Clock time and a time for an activity
Ask or Answer with . For an activity at a particular time, use : . means around: . A clock time does not tell you automatically whether it is morning or evening; the context or and can make that clear.
| Time | Everyday form | Official form |
|---|---|---|
| 08:15 | ||
| 08:30 | ||
| 08:45 | ||
| 08:55 | ||
| 12:30 | ||
| 17:30 |
Half of the next hour
In , nine is the hour you are going towards. It is thirty minutes before nine: 08:30, or 20:30 in an evening context. The same pattern gives for 12:30 and for 17:30 in a working-day conversation. Official times use the full hour and minutes and can avoid ambiguity.
From one time until another
Use : . In this scene that is 09:00–17:30. With a thirty-minute break it is eight hours of work. A duration uses or : , .
Practice 1/5 · Finding words
Notice the useful forms
Tap the complete time phrases.
.
I come at nine.
.
It is five to nine.
.
Thomas comes at quarter to nine.
.
We work from nine until half past five.
Practice 2/5 · The right form
Read the clock
Choose the right word for the gap.
08:30 ist .
08:30 is half past eight.
08:45 ist .
08:45 is quarter to nine.
08:15 ist .
08:15 is quarter past eight.
17:30 ist .
17:30 is half past five in the afternoon.
Ich komme neun.
I come at nine.
Es fünf vor neun.
It is five to nine.
An exact time or a period?
Choose the right word for the gap.
Die Arbeit beginnt neun.
Work starts at nine.
Wir arbeiten von neun halb sechs.
We work from nine until half past five.
Die Pause dauert dreißig .
The break lasts thirty minutes.
Mit der Pause sind es acht Arbeit.
With the break, there are eight hours of work.
Practice 3/5 · Fill the gaps
Complete the conversation
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Es ist . Die Arbeit beginnt neun.
It is five to nine. Work starts at nine.
Thomas kommt um . Das ist 08:45.
Thomas comes at quarter to nine. That is 08:45.
Wir arbeiten neun halb sechs.
We work from nine until half past five.
Die Mittagspause ist um . Das ist 12:30.
Lunch break is at half past twelve. That is 12:30.
Practice 4/5 · Building sentences
Put the message together
Put the words in order.
What time is it?
I come at quarter to nine.
Work starts at nine.
The break lasts thirty minutes.
Practice 5/5 · In situations
Respond to the situation
Choose the right words for the situation.
Someone says halb neun. You check that you have understood the morning time correctly.
You say:
Halb points to the next hour; half an hour before nine is 08:30.
Someone says halb neun. You check that you have understood the morning time correctly.
You say:
Halb points to the next hour; half an hour before nine is 08:30.
You want to know when the working day ends.
You say:
Bis wann asks for the end of the time period.
You want to know when the working day ends.
You say:
Bis wann asks for the end of the time period.
Unit complete
