Telling the Time
Use past and to, or say the digits.
Examples
- It's half past six.
- It's a quarter to nine.
Key rules
- For minutes 1-30 use past: ten past six
- For minutes 31-59 use to: ten to seven
- half past = 30 minutes, a quarter past = 15, a quarter to = 45
- Use o'clock for full hours and at before the time: at 6 o'clock
Common mistakes
- It is half to six → It is half past five
- I wake up in 7 → I wake up at 7
💡 Tip: Past is for the first half of the hour, to for the second half.