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Chapter 7: Time & Expressions: Reading

The document provides information about expressing time in English, including: 1) There are two common ways to tell time - saying the hours then minutes or minutes then hours, using terms like "past" and "to". 2) Expressions like "quarter past", "half past", and "a quarter to" can also be used. 3) Times are usually given using the 12-hour clock in ordinary speech. 4) Terms like "a.m." and "p.m." or "in the morning/afternoon/evening" indicate whether a time is before or after noon. 5) A conversation example demonstrates rescheduling a meeting time and lunch reservation

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143 views

Chapter 7: Time & Expressions: Reading

The document provides information about expressing time in English, including: 1) There are two common ways to tell time - saying the hours then minutes or minutes then hours, using terms like "past" and "to". 2) Expressions like "quarter past", "half past", and "a quarter to" can also be used. 3) Times are usually given using the 12-hour clock in ordinary speech. 4) Terms like "a.m." and "p.m." or "in the morning/afternoon/evening" indicate whether a time is before or after noon. 5) A conversation example demonstrates rescheduling a meeting time and lunch reservation

Uploaded by

Moli Cat
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 7: Time & expressions

Reading
 Before you read the passage, talk about these questions.
 What are some phrases used to mark time?
How can they be confusing?
 What are your impressions of people who are early or late to meetings ?

 Listen and read this email from one colleague to another. Then, mark the following
statements as true (T) or false (F)
1. ___ The woman wants to meet at 7:45 am.
2. ___ The presenters will provide coffee.
3. ___ The presenters will eat lunch an hour after the meeting.
Grammar
Telling the time

There are two Formal but easier way


common ways Say the hours first and then the minutes.
of telling the Example: 7:45 – Seven forty five
time
For minutes 01 through 09, you can pronounce the ‘o’ as oh.
Example: 11:06 – eleven (oh) six
More popular way
Say the minutes first and then the hours. use past and the preceding hour for minutes
01 through 30. Use to and the forthcoming hour for minutes 31 through 59, but.
Example: 7.15 – fifteen minutes past seven
Example: 7.45 – fifteen minutes to eight

Another possibility of saying ’15 minutes past’ is: a quarter past


Another possibility of saying ’15 minutes to’ is: a quarter to
Another possibility of saying ’30 minutes past’ is: half past
Example: 5:30 – half past five

Note
Use o’clock only at the full hour.
Example: 7:00 – seven o’clock (but 7:10 – ten past seven)

In English ordinary speech, the twelve-hour clock is used.


Example: 17:20 – twenty past five

For times around midnight or midday you can use the expressions midnight
or midday / noon instead of the number 12.
Example: 00:00 – midnight
Example: 12:00 – midday or noon

To make clear (where necessary) whether you mean a time before 12 o’clock
noon or after, you can use;
In the morning (before 12 o’clock noon)
In the afternoon (after 12 o’clock noon)
In the evening
At night
Example: 3:15 – a quarter past three in the morning OR a quarter past three at
night

More formal expressions to indicate whether a time is before noon or after are
a.m. (also: am – ante meridiem, before noon)
p.m. (also: pm – post meridiem, after noon)
Example: 3:15 – three fifteen a.m

 Match the times 1-6 to a-f.

1. One o’clōck a. 01:00


2. Quarter to tēn b. 08:40
3. Twenty past five c. 04:15
4. Half past seven d. 21:45
5. Quarter past four e. 17:20
6. Twenty to nīne f. 07:30

 Complete the times.

02:05 19:35 03:10


1. Five past _________ 2. Twenty-five to _________ 3. Ten ______ _______

10:50 18:25 23:55


4. ______ _____ eleven 5. _____ -five ____ _____ 6. _____ _____ ______

Speaking
Expression of time
 Listen to a conversation between two colleagues. Mark the following statements as
true (T) or false (F).
1. __ The meeting has been cancelled.
2. __ The man plans to practice more.
3. __ the woman suggests eating lunch at 2:15.

 Listen again and complete the conversation.


Man : Good morning, Sarah, ready to go over the presentation ?
Woman : Hi Mark, Actually. There’s been a 1 _____ .
Man : Oh? 2 _____ _____?
Woman : The meeting is 3 _____ until half past eleven.
Man : Oh well. We can just spend the extra time 4 _____ .
Woman : true. And we’ll have a longer break. But we’re going to miss
our lunch reservation.
Man : I’ll call and reschedule.
Woman : good idea. Try to 5 _____ a table for a quarter 6 _____ _____
 With a partner, act out the roles below, based on the above dialogue. Then switch roles.

USE LANGUAGE SUCH AS:


The meeting is … until …
We can spend the extra time …
Try ti ,,, a tabke for …

Student A : Your meeting has been changed. Talk to Student B about :


• New time
• how to spend time
• reservations
Make up a new time for the meeting and lunch

Student B : Talk with Student A about changes to the schedule

Writing

 Use the conversation from speaking part to complete your schedule for the day of
the meeting. Use expressions about time to schedule activities. Use tomorrow’s date.

Schedule
Day of the meeting : _____________________________
Practice presentation : _____________________________
Coffee break : _____________________________
Meeting start time : _____________________________
Meeting end time : _____________________________
Lunch : _____________________________

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