules.
A.M. and p.m. distinguish times before and after noon in the twelve-hour clock system.
For example, 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
The meeting is at 8 a.m.
Встреча в 8 утра.
"A.m." means before noon.
The party starts at 8 p.m.
Вечеринка начинается в 8 вечера.
"P.m." means after noon.
I wake up at 7 a.m.
Я просыпаюсь в 7 утра.
"A.m." is used for morning times.
She goes to bed at 11 p.m.
Она ложится спать в 11 вечера.
"P.m." is used for evening times.
The train leaves at 6:30 a.m.
Поезд отправляется в 6:30 утра.
"A.m." can follow a digital time.
The expressions 12 a.m. and 12 p.m. can be ambiguous or confusing, so noon and midnight are often clearer.
For example, write 12 noon or 12 midnight when absolute clarity is important.
The event starts at 12 noon.
Мероприятие начинается в 12 часов дня.
"12 noon" is clearer than "12 p.m."
We left at 12 midnight.
Мы ушли в 12 часов ночи.
"12 midnight" is clearer than "12 a.m."
The deadline is 12 noon tomorrow.
Крайний срок — завтра в полдень.
Using "noon" avoids ambiguity.
The shop closes at 12 midnight.
Магазин закрывается в полночь.
Using "midnight" avoids ambiguity.
12 a.m. can mean midnight, but it is often confusing.
12 a.m. может означать полночь, но это часто сбивает с толку.
Better to say "midnight" for clarity.
The twenty-four-hour clock expresses times from 00:00 through 23:59 without a.m. or p.m.
For example, 18:30 represents 6:30 p.m.
18:30 represents 6:30 p.m.
18:30 соответствует 6:30 вечера.
The 24-hour clock runs from 00:00 to 23:59.
The train leaves at 14:15.
Поезд отправляется в 14:15.
No a.m. or p.m. is used.
The meeting is at 09:00.
Встреча в 09:00.
Morning hours are written with a leading zero.
The shop closes at 22:00.
Магазин закрывается в 22:00.
Evening hours use 13–23.
The flight departs at 06:45.
Рейс вылетает в 06:45.
24-hour clock is common in schedules.
Twenty-four-hour times can be read using the hour and minutes, with local conventions varying by context.
For example, 14:05 can be read as fourteen oh five or two oh five p.m. when converted to the twelve-hour system.
14:05 can be read as fourteen oh five.
14:05 можно прочитать как четырнадцать ноль пять.
24-hour times can be read hour + minutes.
14:05 can also be read as two oh five p.m.
14:05 также можно прочитать как два ноль пять дня.
Conversion to 12-hour system is common.
18:30 is read as eighteen thirty or six thirty p.m.
18:30 читается как восемнадцать тридцать или шесть тридцать вечера.
Both readings are possible.
09:00 is read as nine hundred hours in military contexts.
09:00 читается как девятьсот часов в военном контексте.
Military style uses "hundred hours".
21:45 is read as twenty-one forty-five or nine forty-five p.m.
21:45 читается как двадцать один сорок пять или девять сорок пять вечера.
Local conventions vary.
Oh can be used when reading a zero in the minutes position, especially in timetables and spoken digital times.
For example, 7:05 can be read as seven oh five.
7:05 can be read as seven oh five.
7:05 можно прочитать как семь ноль пять.
"Oh" is used for zero in the minutes position.
The train leaves at 8:05, read as eight oh five.
Поезд отправляется в 8:05, читается как восемь ноль пять.
"Oh" is common in timetables.
The meeting is at 9:05, nine oh five.
Встреча в 9:05, девять ноль пять.
"Oh" replaces zero in spoken digital times.
10:05 is ten oh five.
10:05 — это десять ноль пять.
"Oh" is used for the zero minute.
She arrived at 6:05, six oh five.
Она приехала в 6:05, шесть ноль пять.
"Oh" is standard in this context.
Digital-style readings normally pronounce the minutes as a number following the hour.
For example, 10:15 is ten fifteen and 10:45 is ten forty-five.
10:15 is ten fifteen.
10:15 — это десять пятнадцать.
Digital-style reading uses hour + minutes.
10:45 is ten forty-five.
10:45 — это десять сорок пять.
Minutes are pronounced as a number.
The meeting is at 10:15, ten fifteen.
Встреча в 10:15, десять пятнадцать.
Digital reading is straightforward.
She called at 10:45, ten forty-five.
Она позвонила в 10:45, десять сорок пять.
Minutes follow the hour.
The train leaves at 10:30, ten thirty.
Поезд отправляется в 10:30, десять тридцать.
Digital-style reading is common.
Past refers to minutes after the current hour, while to refers to minutes remaining before the next hour.
For example, 7:55 is five to eight, not five to seven.
7:55 is five to eight.
7:55 — это без пяти восемь.
"To" refers to the next hour, not the current one.
5:10 is ten past five.
5:10 — это десять минут шестого.
"Past" refers to the current hour.
6:50 is ten to seven.
6:50 — это без десяти семь.
"To" points to the next hour.
4:55 is five to five.
4:55 — это без пяти пять.
Correct: "five to five" for 4:55.
8:20 is twenty past eight.
8:20 — это двадцать минут девятого.
"Past" uses the current hour.
At is normally used before a specific clock time.
For example, The train leaves at 7:30.
The train leaves at 7:30.
Поезд отправляется в 7:30.
"At" is used before a specific clock time.
The meeting starts at 9 o'clock.
Встреча начинается в 9 часов.
"At" precedes the time.
She arrived at 6:45.
Она приехала в 6:45.
"At" with exact time.
We will meet at noon.
Мы встретимся в полдень.
"At" is used with "noon".
The show begins at 8 p.m.
Шоу начинается в 8 вечера.
"At" with a.m./p.m.
From ... to or until can identify the beginning and end of a period measured by clock time.
For example, The office is open from 9 to 5 and We waited until 6.
The office is open from 9 to 5.
Офис открыт с 9 до 5.
"From ... to" indicates a time period.
We waited until 6.
Мы ждали до 6.
"Until" marks the end of a period.
The shop is open from 10 to 8.
Магазин открыт с 10 до 8.
"From ... to" with clock times.
She worked until midnight.
Она работала до полуночи.
"Until" with "midnight".
The meeting lasted from 2 to 4.
Встреча длилась с 2 до 4.
"From ... to" with times.
By indicates a deadline no later than a particular time.
For example, Please be here by 8:00.
Please be here by 8:00.
Пожалуйста, будьте здесь к 8:00.
"By" indicates a deadline.
Submit the form by 5 p.m.
Отправьте форму до 5 вечера.
"By" means no later than that time.
The report is due by 9 a.m.
Отчёт должен быть сдан к 9 утра.
"By" with a.m.
You must finish by noon.
Ты должен закончить к полудню.
"By" with "noon".
We need it by 6:30.
Нам это нужно к 6:30.
"By" before a specific time.
Around and about can indicate an approximate clock time.
For example, Come at around six and We should arrive about 8:30.
Come at around six.
Приходите около шести.
"Around" indicates approximation.
We should arrive about 8:30.
Мы должны прибыть около 8:30.
"About" means approximately.
The meeting is around 10.
Встреча около 10.
"Around" with clock time.
She will be here at about 7.
Она будет здесь около 7.
"About" before time.
We left around midnight.
Мы ушли около полуночи.
"Around" with "midnight".
Expressions such as just before and just after identify a time immediately on either side of a reference time.
For example, We arrived just before six and She called just after noon.
We arrived just before six.
Мы приехали как раз перед шестью.
"Just before" means immediately before.
She called just after noon.
Она позвонила сразу после полудня.
"Just after" means immediately after.
He left just before 8.
Он ушёл прямо перед 8.
"Just before" with a time.
The train departed just after 7.
Поезд отправился сразу после 7.
"Just after" with a time.
We met just before midnight.
Мы встретились прямо перед полуночью.
"Just before" with "midnight".
In is normally used with morning, afternoon, and evening when referring generally to a part of the day.
For example, at 8 in the morning and We arrived in the evening.
I wake up at 8 in the morning.
Я просыпаюсь в 8 утра.
"In the morning" is used for a general part of the day.
We arrived in the evening.
Мы приехали вечером.
"In the evening" is used for a general part of the day.
She studies in the afternoon.
Она учится днём.
"In the afternoon" is used for a general part of the day.
The meeting is in the morning.
Встреча утром.
"In the morning" without a specific time.
I work best in the morning.
Я лучше всего работаю утром.
"In the morning" refers to the morning period.
At is normally used with night when referring generally to the nighttime period.
For example, I work at night.
I work at night.
Я работаю ночью.
"At night" is the standard expression.
The city is beautiful at night.
Город красив ночью.
"At night" refers to the nighttime period.
She reads at night.
Она читает ночью.
"At night" is used for general nighttime.
We drove home at night.
Мы ехали домой ночью.
"At night" with an action.
The shop is closed at night.
Магазин закрыт ночью.
"At night" for general time.
Early and late can modify clock times or parts of the day to indicate relative position within a period.
For example, early in the morning, late at night, and early at 7 a.m.
She gets up early in the morning.
Она встаёт рано утром.
"Early" modifies the part of the day.
He works late at night.
Он работает поздно ночью.
"Late" modifies the part of the day.
We arrived early at 7 a.m.
Мы приехали рано, в 7 утра.
"Early" with a specific time.
She left late at 11 p.m.
Она ушла поздно, в 11 вечера.
"Late" with a specific time.
The meeting is early tomorrow.
Встреча рано завтра.
"Early" can modify a day.
At what time is a formal or explicit way to ask about a clock time, while what time is more common in ordinary conversation.
For example, At what time does the meeting begin? and What time does the meeting begin?
At what time does the meeting begin?
Во сколько начинается встреча?
"At what time" is formal.
What time does the meeting begin?
Во сколько начинается встреча?
"What time" is more common in conversation.
At what time should we arrive?
Во сколько нам следует прийти?
"At what time" is explicit.
What time is the train?
Во сколько поезд?
"What time" is standard informal.
At what time does the shop open?
Во сколько открывается магазин?
Formal inquiry about time.
Schedules and timetables commonly use digital twenty-four-hour notation or concise hour-and-minute forms.
For example, 07:30, 14:45, and 21:10.
The train leaves at 07:30.
Поезд отправляется в 07:30.
Schedules use 24-hour notation.
The meeting is at 14:45.
Встреча в 14:45.
24-hour time is common in schedules.
The flight departs at 21:10.
Рейс вылетает в 21:10.
24-hour format avoids ambiguity.
Office hours: 09:00–17:00.
Часы работы: 09:00–17:00.
Concise hour-and-minute forms.
The bus arrives at 06:15.
Автобус прибывает в 06:15.
Schedules often use leading zeros.
Past and half-past expressions describe times relative to the current hour rather than simply reading the digits.
For example, half past eight and twenty-five past nine.
It is half past eight.
Сейчас половина девятого.
"Half past" describes 30 minutes after the hour.
It is twenty-five past nine.
Сейчас двадцать пять минут десятого.
"Past" describes minutes after the hour.
The meeting is at half past ten.
Встреча в половине одиннадцатого.
"Half past" + hour.
She arrived at twenty past six.
Она приехала в двадцать минут седьмого.
"Past" with minutes.
We left at half past five.
Мы ушли в половине шестого.
"Half past" is common in British English.
To and quarter expressions refer forward to the next hour.
For example, quarter to five and ten to twelve.
It is quarter to five.
Сейчас без четверти пять.
"Quarter to" refers to 15 minutes before the next hour.
It is ten to twelve.
Сейчас без десяти двенадцать.
"To" with minutes before the next hour.
The meeting is at quarter to nine.
Встреча без четверти девять.
"Quarter to" + next hour.
She arrived at ten to six.
Она приехала без десяти шесть.
"To" with minutes.
We left at quarter to seven.
Мы ушли без четверти семь.
"Quarter to" is common.
Both British and American English use digital-style readings and o'clock, while preferences for expressions such as half past and quarter past can vary by speaker and context.
Regional differences are generally smaller for telling time than for some other number and date conventions.
Both British and American English use "half past".
И британский, и американский английский используют «half past».
Regional differences are small for time.
Digital-style readings are common in both varieties.
Цифровое чтение времени распространено в обоих вариантах.
Both use digital-style readings.
O'clock is used in both British and American English.
«O'clock» используется и в британском, и в американском английском.
O'clock is universal.
Preferences for "quarter past" can vary by speaker.
Предпочтения «quarter past» могут различаться у разных говорящих.
Variation exists but is minor.
Both varieties understand "ten to seven".
Оба варианта понимают «ten to seven».
Past and to are widely understood.
Approximate expressions can be combined with clock times to avoid presenting an inexact time as exact.
For example, at about five, around 5:30, and just before seven.
Come at about five.
Приходите около пяти.
"About" indicates approximation.
We should arrive around 5:30.
Мы должны прибыть около 5:30.
"Around" indicates approximation.
She called just before seven.
Она позвонила прямо перед семью.
"Just before" indicates a time immediately before.
The meeting is at approximately 10.
Встреча примерно в 10.
"Approximately" is formal approximation.
We left around midnight.
Мы ушли около полуночи.
"Around" with midnight.
Written numerical time and spoken time expressions do not always use the same surface form.
For example, 6:45 can be written numerically and spoken as six forty-five or quarter to seven.
6:45 can be written numerically and spoken as six forty-five.
6:45 можно написать цифрами и произнести как шесть сорок пять.
Written form and spoken form can differ.
6:45 can also be spoken as quarter to seven.
6:45 также можно произнести как без четверти семь.
Spoken form may use past/to.
9:30 is written as 9:30 and spoken as half past nine.
9:30 пишется как 9:30 и произносится как половина десятого.
Digital and traditional forms.
The train leaves at 7:15, spoken as quarter past seven.
Поезд отправляется в 7:15, произносится как четверть восьмого.
Written and spoken forms differ.
2:50 is written as 2:50 and spoken as ten to three.
2:50 пишется как 2:50 и произносится как без десяти три.
Spoken form uses "to".
Use the correct hour with past and to, distinguish noon and midnight, choose appropriate a.m. and p.m. forms, and use at before specific clock times.
Common mistakes include saying five to five for 4:55 instead of five to five only when referring to 4:55, confusing quarter past with quarter to, using in before exact times, and writing ambiguous 12 a.m. or 12 p.m. when clarity matters.
4:55 is five to five.
4:55 — это без пяти пять.
Correct: "five to five" for 4:55.
6:15 is quarter past six.
6:15 — это четверть седьмого.
Correct: "quarter past" not "quarter to".
The meeting is at 9 o'clock.
Встреча в 9 часов.
Correct: use "at" before clock time.
12 noon is clearer than 12 a.m.
12 дня яснее, чем 12 a.m.
Avoid ambiguous 12 a.m./p.m.
7:55 is five to eight.
7:55 — это без пяти восемь.
Correct: "to" refers to the next hour.