Tell the time
tells the time. is half past six: Finnish half points to the next hour. is quarter past nine and is quarter to nine. is five to nine.
For at a full hour use -lta/-ltä: , , . For half past, say . A span uses from/to forms or : . Official timetables use 24-hour time. Learn each clock expression as a useful pattern.
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| It is nine o’clock. | ||
| It is nine o’clock. | ||
| Work starts at nine. | ||
| Work starts at nine. | ||
| It is half past six. | ||
| It is half past six. | ||
| I come at half past six. | ||
| I come at half past six. | ||
| It is quarter past nine. | ||
| It is quarter past nine. | ||
| It is quarter to nine. | ||
| It is quarter to nine. | ||
| It is five to nine. | ||
| It is five to nine. | ||
| The meeting starts at four. | ||
| The meeting starts at four. | ||
Kello on yhdeksän.It is nine o’clock.
Työ alkaa yhdeksältä.Work starts at nine.
Kello on puoli seitsemän.It is half past six.
Tulen puoli seitsemältä.I come at half past six.
Kello on varttia yli yhdeksän.It is quarter past nine.
Kello on varttia vaille yhdeksän.It is quarter to nine.
Kello on viittä vaille yhdeksän.It is five to nine.
Kokous alkaa neljältä.The meeting starts at four.
Practice 1/6 · Finding words
Notice the useful pattern
Tap the form practised in this unit.
.
It is nine o’clock.
.
Work starts at nine.
.
It is half past six.
.
I come at half past six.
.
It is quarter past nine.
.
It is quarter to nine.
.
It is five to nine.
.
The meeting starts at four.
Practice 2/6 · The right form
Choose the form
Use the English meaning and the pattern in this unit.
Kello on .
It is nine o’clock.
Työ alkaa .
Work starts at nine.
Kello on puoli .
It is half past six.
Tulen puoli .
I come at half past six.
Kello on varttia yhdeksän.
It is quarter past nine.
Kello on varttia yhdeksän.
It is quarter to nine.
Kello on vaille yhdeksän.
It is five to nine.
Kokous alkaa .
The meeting starts at four.
Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps
Complete the messages
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Kello on puoli .
It is half past six.
Tulen puoli .
I come at half past six.
Kello on varttia yhdeksän.
It is quarter past nine.
Kello on varttia yhdeksän.
It is quarter to nine.
Kello on vaille yhdeksän.
It is five to nine.
Kokous alkaa .
The meeting starts at four.
Practice 4/6 · Building sentences
Build a sentence
Put the words in order.
It is nine o’clock.
Work starts at nine.
It is half past six.
I come at half past six.
It is quarter past nine.
It is quarter to nine.
It is five to nine.
The meeting starts at four.
Practice 5/6 · In situations
What would you say?
Choose the right words for the situation.
It is nine o’clock.
You say:
Use the meaning and Finnish pattern explained in this unit.
It is nine o’clock.
You say:
Use the meaning and Finnish pattern explained in this unit.
Work starts at nine.
You say:
Use the meaning and Finnish pattern explained in this unit.
Work starts at nine.
You say:
Use the meaning and Finnish pattern explained in this unit.
It is half past six.
You say:
Use the meaning and Finnish pattern explained in this unit.
It is half past six.
You say:
Use the meaning and Finnish pattern explained in this unit.
I come at half past six.
You say:
Use the meaning and Finnish pattern explained in this unit.
I come at half past six.
You say:
Use the meaning and Finnish pattern explained in this unit.
Practice 6/6 · Matching
Connect messages and meanings
Match the pairs.
Unit complete
