4
Half past
Learner’s Book 1: Unit 8, pp. 114–117
GoalRead and say half past times when the long hand points to 6.
New words
half past · 30 minutes after the hourhalf · one of two equal partslong hand · the minute hand
Explanation
Half past is a different time. The long hand points to 6, at the bottom of the clock. The long hand has gone half way round. The short hand has moved too. It is half way between two numbers. Look at the short hand: it has passed one number and is not at the next number yet. If it has passed 3, we say half past 3. We read the number it has just passed.
Worked examples
The long hand points to 6. The short hand is between 8 and 9. It has passed 8. It is half past 8.
Long hand on 6. The short hand has passed 6 and is going towards 7. It is half past 6.
At 5 o’clock the long hand points to 12. At half past 5 the long hand points to 6.
Class activity
Time match: draw 4 clocks on paper, two showing o’clock times and two showing half past times. Write each time on its own small card. Mix up the cards and ask a partner to match each card to its clock.
Practice
1
What time does the clock show?
half past 5
2
What time does the clock show?
half past 2
3
What time does the clock show?
6 o’clock
4
The long hand points to 6 and the short hand is between 4 and 5. What time is it?
half past 4