When you’re talking to someone, knowing the date can help both of you understand when something happened. The date could be from the past, right now, or in the future. When people talk, they usually ask for the time.

If you’re in a place where English is the main language, it’s important to know how to ask about the time in English. That way, you can make sure you’re asking the right questions and understanding what’s going on.

Asking Time

A common and easy way to ask is by saying, “What time is it?” This is great for informal situations, like when you’re hanging out with friends.

But if you need to ask someone who you don’t know very well, it’s better to be polite and say, “Excuse me, could you tell me what time it is, please?” or “Excuse me, could you tell me the time, please?”

You can also use the question word “When” instead of “What time.”

For example, instead of asking “What time does the movie start?” you can ask “When does the movie start?”

What time

When asking about specific things, like when a store opens or closes or when to meet someone, you can say:

• What time does the ________ open?
• What time does the ________ close?
• What time should we meet?
• What time does the movie start?

When

When asking for a general answer, you can use “When” instead of “What time.”

• When does the movie start?
• When does the cafe open?
• When should we meet?

What time does/should

Another way to ask about the time is to use the phrase “What time does/should…“.

For example, if we are talking to a customer service representative at a store, we might ask “What time does the store open?” or “What time should we arrive?”

In some cases, we can also use the word “when” instead of “what time“.

How long

We can also use the phrase “How long…” to ask about the duration of an action.

For example, we might ask “How long did it take to copy the files?” or “How long will it take to finish the task?” This helps us understand not just the time a certain action takes place, but also how long it lasts.

Telling the Time

When someone asks you what time it is, you can give them the time using different expressions.

At Full Hours:

(O’clock / __ :00)

We use “It is” or “It’s” to tell the time when it is exactly on the hour.

Example:

• It is five o’clock. (5:00)
• It’s ten o’clock. (10:00)

At Half Hours:

( __ :30)

We use the phrase “It is half past” to tell the time at half hours.

Example:

• It is half past eleven. (11:30)
• It is half past seven. (07:30)

At Quarter Hours:

( __ :15 or __ :45)

We use two different phrases to tell the time at quarter hours.

Example:

• It is quarter past eight. (8:15)
• It is quarter to three. (02:45)

At Other Hours

There are two ways to tell the time at other hours.

Method 1: Using Past or To

• Use “past” for (1 to 30 minutes after the hour)
• Use “to” for (31 to 59 minutes before the hour)

Example:

• It’s five minutes to nine. (08:55)
• It’s three minutes past seven. (07:13)

Method 2: Using “It’s + hour + minutes”

Example:

• It’s eight fifty-five. (08:55)
• It’s seven thirteen. (07:13)

A.M and P.M

We use A.M. (am) for the morning and P.M. (pm) for the afternoon and night.

Example:

• 3am = Three o’clock in the morning.
• 3pm = Three o’clock in the afternoon.

Asking for the Time Politely

If you need to know what time it is, you can ask someone by saying “Could you please tell me the time?” This is a polite way to make a request because it starts with a modal auxiliary verb and includes the word “please.”

Using modal verbs and the word “please” can help you sound formal and respectful, no matter who you are asking. This expression is a good choice for formal or informal situations.

For example, you can use this expression when asking a stranger for the time at a bus stop, or when asking a friend. You can also use “Would you please tell me the time?” which is a similar way to ask.

Here are other polite ways to ask for the time:

• “Excuse me, can you tell me the time?” This is similar to saying “Could you please tell me the time?” Both of these expressions use polite words like “excuse me” and “please” to show politeness and respect.
• “Could you tell me what time it is now, please?” This is a very formal way to ask someone about the time. It’s like saying “What time is it?” but in a more polite and formal way.
• “Do you mind if I ask what time it is?” This is a way of asking for permission to ask someone about the time. It’s like saying “Can I ask you the time?” but in a more polite way.

Talking About the Time of the Day

There are many words we use to describe different times of the day in English. Let’s learn about them!

• Dawn: This is when the sun starts to rise, it’s early in the morning.
• Sunrise: The exact moment when the sun rises.
• Sunset: The moment when the sun sets.
• Noon: This is when the clock says 12 P.M.
• Midnight: This is when the clock says 12 A.M.
• Midday: This is the middle part of the day, from around 11 A.M. to 1 P.M.
• Afternoon: This is the time from 1 P.M. to 4 P.M.
• Early: This is in the morning, before 9 A.M.
• Day/daytime: This is the time when it’s light outside.
• Twilight: This is the time just before it gets dark.
• Dusk: This is early in the evening, just as the sun is setting.
• Early evening: This is from around 4:30 P.M. to 6 P.M.
• Evening: This is the time after sunset but before night.
• Late: This is in the evening, after 11 P.M.
• Night/nighttime: This is the time when it’s dark outside.

Role Play Dialog

Want to Watch a Movie

John: Whoa, look at that! I really want to watch that movie.

Anna: Me too! When is the movie showing in the theater?

John: The website says it’s showing next Saturday.

Anna: Yay, I should be free then! How about you?

John: I’m free too. Let’s go see it!

Anna: What time do you want to go to the movie?

John: Hmm, I don’t want to go too late in the day.

Anna: How about in the afternoon? We can get some lunch before the movie.

John: That sounds good to me. What time should we have lunch?

Anna: How about eating lunch at 1:00, then the movie at 2:00?

John: That’s perfect! I’ll see you soon!

In the Evening

Anna: Excuse me, John, can you tell me what time it is?

John: Sure thing! It’s 3 in the afternoon.

Anna: Oh no, I thought it was still early afternoon.

John: Time goes by fast when you’re busy! Did you have a good morning?

Anna: Yes, I did! But now I need to hurry so I can get home before it gets dark outside.

John: Have a great evening! See you back here tomorrow morning!

Anna: Absolutely! I’ll be here before the sun rises or shortly after.

Soccer Game

John: Hey, do you know what time it is?

James: Yeah, it’s 3:15.

John: Oh, thanks! By the way, my name is John.

James: Hi John, nice to meet you! My name is James.

John: Nice to meet you too, James! So, I’m trying to figure out what time I need to be at the park for my soccer game.

James: What time does the game start?

John: It starts at 4:00.

James: Well, you should probably head over there soon so you have enough time to warm up and get ready for the game.

John: Yeah, that’s a good idea. Thanks for your help, James!

James: No problem! Good luck with your game!

Late for School

John: Excuse me, sir. Can you tell me what time it is?

Robert: Sure thing, young man. It’s 6.20 A.M.

John: 6.20 A.M. Oh no, I don’t want to be late for school!

Robert: Don’t worry, you still have plenty of time. Just make sure you head to school soon so you don’t miss any important lessons.

John: Thank you, sir. Have a good day!

Robert: You too, young man. Good luck with your studies!