Clock time
Use singular for one o’clock and plural , for the other hours. Ask or .
Add for half past: . Use for a quarter to: .
To say at a time, use but for the other hours: , , . Clock times in timetables can use the 24-hour system.
Compare a statement of the time with an activity time: means it is seven; means I get up at seven.
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| It is one o'clock. | ||
| It is one o'clock. | ||
| It is two o'clock. | ||
| It is two o'clock. | ||
| It is half past five. | ||
| It is half past five. | ||
| It is a quarter to nine. | ||
| It is a quarter to nine. | ||
| at half past six | ||
| at half past six | ||
Adesso sono le nove meno cinque.Now it's five to nine.
Il pranzo è alle dodici e mezza.Lunch is at half past twelve.
Marco va a letto alle sette.Marco goes to bed at seven.
La riunione è alle undici.The meeting is at eleven.
Alle otto e tre quarti, il nuovo collega è già in ufficio.At a quarter to nine, the new colleague is already in the office.
Alle otto e tre quarti, la nuova collega è già in ufficio.At a quarter to nine, the new colleague is already in the office.
Alle cinque e mezza, Lukas è ancora al lavoro.At half past five, Lukas is still at work.
Alle cinque e mezza, Lena è ancora al lavoro.At half past five, Lena is still at work.
Che ora è? — È l'una.What time is it? — It's one o'clock.
La mattina, Chiara apre il bar alle sei e mezza.In the morning, Chiara opens the café at half past six.
Practice 1/6 · Finding words
Notice the useful pattern
Tap the form practised in this unit.
.
Now it's five to nine.
.
Lunch is at half past twelve.
.
Marco goes to bed at seven.
.
The meeting is at eleven.
Practice 2/6 · The right form
Choose the form
Use the English meaning and the pattern in this unit.
Adesso sono le .
Now it's five to nine.
Il pranzo è alle .
Lunch is at half past twelve.
Marco va a letto alle .
Marco goes to bed at seven.
La riunione è alle .
The meeting is at eleven.
Alle , il nuovo collega è già in ufficio.
At a quarter to nine, the new colleague is already in the office.
Alle , la nuova collega è già in ufficio.
At a quarter to nine, the new colleague is already in the office.
Alle , Lukas è ancora al lavoro.
At half past five, Lukas/Lena is still at work.
Alle , Lena è ancora al lavoro.
At half past five, Lukas/Lena is still at work.
Che ora è? — .
What time is it? — It's one o'clock.
La mattina, Chiara apre il bar alle .
In the morning, Chiara opens the café at half past six.
Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps
Complete the messages
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Marco va a letto alle .
Marco goes to bed at seven.
La riunione è alle .
The meeting is at eleven.
Alle , il nuovo collega è già in ufficio.
At a quarter to nine, the new colleague is already in the office.
Alle , la nuova collega è già in ufficio.
At a quarter to nine, the new colleague is already in the office.
Alle , Lukas è ancora al lavoro.
At half past five, Lukas/Lena is still at work.
Alle , Lena è ancora al lavoro.
At half past five, Lukas/Lena is still at work.
Che ora è? — .
What time is it? — It's one o'clock.
La mattina, Chiara apre il bar alle .
In the morning, Chiara opens the café at half past six.
Practice 4/6 · Building sentences
Build a sentence
Put the words in order.
Now it's five to nine.
Lunch is at half past twelve.
Marco goes to bed at seven.
The meeting is at eleven.
At half past five, Lukas/Lena is still at work.
At half past five, Lukas/Lena is still at work.
What time is it? — It's one o'clock.
Practice 5/6 · In situations
What would you say?
Choose the right words for the situation.
Now it's five to nine.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
Now it's five to nine.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
Lunch is at half past twelve.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
Lunch is at half past twelve.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
Marco goes to bed at seven.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
Marco goes to bed at seven.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
The meeting is at eleven.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
The meeting is at eleven.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
Practice 6/6 · Matching
Connect messages and meanings
Match the pairs.
Unit complete
