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ESL forum >
Ask for help > about telling the time
about telling the time
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pauguzman
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about telling the time
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Hi all! I have a question regarding telling the time since I �ve found two different forms in books and in your ws. I was taught " it �s quarter to ten" or " it �s quarter past ten", but I �ve found recently " it �s A quarter to ten" or "it �s A quarter past ten". Are there two correct forms of telling the time? How do you, native speakers, tell the time?
thanks in advance, PAULA |
9 Sep 2009
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carucha
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i �m not a native speaker but as far as I know, the correct form is "a quarter to or a quarter past" kisses!
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9 Sep 2009
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Samantha.esl
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Hi Paula, I have never seen " it �s A quarter to ten." I might be wrong, but I would have considered �A quarter � incorrect. I was taught �It �s quarter to ten � not A before. But who knows, all things are possible... just to confuse us..  |
9 Sep 2009
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Carla Horne
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Hi,
Normally, most people would say that it is 9:45. We usually use "quarter" when just referring to 15 minutes after the hour. When it is 9:30, we would say that it �s thirty minutes after nine.
However, in coversation it �s o.k. to say, " a quarter to ten or it �s quarter to ten."
I hope this helps.
Carla |
9 Sep 2009
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arkel
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Good morning everyone:) I �ve always said a quarter to and a quarter past, and that �s what I hear also. What Carla said is more common in USA. We would nearly always say half past nine for 9:30.  Rosemary |
9 Sep 2009
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douglas
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I use both forms, but mostly say "a quarter to..." . I tell my students that both are acceptable. |
9 Sep 2009
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Zora
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I have to agree with Douglas, Arkel and Carla. Both forms are acceptable. Though, I also say "it �s A quarter ... " when I am not using the "digital" form which is much more common... 
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9 Sep 2009
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joy2bill
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Poor students. No wonder our poor students are confused when even native speakers say things differently.
I �m interested in Carla �s comment about 9:30. I would never use thirty minutes after nine. It would be It �s half past nine or It �s nine thirty.
I think �a quarter to" and "a quarter past" are more common in countries which speak more British English.
We would use both " a quarter to � and "quarter to". The expressions nine fifteen and nine forty-five are probably more common now thanks to the digital clock.
Cheers from Joy downunder
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9 Sep 2009
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Zora
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Ahh, I misread Carla �s post and us Canadians NEVER say "thirty minutes after"... We say, "nine thirty, half past nine.." same as the UK and other Commonwealth countries. In fact. I �ve never, ever heard such a thing before now.
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9 Sep 2009
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Jayho
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Yep, like bill2joy said we downunder use use both " a quarter to � and "quarter to" and we would never use thirty minutes after nine. It would be It �s half past nine or It �s nine thirty. |
9 Sep 2009
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Carla Horne
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Dear Jayho,
I was trying to point out that many Americans don �t use "a quarter" after the first 15 minutes. Of course, we say nine thirty.
Carla |
9 Sep 2009
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