Year 4: Telling the time: o'clock, half past, quarter past and quarter to
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)
Telling the time: o'clock, half past, quarter past and quarter to
An analogue clock has a round face with two hands. The short, thick hand is the hour hand. It shows the hour. The long, thin hand is the minute hand. It shows the minutes. Around the edge there are 12 numbers and 60 tiny marks.
The minute hand. The long hand goes all the way round the clock in 1 hour. 1 hour is 60 minutes. There are 12 numbers, so each number is 5 minutes after the one before. Count in fives: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60.
The hour hand. The short hand goes round once in 12 hours. It shows the hour. When the time is 2 o’clock, it points exactly at the 2. When the time is later than 2 o’clock, it has moved a little past the 2. We always say the hour it has passed.
Special times. A whole clock face is 60 minutes. Half of it is 30 minutes, so the minute hand at the 6 means half past. A quarter of it is 15 minutes, so the minute hand at the 3 means quarter past, and at the 9 it means quarter to the next hour (15 minutes to go).
Past and to. In the first half hour, the minute hand is on the right-hand side. We say how many minutes past the hour it is. In the second half hour, the minute hand is on the left-hand side. We say how many minutes are left to the next hour.
Key ideas
- The short, thick hand is the hour hand. The long, thin hand is the minute hand.
- The minute hand: each number is 5 minutes. Count in fives from the 12. Each tiny mark is 1 minute.
- Minute hand on 12: o’clock. On 3: quarter past. On 6: half past. On 9: quarter to.
- Right-hand side of the clock: past. Left-hand side: to the next hour.
- For “to” times, take the minutes away from 60 (40 minutes past = 20 minutes to), and say the next hour.
- Use the hour the short hand has passed.
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 first, then the minute hand. Count the minutes in fives, then say the time.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand points exactly at 5. 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 points straight up at 12. That is 0 minutes past the hour.
- Say the time. On the hour we say o'clock.The minute hand is on the 12, so we say five o'clock.
Check. In numbers this is 5:00. ✓
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 first, then the minute hand. Count the minutes in fives, then say the time.
- 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 points at 6. Count in fives: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30.
6 × 5 = 30 minutes - Say the time. Use the minutes to say past or to, and the hour from step 1.30 minutes is half of an hour (60 ÷ 2 = 30). So it is half past eight.
Check. In numbers this is 8:30. ✓
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 first, then the minute hand. Count the minutes in fives, then say the time.
- 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 points at 3. Count in fives: 5, 10, 15.
3 × 5 = 15 minutes - Say the time. Use the minutes to say past or to, and the hour from step 1.15 minutes is a quarter of an hour (60 ÷ 4 = 15). So it is quarter past two.
Check. In numbers this is 2:15. ✓
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 first, then the minute hand. Count the minutes in fives, then say the time.
- 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 points at 9. Count in fives: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45.
9 × 5 = 45 minutes - Say the time. Use the minutes to say past or to, and the hour from step 1.45 minutes past is the same as 15 minutes to the next hour (60 − 45 = 15). The next hour is 11. So it is quarter to eleven.
Check. In numbers this is 10:45. ✓
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. Look at the hour hand first, then the minute hand. Count the minutes in fives, then say the time.
- 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 points at 4. Count in fives: 5, 10, 15, 20.
4 × 5 = 20 minutes - Say the time. Use the minutes to say past or to, and the hour from step 1.The minute hand is on the right-hand side, so we say past.
20 minutes after 3: twenty past three
Check. In numbers this is 3:20. ✓
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 first, then the minute hand. Count the minutes in fives, then say the time.
- 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 8. Count in fives: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40.
8 × 5 = 40 minutes - Say the time. Use the minutes to say past or to, and the hour from step 1.The minute hand is on the left-hand side, so we say to. We count the minutes to the next hour.
60 − 40 = 20 minutes to 7.
twenty to seven
Check. In numbers this is 6:40. ✓
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 points at 11. Count in fives: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55.
11 × 5 = 55 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 55 → 9:55
Check. In words this is five to ten. ✓
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: ten to four = 3:50. We need the hour and the minutes in numbers.3:50
- Find where the minute hand should point. The long hand shows the minutes.The minute hand points at the 10 (10 × 5 = 50 minutes).
- Find where the hour hand should be. The short hand shows the hour.The hour hand is between 3 and 4 (it has passed 3).
- Check each clock. Read each clock. The right one has both hands in the right places.A: shows 10:15 × not a match
B: shows 3:10 × not a match
C: shows 3:50 ✓
D: shows 4:50 × not a match - Choose the clock. C
Check. Clock C has the minute hand at 50 minutes and the hour hand past 3. ✓
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. For “past” the hour stays. For “to” count back from the next hour: the hour is one less.
- Find how many minutes are left to the next hour. “To” means before the next hour.25 to 9: 25 minutes before 9
- Take the 25 minutes away from 60 to get the minutes past 8. The hour before 9 is 8.60 − 25 = 35
The time is 8:35 = 8:35 - Check by saying it back. 8:35 is twenty-five to nine.
Check. 8:35 in words is twenty-five to nine. ✓
Watch out. “To 9” times are in the hour before 9. Quarter to 9 is 8:45, not 9:45.
Watch out
Count in fives, and use “to” after the 6. When the minute hand is on the 8, the time is not “eight past”. The 8 means 8 × 5 = 40 minutes. 40 minutes past 3 is 20 minutes to 4. Also, for “to” times the hour you say is the next hour, but the short hand is still just before it.Exercise 8A Telling the time on an analogue clock
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. Look at the hour hand first, then the minute hand. Count the minutes in fives, then say the time.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand points exactly at 3. 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 points straight up at 12. That is 0 minutes past the hour.
- Say the time. On the hour we say o'clock.The minute hand is on the 12, so we say three o'clock.
Check. In numbers this is 3:00. ✓
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 first, then the minute hand. Count the minutes in fives, then say the time.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand points exactly at 7. 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 points straight up at 12. That is 0 minutes past the hour.
- Say the time. On the hour we say o'clock.The minute hand is on the 12, so we say seven o'clock.
Check. In numbers this is 7:00. ✓
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 first, then the minute hand. Count the minutes in fives, then say the time.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand points exactly at 11. 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 points straight up at 12. That is 0 minutes past the hour.
- Say the time. On the hour we say o'clock.The minute hand is on the 12, so we say eleven o'clock.
Check. In numbers this is 11:00. ✓
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 first, then the minute hand. Count the minutes in fives, then say the time.
- Look at the short hand (the hour hand). It tells us the hour. Use the last number it has passed.The short hand points exactly at 12. 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 points straight up at 12. That is 0 minutes past the hour.
- Say the time. On the hour we say o'clock.The minute hand is on the 12, so we say twelve o'clock.
Check. In numbers this is 12:00. ✓
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 first, then the minute hand. Count the minutes in fives, then say the time.
- 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 points at 3. Count in fives: 5, 10, 15.
3 × 5 = 15 minutes - Say the time. Use the minutes to say past or to, and the hour from step 1.15 minutes is a quarter of an hour (60 ÷ 4 = 15). So it is quarter past one.
Check. In numbers this is 1:15. ✓
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 first, then the minute hand. Count the minutes in fives, then say the time.
- 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 points at 6. Count in fives: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30.
6 × 5 = 30 minutes - Say the time. Use the minutes to say past or to, and the hour from step 1.30 minutes is half of an hour (60 ÷ 2 = 30). So it is half past nine.
Check. In numbers this is 9:30. ✓
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 first, then the minute hand. Count the minutes in fives, then say the time.
- 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 points at 9. Count in fives: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45.
9 × 5 = 45 minutes - Say the time. Use the minutes to say past or to, and the hour from step 1.45 minutes past is the same as 15 minutes to the next hour (60 − 45 = 15). The next hour is 6. So it is quarter to six.
Check. In numbers this is 5:45. ✓
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. Look at the hour hand first, then the minute hand. Count the minutes in fives, then say the time.
- 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 points at 9. Count in fives: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45.
9 × 5 = 45 minutes - Say the time. Use the minutes to say past or to, and the hour from step 1.45 minutes past is the same as 15 minutes to the next hour (60 − 45 = 15). The next hour is 1. So it is quarter to one.
Check. In numbers this is 12:45. ✓
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. Look at the hour hand first, then the minute hand. Count the minutes in fives, then say the time.
- 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 points at 4. Count in fives: 5, 10, 15, 20.
4 × 5 = 20 minutes - Say the time. Use the minutes to say past or to, and the hour from step 1.The minute hand is on the right-hand side, so we say past.
20 minutes after 2: twenty past two
Check. In numbers this is 2:20. ✓
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 first, then the minute hand. Count the minutes in fives, then say the time.
- 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 points at 1. Count in fives: 5.
1 × 5 = 5 minutes - Say the time. Use the minutes to say past or to, and the hour from step 1.The minute hand is on the right-hand side, so we say past.
5 minutes after 4: five past four
Check. In numbers this is 4:05. ✓
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 first, then the minute hand. Count the minutes in fives, then say the time.
- 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 points at 10. Count in fives: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50.
10 × 5 = 50 minutes - Say the time. Use the minutes to say past or to, and the hour from step 1.The minute hand is on the left-hand side, so we say to. We count the minutes to the next hour.
60 − 50 = 10 minutes to 11.
ten to eleven
Check. In numbers this is 10:50. ✓
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. Look at the hour hand first, then the minute hand. Count the minutes in fives, then say the time.
- 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 points at 7. Count in fives: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35.
7 × 5 = 35 minutes - Say the time. Use the minutes to say past or to, and the hour from step 1.The minute hand is on the left-hand side, so we say to. We count the minutes to the next hour.
60 − 35 = 25 minutes to 9.
twenty-five to nine
Check. In numbers this is 8:35. ✓
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 points at 2. Count in fives: 5, 10.
2 × 5 = 10 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 10 → 6:10
Check. In words this is ten 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. 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 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 points at 11. Count in fives: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55.
11 × 5 = 55 minutes - Write the time in numbers. A digital time is the hour, a colon, then the minutes. The minutes always have two digits.hour 3, minutes 55 → 3:55
Check. In words this is five to four. ✓
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 points at 5. Count in fives: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25.
5 × 5 = 25 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 25 → 7:25
Check. In words this is twenty-five 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 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 points at 8. Count in fives: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40.
8 × 5 = 40 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 40 → 1:40
Check. In words this is twenty 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. Work out where both hands should be. Then check each clock.
- Say the time we want: quarter to six = 5:45. We need the hour and the minutes in numbers.5:45
- Find where the minute hand should point. The long hand shows the minutes.The minute hand points at the 9 (9 × 5 = 45 minutes).
- Find where the hour hand should be. The short hand shows the hour.The hour hand is between 5 and 6 (it has passed 5).
- Check each clock. Read each clock. The right one has both hands in the right places.A: shows 5:15 × not a match
B: shows 5:45 ✓
C: shows 6:45 × not a match
D: shows 9:25 × not a match - Choose the clock. B
Check. Clock B has the minute hand at 45 minutes and the hour hand past 5. ✓
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. Work out where both hands should be. Then check each clock.
- Say the time we want: ten to nine = 8:50. We need the hour and the minutes in numbers.8:50
- Find where the minute hand should point. The long hand shows the minutes.The minute hand points at the 10 (10 × 5 = 50 minutes).
- Find where the hour hand should be. The short hand shows the hour.The hour hand is between 8 and 9 (it has passed 8).
- Check each clock. Read each clock. The right one has both hands in the right places.A: shows 8:10 × not a match
B: shows 9:50 × not a match
C: shows 10:40 × not a match
D: shows 8:50 ✓ - Choose the clock. D
Check. Clock D has the minute hand at 50 minutes and the hour hand past 8. ✓
Watch out. A clock with the hands the wrong way round (short hand for minutes) shows a different time.
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 → 20 minutes
- Write the answer. 20 minutes past the hour
Check. 20 = 4 × 5 + 0. ✓
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 → 45 minutes
- Write the answer. 45 minutes past the hour
Check. 45 = 9 × 5 + 0. ✓
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, 55 → 55 minutes
- Write the answer. 55 minutes past the hour
Check. 55 = 11 × 5 + 0. ✓
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 minutes first. Up to 30 we say past. After 30 we say to the next hour.
- Look at the minutes in 3:25. The number after the colon is the minutes past the hour.25 minutes
- Decide: past or to? The first half of the hour is past. The second half is counting to the next hour.Minutes 1 to 30: past. Minutes 31 to 59: to.
- Say the time in words. 25 is 30 or fewer, so we say past. Say the minutes, then past, then 3.
twenty-five past three
Check. Going back: twenty-five past three is 3:25. ✓
Watch out. For “to” times, the hour you say is the next hour, but the digital time shows the hour 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. Read the minutes first. Up to 30 we say past. After 30 we say to the next hour.
- Look at the minutes in 8:50. The number after the colon is the minutes past the hour.50 minutes
- Decide: past or to? The first half of the hour is past. The second half is counting to the next hour.Minutes 1 to 30: past. Minutes 31 to 59: to.
- Say the time in words. 50 is more than 30, so we say to. 60 − 50 = 10 minutes to the next hour, 9.
ten to nine
Check. Going back: ten to nine is 8:50. ✓
Watch out. For “to” times, the hour you say is the next hour, but the digital time shows the hour 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. Read the minutes first. Up to 30 we say past. After 30 we say to the next hour.
- Look at the minutes in 6:05. The number after the colon is the minutes past the hour.05 minutes
- Decide: past or to? The first half of the hour is past. The second half is counting to the next hour.Minutes 1 to 30: past. Minutes 31 to 59: to.
- Say the time in words. 5 is 30 or fewer, so we say past. Say the minutes, then past, then 6.
five past six
Check. Going back: five past six is 6:05. ✓
Watch out. For “to” times, the hour you say is the next hour, but the digital time shows the hour 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. Read the minutes first. Up to 30 we say past. After 30 we say to the next hour.
- Look at the minutes in 11:35. The number after the colon is the minutes past the hour.35 minutes
- Decide: past or to? The first half of the hour is past. The second half is counting to the next hour.Minutes 1 to 30: past. Minutes 31 to 59: to.
- Say the time in words. 35 is more than 30, so we say to. 60 − 35 = 25 minutes to the next hour, 12.
twenty-five to twelve
Check. Going back: twenty-five to twelve is 11:35. ✓
Watch out. For “to” times, the hour you say is the next hour, but the digital time shows the hour 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. For “past” the hour stays. For “to” count back from the next hour: the hour is one less.
- Find the minutes. The number before “past” is the minutes after the hour.20 minutes past 9
- Write the hour then the minutes. Past means the hour stays the same.9:20
- Check by saying it back. 9:20 is twenty past nine.
Check. 9:20 in words is twenty past nine. ✓
Watch out. The minutes always have two digits: 5 minutes is 05.
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. For “past” the hour stays. For “to” count back from the next hour: the hour is one less.
- Find how many minutes are left to the next hour. “To” means before the next hour.10 to 2: 10 minutes before 2
- Take the 10 minutes away from 60 to get the minutes past 1. The hour before 2 is 1.60 − 10 = 50
The time is 1:50 = 1:50 - Check by saying it back. 1:50 is ten to two.
Check. 1:50 in words is ten to two. ✓
Watch out. “To 2” times are in the hour before 2. Quarter to 2 is 1:45, not 2:45.
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. For “past” the hour stays. For “to” count back from the next hour: the hour is one less.
- Find the minutes. The number before “past” is the minutes after the hour.5 minutes past 12
- Write the hour then the minutes. Past means the hour stays the same.12:05
- Check by saying it back. 12:05 is five past twelve.
Check. 12:05 in words is five past twelve. ✓
Watch out. The minutes always have two digits: 5 minutes is 05.
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. For “past” the hour stays. For “to” count back from the next hour: the hour is one less.
- Find how many minutes are left to the next hour. “To” means before the next hour.25 to 6: 25 minutes before 6
- Take the 25 minutes away from 60 to get the minutes past 5. The hour before 6 is 5.60 − 25 = 35
The time is 5:35 = 5:35 - Check by saying it back. 5:35 is twenty-five to six.
Check. 5:35 in words is twenty-five to six. ✓
Watch out. “To 6” times are in the hour before 6. Quarter to 6 is 5:45, not 6:45.
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. Change “twenty to five” into a digital time, read the clock, then compare the two times.
- Read the clock. The hour hand is just past 4 and the minute hand is on the 5, so it is 25 minutes past 4.The clock shows 4:25 (twenty-five past four).
- Write the lesson time as a digital time. “Twenty to five” means 20 minutes before 5 o’clock: 60 − 20 = 40 minutes past 4.Lesson time = 4:40
- Compare the times. 4:25 is earlier than 4:40.The clock time (4:25) is before the lesson (4:40).
- Answer. No, the lesson has not started. It is 15 minutes before the start.
Check. 4:25 + 15 minutes = 4:40. ✓
Watch out. Change the “to” time into a time past the hour so that you can compare the two times easily.
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 minute hand tells us the minutes. Count in fives to the number it points at.
- Look at what Tom said. Tom said “eight past six”. He read the number 8 as 8 minutes.Tom: “eight past six”
- Find the mistake. The minute hand on the 8 does not mean 8 minutes. Each number is 5 minutes, so we must count in fives.5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 → 8 × 5 = 40 minutes
- Say the correct time. The hour hand is just past 6 and the minute hand is on the left side, so we can say 40 minutes past 6 or “to” the next hour.60 − 40 = 20 minutes to 7. The time is twenty to seven (6:40).
Check. 6:40 in words is twenty to seven. ✓
Watch out. The 8 on the clock face is not 8 minutes. It is 40 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. At 12 the minute hand points straight up. That means 0 minutes past the hour, so it is an o’clock time.
- Think about the minute hand on the 12. It has not gone any minutes past the hour.0 minutes past
- Test with some times. Try 3 o’clock, 9 o’clock and 12 o’clock.The minute hand is on the 12 each time.
- Decide. This is always true.
Check. Every o’clock time has the minute hand on the 12. ✓
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. At quarter past the minute hand is on the 3. Find out where the hour hand is.
- Think about quarter past 4. 15 minutes is a quarter of an hour, so the hour hand has moved a quarter of the way from the 4 to the 5.It is a little past the 4.
- Is it exactly on a number? The hour hand only points exactly at a number on the hour.At quarter past it is between the 4 and the 5.
- Decide. This is never true.
Check. Look at the clock for 4:15 at the start of this chapter. ✓
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 hands point the same way when the hour hand and minute hand are on top of each other.
- Try 12 o’clock. Both hands point straight up at the 12.The hands point the same way.
- Try 3 o’clock. The hour hand points at the 3 and the minute hand points at the 12.The hands point different ways.
- Decide. It happens at some times but not at all times.This is sometimes true.
Check. We found one time when it is true and one time when it is not. ✓
quarter past three 3:15 fifteen minutes past three quarter to three
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. Change every time into numbers, then find the one that is different.
- Write each time in numbers. It is easier to compare them as digital times.quarter past three = 3:15
3:15 = 3:15
fifteen minutes past three = 3:15
quarter to three = 2:45 (15 minutes before 3) - Compare. Three of them are the same time.Three are 3:15. One is 2:45.
- Choose. The odd one out is quarter to three.
Check. Quarter to three is before 3 o’clock. The others are after 3 o’clock. ✓
Watch out. “Quarter to three” and “quarter past three” are different times.
(a) Write the time in words and in numbers. (b) The minute hand now moves round 6 numbers. What time does the clock show then?
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 to find the time. Then add the minutes the minute hand moves on.
- Read the minute hand. It points at the 9. Count in fives: 5, 10, ... 45.9 × 5 = 45 minutes
- Read the hour hand. It is between 4 and 5, so the hour is 4.The time is 4:45. We write it in words as quarter to five.
- Move the minute hand 6 numbers on. Each number is 5 minutes.6 × 5 = 30 minutes. 4:45 + 30 minutes: 4:45 + 15 minutes = 5:00, and 5:00 + 15 minutes = 5:15
- Say the new time in words. 5:15 is quarter past five
Check. From 4:45 to 5:15 is 30 minutes. ✓
Watch out. Take care when the minute hand goes past the 12. The hour changes.