Functional English

ASKING FOR

The Time
Warm-Up
Look at the clock or your watch or mobile device right
now. Can you say the local time in English? What time
do you think it is in these other places? Guess! Then
check who guessed the closest.
1. What time is it in Toronto, Canada?
2. What time is it in London, England?
3. What time is it in Sydney, Australia?

1. Dialogues
Read the dialogues, and practice with a partner.
In Part C, fill in the blanks to complete the conversation as you practice.

A. Ask for the Time

B. Talk about the Time

C. Check the Time

A:Excuse me, do you

have the time?

A:Do you have the time?

A:I don't see a clock. Do you

have the ?

B:It's 5:30. (five thirty)

B:Just a minute.
I'll check my phone.

A:Oh no! I'm late for the bus.

A: Thanks.

A:Oh good. I thought I was late.

B:Don't worry. My watch

is a few minutes fast.

B:It's quarter to ten.

B:You're .
Class starts in about
ten .

A:Okay, good. The bus

comes at half past.
B:It's about 5:28.
(five twenty-eight)

A:Sorry? I didn't hear you.

B:It's nine forty-five.
A:Okay, great. Thanks!

B:Yes. It's .

A: When does class end?

Is it two hours long?
B:Yes. It's over at .

Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms.

Asking for the Time

Functional English

2. Saying and Writing the Time

11

12

11

10

12

11
2

12

11
2

4
7

12

11
2

9
4
7

4:50
four fifty /
ten to five

12

12

10
3

4
6

4:25
four twenty-five /
twenty-five after four
11

4:40
four forty /
twenty to five

3
8

4
7

4:45
four forty-five /
quarter to five

10
3

4
7

4:35
four thirty-five /
twenty-five to five

10

10
3

4:30
four thirty /
half past four
11

12

4:20
four twenty /
twenty after four
11

12

4
6

10
3

10
3

12

11
2

4
5

4:05
four oh five /
five after four

4:15
four fifteen /
quarter after four

10

8
7

2
3

10

4
7

4:10
four ten /
ten after four
11

12

4:00
four oclock / four pm /
four in the afternoon
11

12

10

4
7

4
7

10
3

12

2
3

12:00 am
twelve oclock in the
morning / midnight

10

11

4
7

12

10
3

12:00 pm
twelve oclock in the
afternoon / noon
11

4
7

11

10
3

12

3
8

4
7

4:55
four fifty-five /
five to five

Morning or Night?
Do your listeners know if you mean morning or night?
If not, say "am" after a morning time. Say "pm" after
an afternoon or evening time.

Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms.

Asking for the Time

Functional English

3. Questions about Time

Write an answer to each question using the information in brackets.
1. What time is it?

(3:00)

2. Do you have the time?

5. Am I late?

(Yes / 4:00 pm)

3. Is it five o'clock yet?

6. Am I early?

(No / 4:45)

4. Does that clock say quarter after three?

(No / on time)

(No / late)

7. Were you on time?

(Yes)

(No / 30 minutes late)

8. Will you be here by noon?

(No / 12:15)

4. Speaking Practice
Work with a partner. One of you will say a time from any of the analog or digital
clocks. The other will point to the clock that says that time.
11

12

10

11

3:45

4
7

10

3
8

12

11:55

12:00
3

4
7

11

12

10

3
8

2:00

4
7

5. Choose the Correct Response

Circle the best response for each question.
1. Do you have the time?
a)Yes, I'm late.
b)Sorry, I don't.
c)I'm out of time.
2. What time is it?
a)Half past six.
b)A little early.
c)No, it's seven.

3. Am I late?
a)Quarter to three.
b)No, you're on time.
c)Later.

5. Is it time to go now?
a)Yes, it's three o'clock.
b)I was late.
c)Seven thirty.

4. When does the bus come?

a)No, it's on time.
b)Around 2:25 pm.
c)I don't have time.

Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms.

Asking for the Time

Functional English

Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION:

TAGS:

Students review language and useful expressions for telling time.

functional English, useful expressions,

They practice telling someone what time it is and asking about the time.

low-intermediate, socializing, telling time, clocks

Warm-Up

SPELLING NOTE:
This lesson shows the American spelling of the word Practice.

Individual answers. If you are teaching in Toronto, Sydney,

orLondon, choose another city to check. Visit The World Clock
foranswers: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/

Other English-speaking countries spell this word this way: Practise

(when used as a verb; Practice when used as a noun). Make it a
challenge for your students to find this word in the lesson and
seeif they know the alternate spelling.

1. Dialogues

EDITORS NOTE:

Have students read the dialogues out loud in pairs.

You may also want to teach our related Functional

3. Questions about Time

English lessons, Asking about Days and Dates and

1.

Its 3:00.

Sentences lesson, Simple Present What time is it?

2.

Yes. Its 4:00.

3.

No, its only 3:45.

4.

Yes, its 3:15.

5.

No, youre on time.

6.

No, youre late.

7.

No, I was 30 minutes late. No, I was half an hour late.

8.

No, I wont be there until 12:15.

Saying&WritingNumbers. We also have a Basic Grammar

No, Ill be 15 minutes late.

4. Speaking Practice
1.

six twenty or twenty after six

2.

three forty-five or quarter to four

3.

eleven fifty-five or five to twelve

4.

seven fifteen or quarter after seven

5.

two oclock

6.

twelve oclock or noon or midnight

7.

eight thirty or half past eight

5. Choose the Correct Response

1. b

2. a

3. b

4. b

5. a

Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms.