Year 4: Reading to the nearest minute, and clocks with Roman numerals
Part of the Year 4 telling the time and the 24-hour clock chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page · Download worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF)
Reading to the nearest minute, and clocks with Roman numerals
Between one number and the next on a clock face there are 5 small gaps. Each small gap is 1 minute. So we can read the time to the nearest minute.
How to read the minutes. Look at the minute hand. Find the last number it has passed. Count in fives to that number. Then count on the small marks.
Past or to? If the minute hand is on the right-hand side (up to 30 minutes), say how many minutes past. If it is on the left-hand side, say how many minutes are left to the next hour. To find the minutes to the next hour take the minutes away from 60. At 7:47, 60 − 47 = 13, so it is 13 minutes to 8.
Where is the hour hand? The hour hand moves slowly all the time. Halfway through the hour it is halfway between two numbers. Just before the next hour it is nearly at the next number, but the hour is still the smaller number.
Roman numeral clocks. Some clocks use Roman numerals instead of 1 to 12. You read the hands in just the same way. The minute hand counts in fives from the XII.
I = 1 II = 2 III = 3 IV = 4 V = 5 VI = 6 VII = 7 VIII = 8 IX = 9 X = 10 XI = 11 XII = 12
Some clocks write 4 as IIII instead of IV. It still means 4. On a clock face with no numbers at all, use the long marks: the top is 12, the right is 3, the bottom is 6 and the left is 9.
Key ideas
- Each number on the clock is 5 minutes. Each small mark is 1 minute.
- To read the minutes: count in fives to the last number passed, then count on the small marks.
- Up to 30 minutes say past. After 30 minutes, take the minutes from 60 and say to the next hour.
- The hour is the number the short hand has passed. At 5:55 the hour hand is nearly at 6, but the hour is 5.
- Roman numerals: I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII. The XII is at the top. Read the hands the same way.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. Find the hour and the minutes. If the minutes are 30 or fewer say past. If they are more than 30, work out how many minutes are left to the next hour.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 7 and 8. It has passed 7 but has not reached 8, so the hour is 7.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 4 and is 3 small marks further on.
The 4 is 4 × 5 = 20 minutes. Now count on 3.
20 + 3 = 23 minutes - Say it with past or to. Up to 30 minutes we say past. After 30 minutes we count the minutes left to the next hour and say to.23 minutes after 7: 23 minutes past 7
Check. In numbers this is 7:23. ✓
Watch out. Do not mix up the two hands. The short, thick hand shows the hour. The long, thin hand shows the minutes.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. Find the hour and the minutes. If the minutes are 30 or fewer say past. If they are more than 30, work out how many minutes are left to the next hour.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 4 and 5. It has passed 4 but has not reached 5, so the hour is 4.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 9 and is 2 small marks further on.
The 9 is 9 × 5 = 45 minutes. Now count on 2.
45 + 2 = 47 minutes - Say it with past or to. Up to 30 minutes we say past. After 30 minutes we count the minutes left to the next hour and say to.60 − 47 = 13 minutes before 5: 13 minutes to 5
Check. In numbers this is 4:47. ✓
Watch out. Use the hour the short hand has passed, even when the minute hand is nearly round to the next hour.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. The short hand gives the hour and the long hand gives the minutes. Write them with a colon between.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 11 and 12. It has passed 11 but has not reached 12, so the hour is 11.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 1 and is 3 small marks further on.
The 1 is 1 × 5 = 5 minutes. Now count on 3.
5 + 3 = 8 minutes - Write the time in numbers. A digital time is the hour, a colon, then the minutes. The minutes always have two digits.hour 11, minutes 08 → 11:08
Check. In words this is eight minutes past eleven. ✓
Watch out. Do not mix up the two hands. The short, thick hand shows the hour. The long, thin hand shows the minutes.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. Find the hour and the minutes. If the minutes are 30 or fewer say past. If they are more than 30, work out how many minutes are left to the next hour.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 2 and 3. It has passed 2 but has not reached 3, so the hour is 2.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 11 and is 3 small marks further on.
The 11 is 11 × 5 = 55 minutes. Now count on 3.
55 + 3 = 58 minutes - Say it with past or to. Up to 30 minutes we say past. After 30 minutes we count the minutes left to the next hour and say to.60 − 58 = 2 minutes before 3: 2 minutes to 3
Check. In numbers this is 2:58. ✓
Watch out. Use the hour the short hand has passed, even when the minute hand is nearly round to the next hour.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. The short hand gives the hour and the long hand gives the minutes. Write them with a colon between.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 9 and 10. It has passed 9 but has not reached 10, so the hour is 9.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 2 and is 2 small marks further on.
The 2 is 2 × 5 = 10 minutes. Now count on 2.
10 + 2 = 12 minutes - Write the time in numbers. A digital time is the hour, a colon, then the minutes. The minutes always have two digits.hour 9, minutes 12 → 9:12
Check. In words this is twelve minutes past nine. ✓
Watch out. Do not mix up the two hands. The short, thick hand shows the hour. The long, thin hand shows the minutes.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. Find the hour and the minutes. If the minutes are 30 or fewer say past. If they are more than 30, work out how many minutes are left to the next hour.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 10 and 11. It has passed 10 but has not reached 11, so the hour is 10.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 7 and is 2 small marks further on.
The 7 is 7 × 5 = 35 minutes. Now count on 2.
35 + 2 = 37 minutes - Say it with past or to. Up to 30 minutes we say past. After 30 minutes we count the minutes left to the next hour and say to.60 − 37 = 23 minutes before 11: 23 minutes to 11
Check. In numbers this is 10:37. ✓
Watch out. Use the hour the short hand has passed, even when the minute hand is nearly round to the next hour.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. The short hand gives the hour and the long hand gives the minutes. Write them with a colon between.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 8 and 9. It has passed 8 but has not reached 9, so the hour is 8.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 3 and is 4 small marks further on.
The 3 is 3 × 5 = 15 minutes. Now count on 4.
15 + 4 = 19 minutes - Write the time in numbers. A digital time is the hour, a colon, then the minutes. The minutes always have two digits.hour 8, minutes 19 → 8:19
Check. In words this is nineteen minutes past eight. ✓
Watch out. Do not mix up the two hands. The short, thick hand shows the hour. The long, thin hand shows the minutes.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. The hour hand and the minute hand must agree. Look at the minute hand first.
- Read the minute hand. The minute hand points at the 11. Count in fives: 5, 10, ... 55.11 × 5 = 55 minutes
- Think about the hour hand. It is nearly at the 6, but not quite there. At 55 minutes past the hour the hour hand is almost at the next number.The hour hand has passed the 5 but not reached the 6.
- Find the hour. The hour is the number the short hand has passed.The hour is 5.
- Write the time. The time is 5:55, which is 5 minutes to 6. It is not 6:55.
Check. 5:55 is only 5 minutes before 6 o’clock, so the hour hand is nearly on the 6. ✓
Watch out. Do not say the hour hand has reached the 6 until it is exactly on it.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. Work out where both hands should be. Then check each clock.
- Say the time we want: 6:37. We need the hour and the minutes in numbers.6:37
- Find where the minute hand should point. The long hand shows the minutes.The minute hand is 2 small marks after the 7 (35 + 2 = 37 minutes).
- Find where the hour hand should be. The short hand shows the hour.The hour hand is between 6 and 7 (it has passed 6).
- Check each clock. Read each clock. The right one has both hands in the right places.A: shows 6:37 ✓
B: shows 6:23 × not a match
C: shows 7:32 × not a match
D: shows 5:37 × not a match - Choose the clock. A
Check. Clock A has the minute hand at 37 minutes and the hour hand past 6. ✓
Watch out. A clock with the hands the wrong way round (short hand for minutes) shows a different time.
Watch out
Count carefully from the last number. Do not just read the number the hand is nearest to. At 4:23 the hand is nearest to the 5 (25 minutes) but it has not reached it: it is 3 marks after the 4. And for the hour, remember: at 5:55 the hour hand is almost on the 6, but the time is 5:55, not 6:55.Exercise 8B Reading to the nearest minute
Non-calculatorKey words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. The short hand gives the hour and the long hand gives the minutes. Write them with a colon between.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 2 and 3. It has passed 2 but has not reached 3, so the hour is 2.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 1 and is 2 small marks further on.
The 1 is 1 × 5 = 5 minutes. Now count on 2.
5 + 2 = 7 minutes - Write the time in numbers. A digital time is the hour, a colon, then the minutes. The minutes always have two digits.hour 2, minutes 07 → 2:07
Check. In words this is seven minutes past two. ✓
Watch out. Do not mix up the two hands. The short, thick hand shows the hour. The long, thin hand shows the minutes.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. The short hand gives the hour and the long hand gives the minutes. Write them with a colon between.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 5 and 6. It has passed 5 but has not reached 6, so the hour is 5.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 2 and is 3 small marks further on.
The 2 is 2 × 5 = 10 minutes. Now count on 3.
10 + 3 = 13 minutes - Write the time in numbers. A digital time is the hour, a colon, then the minutes. The minutes always have two digits.hour 5, minutes 13 → 5:13
Check. In words this is thirteen minutes past five. ✓
Watch out. Do not mix up the two hands. The short, thick hand shows the hour. The long, thin hand shows the minutes.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. The short hand gives the hour and the long hand gives the minutes. Write them with a colon between.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 9 and 10. It has passed 9 but has not reached 10, so the hour is 9.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 5 and is 3 small marks further on.
The 5 is 5 × 5 = 25 minutes. Now count on 3.
25 + 3 = 28 minutes - Write the time in numbers. A digital time is the hour, a colon, then the minutes. The minutes always have two digits.hour 9, minutes 28 → 9:28
Check. In words this is twenty-eight minutes past nine. ✓
Watch out. Do not mix up the two hands. The short, thick hand shows the hour. The long, thin hand shows the minutes.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. The short hand gives the hour and the long hand gives the minutes. Write them with a colon between.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 11 and 12. It has passed 11 but has not reached 12, so the hour is 11.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 8 and is 1 small mark further on.
The 8 is 8 × 5 = 40 minutes. Now count on 1.
40 + 1 = 41 minutes - Write the time in numbers. A digital time is the hour, a colon, then the minutes. The minutes always have two digits.hour 11, minutes 41 → 11:41
Check. In words this is nineteen minutes to twelve. ✓
Watch out. Use the hour the short hand has passed, even when the minute hand is nearly round to the next hour.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. Find the hour and the minutes. If the minutes are 30 or fewer say past. If they are more than 30, work out how many minutes are left to the next hour.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 3 and 4. It has passed 3 but has not reached 4, so the hour is 3.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 9 and is 3 small marks further on.
The 9 is 9 × 5 = 45 minutes. Now count on 3.
45 + 3 = 48 minutes - Say it with past or to. Up to 30 minutes we say past. After 30 minutes we count the minutes left to the next hour and say to.60 − 48 = 12 minutes before 4: 12 minutes to 4
Check. In numbers this is 3:48. ✓
Watch out. Use the hour the short hand has passed, even when the minute hand is nearly round to the next hour.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. Find the hour and the minutes. If the minutes are 30 or fewer say past. If they are more than 30, work out how many minutes are left to the next hour.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 8 and 9. It has passed 8 but has not reached 9, so the hour is 8.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 10 and is 2 small marks further on.
The 10 is 10 × 5 = 50 minutes. Now count on 2.
50 + 2 = 52 minutes - Say it with past or to. Up to 30 minutes we say past. After 30 minutes we count the minutes left to the next hour and say to.60 − 52 = 8 minutes before 9: 8 minutes to 9
Check. In numbers this is 8:52. ✓
Watch out. Use the hour the short hand has passed, even when the minute hand is nearly round to the next hour.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. Find the hour and the minutes. If the minutes are 30 or fewer say past. If they are more than 30, work out how many minutes are left to the next hour.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 10 and 11. It has passed 10 but has not reached 11, so the hour is 10.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 6 and is 4 small marks further on.
The 6 is 6 × 5 = 30 minutes. Now count on 4.
30 + 4 = 34 minutes - Say it with past or to. Up to 30 minutes we say past. After 30 minutes we count the minutes left to the next hour and say to.60 − 34 = 26 minutes before 11: 26 minutes to 11
Check. In numbers this is 10:34. ✓
Watch out. Use the hour the short hand has passed, even when the minute hand is nearly round to the next hour.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. Find the hour and the minutes. If the minutes are 30 or fewer say past. If they are more than 30, work out how many minutes are left to the next hour.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 1 and 2. It has passed 1 but has not reached 2, so the hour is 1.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 11 and is 2 small marks further on.
The 11 is 11 × 5 = 55 minutes. Now count on 2.
55 + 2 = 57 minutes - Say it with past or to. Up to 30 minutes we say past. After 30 minutes we count the minutes left to the next hour and say to.60 − 57 = 3 minutes before 2: 3 minutes to 2
Check. In numbers this is 1:57. ✓
Watch out. Use the hour the short hand has passed, even when the minute hand is nearly round to the next hour.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. The short hand gives the hour and the long hand gives the minutes. Write them with a colon between.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 4 and 5. It has passed 4 but has not reached 5, so the hour is 4.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 3 and is 1 small mark further on.
The 3 is 3 × 5 = 15 minutes. Now count on 1.
15 + 1 = 16 minutes - Write the time in numbers. A digital time is the hour, a colon, then the minutes. The minutes always have two digits.hour 4, minutes 16 → 4:16
Check. In words this is sixteen minutes past four. ✓
Watch out. Do not mix up the two hands. The short, thick hand shows the hour. The long, thin hand shows the minutes.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. The short hand gives the hour and the long hand gives the minutes. Write them with a colon between.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 9 and 10. It has passed 9 but has not reached 10, so the hour is 9.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 4 and is 2 small marks further on.
The 4 is 4 × 5 = 20 minutes. Now count on 2.
20 + 2 = 22 minutes - Write the time in numbers. A digital time is the hour, a colon, then the minutes. The minutes always have two digits.hour 9, minutes 22 → 9:22
Check. In words this is twenty-two minutes past nine. ✓
Watch out. Do not mix up the two hands. The short, thick hand shows the hour. The long, thin hand shows the minutes.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. The short hand gives the hour and the long hand gives the minutes. Write them with a colon between.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 1 and 2. It has passed 1 but has not reached 2, so the hour is 1.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 10 and is 3 small marks further on.
The 10 is 10 × 5 = 50 minutes. Now count on 3.
50 + 3 = 53 minutes - Write the time in numbers. A digital time is the hour, a colon, then the minutes. The minutes always have two digits.hour 1, minutes 53 → 1:53
Check. In words this is seven minutes to two. ✓
Watch out. Use the hour the short hand has passed, even when the minute hand is nearly round to the next hour.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. The short hand gives the hour and the long hand gives the minutes. Write them with a colon between.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 6 and 7. It has passed 6 but has not reached 7, so the hour is 6.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 7 and is 3 small marks further on.
The 7 is 7 × 5 = 35 minutes. Now count on 3.
35 + 3 = 38 minutes - Write the time in numbers. A digital time is the hour, a colon, then the minutes. The minutes always have two digits.hour 6, minutes 38 → 6:38
Check. In words this is twenty-two minutes to seven. ✓
Watch out. Use the hour the short hand has passed, even when the minute hand is nearly round to the next hour.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. The short hand gives the hour and the long hand gives the minutes. Write them with a colon between.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 7 and 8. It has passed 7 but has not reached 8, so the hour is 7.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 2 and is 1 small mark further on.
The 2 is 2 × 5 = 10 minutes. Now count on 1.
10 + 1 = 11 minutes - Write the time in numbers. A digital time is the hour, a colon, then the minutes. The minutes always have two digits.hour 7, minutes 11 → 7:11
Check. In words this is eleven minutes past seven. ✓
Watch out. Do not mix up the two hands. The short, thick hand shows the hour. The long, thin hand shows the minutes.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. The short hand gives the hour and the long hand gives the minutes. Write them with a colon between.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 12 and 1. It has passed 12 but has not reached 1, so the hour is 12.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 5 and is 1 small mark further on.
The 5 is 5 × 5 = 25 minutes. Now count on 1.
25 + 1 = 26 minutes - Write the time in numbers. A digital time is the hour, a colon, then the minutes. The minutes always have two digits.hour 12, minutes 26 → 12:26
Check. In words this is twenty-six minutes past twelve. ✓
Watch out. Do not mix up the two hands. The short, thick hand shows the hour. The long, thin hand shows the minutes.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. The short hand gives the hour and the long hand gives the minutes. Write them with a colon between.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 2 and 3. It has passed 2 but has not reached 3, so the hour is 2.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand has passed the 8 and is 4 small marks further on.
The 8 is 8 × 5 = 40 minutes. Now count on 4.
40 + 4 = 44 minutes - Write the time in numbers. A digital time is the hour, a colon, then the minutes. The minutes always have two digits.hour 2, minutes 44 → 2:44
Check. In words this is sixteen minutes to three. ✓
Watch out. Use the hour the short hand has passed, even when the minute hand is nearly round to the next hour.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. Work out where both hands should be. Then check each clock.
- Say the time we want: 7:52, which is 8 minutes to 8. We need the hour and the minutes in numbers.7:52
- Find where the minute hand should point. The long hand shows the minutes.The minute hand is 2 small marks after the 10 (50 + 2 = 52 minutes).
- Find where the hour hand should be. The short hand shows the hour.The hour hand is between 7 and 8 (it has passed 7).
- Check each clock. Read each clock. The right one has both hands in the right places.A: shows 7:28 × not a match
B: shows 8:52 × not a match
C: shows 7:52 ✓
D: shows 10:37 × not a match - Choose the clock. C
Check. Clock C has the minute hand at 52 minutes and the hour hand past 7. ✓
Watch out. A clock with the hands the wrong way round (short hand for minutes) shows a different time.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. Read each clock as a digital time. Then put the times in order: earliest first.
- Read each clock. Look at the hour hand first, then count the minutes.A: 3:05
B: 2:55
C: 3:15
D: 2:48 - Compare the hours. The times with hour 2 come before the times with hour 3.Hour 2: B (2:55), D (2:48)
Hour 3: A (3:05), C (3:15) - Compare the minutes inside each hour. More minutes past the hour means later.2:48 comes before 2:55, and 3:05 comes before 3:15.
- Write the order. D, B, A, C
Check. 2:48 then 2:55 then 3:05 then 3:15. Each time is later than the one before. ✓
Watch out. 2:55 is earlier than 3:05, even though 55 is bigger than 5.
Key words. The minute hand goes round once in 1 hour = 60 minutes. Each numbered gap on the clock is 5 minutes. Each tiny mark is 1 minute. Past means minutes after the hour. To means minutes before the next hour.
Method. The minutes to the next hour are what is left of the 60 minutes. Take the minutes away from 60, or count on to 60.
- Write down the minutes. The time is 4:37, so it is 37 minutes past 4.37 minutes past
- Count on to 60. An hour has 60 minutes. We find how many minutes are left to get to 60.37 to 40 is 3. 40 to 60 is 20.
3 + 20 = 23 - Write the answer. There are 23 minutes to 5 o’clock.
Check. 37 + 23 = 60. ✓
Watch out. There are 60 minutes in an hour, so take away from 60, not from 100.
Key words. The minute hand goes round once in 1 hour = 60 minutes. Each numbered gap on the clock is 5 minutes. Each tiny mark is 1 minute. Past means minutes after the hour. To means minutes before the next hour.
Method. The minutes to the next hour are what is left of the 60 minutes. Take the minutes away from 60, or count on to 60.
- Write down the minutes. The time is 9:52, so it is 52 minutes past 9.52 minutes past
- Count on to 60. An hour has 60 minutes. We find how many minutes are left to get to 60.60 − 52 = 8
- Write the answer. There are 8 minutes to 10 o’clock.
Check. 52 + 8 = 60. ✓
Watch out. There are 60 minutes in an hour, so take away from 60, not from 100.
Key words. The minute hand goes round once in 1 hour = 60 minutes. Each numbered gap on the clock is 5 minutes. Each tiny mark is 1 minute. Past means minutes after the hour. To means minutes before the next hour.
Method. The minutes to the next hour are what is left of the 60 minutes. Take the minutes away from 60, or count on to 60.
- Write down the minutes. The time is 12:18, so it is 18 minutes past 12.18 minutes past
- Count on to 60. An hour has 60 minutes. We find how many minutes are left to get to 60.18 to 20 is 2. 20 to 60 is 40.
2 + 40 = 42 - Write the answer. There are 42 minutes to 1 o’clock.
Check. 18 + 42 = 60. ✓
Watch out. There are 60 minutes in an hour, so take away from 60, not from 100.
Key words. The minute hand goes round once in 1 hour = 60 minutes. Each numbered gap on the clock is 5 minutes. Each tiny mark is 1 minute. Past means minutes after the hour. To means minutes before the next hour.
Method. Count the minutes in fives from the 12, then count on single marks.
- Count in fives from the 12 to the number. Each numbered gap is 5 minutes.5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 → 35 minutes
- Count on 3 more small marks. Each small mark is 1 minute.35 + 3 = 38 minutes
Check. 38 = 7 × 5 + 3. ✓
Watch out. The 5 on the clock means 25 minutes, not 5 minutes.
Key words. The minute hand goes round once in 1 hour = 60 minutes. Each numbered gap on the clock is 5 minutes. Each tiny mark is 1 minute. Past means minutes after the hour. To means minutes before the next hour.
Method. Count the minutes in fives from the 12, then count on single marks.
- Count in fives from the 12 to the number. Each numbered gap is 5 minutes.5, 10 → 10 minutes
- Count on 4 more small marks. Each small mark is 1 minute.10 + 4 = 14 minutes
Check. 14 = 2 × 5 + 4. ✓
Watch out. The 5 on the clock means 25 minutes, not 5 minutes.
Key words. The minute hand goes round once in 1 hour = 60 minutes. Each numbered gap on the clock is 5 minutes. Each tiny mark is 1 minute. Past means minutes after the hour. To means minutes before the next hour.
Method. Count the minutes in fives from the 12, then count on single marks.
- Count in fives from the 12 to the number. Each numbered gap is 5 minutes.5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 → 50 minutes
- Count on 2 more small marks. Each small mark is 1 minute.50 + 2 = 52 minutes
Check. 52 = 10 × 5 + 2. ✓
Watch out. The 5 on the clock means 25 minutes, not 5 minutes.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. Read the clock, then find the minutes to 6 o’clock. Compare with what Noah and Priya said.
- Read the clock. The hour hand is just before the 6 and the minute hand is 3 marks after the 9: 45 + 3 = 48 minutes.5:48
- Check Priya. Priya said 5:48.Priya is right.
- Check Noah. Noah said 12 minutes to 6. Work out the minutes to 6.60 − 48 = 12, so 12 minutes to 6 is the same as 5:48. Noah is right.
- Answer. They are both right. They say the same time in two different ways.
Check. 5:48 + 12 minutes = 6:00. ✓
Watch out. Past and to are two ways of saying the same time.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. Read the minute hand carefully. Count in fives, then decide whether it is past or to.
- Read what Leo said. Leo said “five past four”. He saw the hour hand nearly at the 4 and the minute hand on the 11.Leo: “five past four”
- Find the mistake. The minute hand on the 11 means 11 × 5 = 55 minutes. Leo read the 11 as 5 minutes and said past.11 × 5 = 55 minutes
- Say the correct time. The hour hand has not reached the 4, so the hour is 3. 55 minutes past 3 is 5 minutes to 4.60 − 55 = 5. The time is five to four (3:55).
Check. 3:55 is 5 minutes before 4 o’clock. ✓
Watch out. Look at the hour hand. If it has not reached a number, the hour is the number before.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. The short hand gives the hour and the long hand gives the minutes. Write them with a colon between.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand is between 6 and 7. It has passed 6 but has not reached 7, so the hour is 6.
- Look at the long hand (the minute hand). It tells us the minutes. Count in fives from the 12, then count single marks.The long hand points at 4. Count in fives: 5, 10, 15, 20.
4 × 5 = 20 minutes - Write the time in numbers. A digital time is the hour, a colon, then the minutes. The minutes always have two digits.hour 6, minutes 20 → 6:20
Check. In words this is twenty past six. ✓
Watch out. Do not mix up the two hands. The short, thick hand shows the hour. The long, thin hand shows the minutes.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. Look at the hour hand. Check whether it points exactly at the 7, or between two numbers.
- Read the minute hand. It is on the 8. 8 × 5 = 40 minutes.The time is 6:40.
- Think about the hour hand at 40 minutes past 6. 40 minutes is two thirds of an hour (40 out of 60), so the hour hand has gone two thirds of the way from the 6 to the 7.The hour hand is between the 6 and the 7.
- Is it pointing at the 7? It only points at the 7 at 7 o’clock.It is not on the 7 yet.
- Answer. Tom is not right. The hour hand points between 6 and 7. It is still 6:40.
Check. The clock shows 6:40, which is 20 minutes before 7 o’clock. ✓
Watch out. The hour hand does not jump. It moves slowly between the numbers.
Key words. An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hour hand shows the hour. The long, thin minute hand shows the minutes. Past means after the hour. To means before the next hour.
Method. Only the hour hand is shown. Use where it is to work out the minutes.
- Look at the hour hand. It is exactly halfway between the 8 and the 9. The hour is 8.Halfway between 8 and 9
- Think about the minutes. The hour hand is halfway when half of the hour has gone. Half of 60 minutes is 30 minutes.60 ÷ 2 = 30 minutes
- Write the time. The minute hand would point at the 6.The time is 8:30 (half past eight). The minute hand points at the 6.
Check. At 8:30 the hour hand has done half of the way from 8 to 9. ✓
Watch out. The hour hand tells you roughly how many minutes have gone.