How to Express Time in English?

As a universal language, English is widely used in different parts of the world. Whether you are traveling abroad or working in an international company, being able to express time accurately in English is necessary. In this article, we will learn how to express time in English correctly and commonly used expressions related to time.

The Basic Expressions of Time

When we want to express time in English, we should start with the basic phrases such as "What time is it?" "It's __ o'clock" or "half past __". These expressions are commonly used in daily life and easy to remember. Here are some examples:

What time is it?

It's ten o'clock.

It's half past two.

We can also use "quarter past __" or "quarter to __" to express time. For example:

It's a quarter past six.

It's a quarter to three.

Using AM and PM

In English, we use "AM" and "PM" to specify the time of the day. "AM" means "Ante Meridiem" (before noon) and "PM" means "Post Meridiem" (afternoon or evening). For example:

It's 5 AM. (5 o'clock in the morning)

It's 7 PM. (7 o'clock in the evening)

In addition, when we express time using the 12-hour clock system (instead of 24-hour clock), we also need to add "AM" or "PM" after the time. For example:

It's 10:30 AM. (ten thirty in the morning)

It's 8:45 PM. (eight forty-five in the evening)

Other Commonly Used Time Expressions

Besides the basic expressions, we also use some phrases to express time in specific situations:

Next Monday/May/summer/year - to indicate a future time

Last week/Monday/May/summer/year - to indicate a past time

In a minute/hour/day/week/month/year - to indicate a future time soon

For a month/two weeks/two years - to indicate a duration of time

On time - to indicate punctuality

At the same time - to indicate simultaneous events

By using these expressions properly, we can express time more accurately and effectively in English. Remember that practicing is the key to improving your language skills. Happy learning!