26
What time is it?
Textbook: p. 31
GoalTelling the time: o’clock, half past, quarter past, quarter to.
New words
o’clock · soat (aniq)half · yarimquarter · chorakminute · daqiqa
Explanation
We ask the time with “What time is it?” Answer: “It’s ...”. On the hour: 9.00 – “It’s nine o’clock.” 9.30 – “It’s half past nine.” 9.15 – “It’s quarter past nine.” 9.45 – “It’s quarter to ten.” A quarter is 15 minutes, a half is 30 minutes. Past means after, to means before the next hour. For the time of an event we use at: “School starts at eight o’clock.” Remember: “It’s” for the clock, “at” for when something happens.
Worked examples
It’s half past four. The break is at quarter past ten. My lessons start at eight o’clock and finish at quarter to two.
— What time is it? — It’s quarter to six. — Is the football lesson at half past five? — Yes, it is, after school.
Class activity
“Clock game”: with paper clocks the teacher shows a time and pupils answer “It’s ...”. Then in pairs.
Practice
1
Write in words: 7.30
It’s half past seven.
2
Write in words: 3.45
It’s quarter to four.
3
Ask: What is the time?
What time is it?
4
Why do we say 5.15 as “quarter past five”?
15 minutes is a quarter of an hour and it is past five.