Clock times
In French, you can say clock times with . For half past, use : . For “quarter to”, French often uses : .
For official or digital time, you can also hear forms like for 4 p.m. In this module, both styles appear: everyday time like and schedule time like .
To ask about time, you can say or simply react to a time with
Remember: with , you say too: . With other hours in simple A1 French, keep the form the same: .
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| seven o'clock | ||
| seven o'clock | ||
| half past six | ||
| half past six | ||
| a quarter to nine | ||
| a quarter to nine | ||
| four o'clock / sixteen hundred | ||
| four o'clock / sixteen hundred | ||
Il est neuf heures moins cinq.It's five to nine.
Il est six heures et demie.It is half past six.
La réunion est à dix heures.The meeting is at ten o'clock.
Le déjeuner est à douze heures et demie.Lunch is at half past twelve.
Le vendredi, le contrôle du chat est à seize heures.On Friday, the cat check is at four o'clock.
Il est sept heures.It is seven o’clock.
Je suis prêt à neuf heures.I am ready at nine o'clock.
Je suis prête à neuf heures.I am ready at nine o'clock.
Je suis arrivé au bureau à neuf heures moins le quart.I arrived at the office at a quarter to nine.
Je suis arrivée au bureau à neuf heures moins le quart.I arrived at the office at a quarter to nine.
Practice 1/6 · Finding words
Notice the pattern
Tap the form practised in this unit.
.
It's five to nine.
.
It is half past six.
.
The meeting is at ten o'clock.
.
Lunch is at half past twelve.
Practice 2/6 · The right form
Choose the form
Use the English meaning and the pattern in this unit.
Il est .
It's five to nine.
Il est .
It is half past six.
La réunion est à .
The meeting is at ten o'clock.
Le déjeuner est à .
Lunch is at half past twelve.
Le vendredi, le contrôle du chat est à .
On Friday, the cat check is at four o'clock.
Il est .
It is seven o’clock.
Je suis prêt à .
I am ready at nine o'clock.
Je suis prête à .
I am ready at nine o'clock.
Je suis arrivé au bureau à .
I arrived at the office at a quarter to nine.
Je suis arrivée au bureau à .
I arrived at the office at a quarter to nine.
Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps
Complete the messages
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Il est .
It's five to nine.
Il est .
It is half past six.
La réunion est à .
The meeting is at ten o'clock.
Le déjeuner est à .
Lunch is at half past twelve.
Le vendredi, le contrôle du chat est à .
On Friday, the cat check is at four o'clock.
Il est .
It is seven o’clock.
Je suis prêt à .
I am ready at nine o'clock.
Je suis prête à .
I am ready at nine o'clock.
Je suis arrivé au bureau à .
I arrived at the office at a quarter to nine.
Je suis arrivée au bureau à .
I arrived at the office at a quarter to nine.
Practice 4/6 · Building sentences
Build a sentence
Put the words in order.
It's five to nine.
It is half past six.
The meeting is at ten o'clock.
Lunch is at half past twelve.
On Friday, the cat check is at four o'clock.
It is seven o’clock.
Practice 5/6 · In situations
What would you say?
Choose the right words for the situation.
It's five to nine.
You say:
Use the meaning and the French form explained in this unit.
It's five to nine.
You say:
Use the meaning and the French form explained in this unit.
It is half past six.
You say:
Use the meaning and the French form explained in this unit.
It is half past six.
You say:
Use the meaning and the French form explained in this unit.
The meeting is at ten o'clock.
You say:
Use the meaning and the French form explained in this unit.
The meeting is at ten o'clock.
You say:
Use the meaning and the French form explained in this unit.
Lunch is at half past twelve.
You say:
Use the meaning and the French form explained in this unit.
Lunch is at half past twelve.
You say:
Use the meaning and the French form explained in this unit.
Practice 6/6 · Matching
Connect sentences and meanings
Match the pairs.
Unit complete
