Telling time

• Jul 28, 2017

• #1

wallypop

New in Town

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Telling Time:
Do you still say:
Quarter till three, Quarter after three, "Almost three", Half past three, or use digital?

 

• Jul 28, 2017

• #2

Lean'n'mean

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No. I would say " a quarter to three" or "quarter past three" or "nearly three " but only if it was 5:40.
It's 17:36 as I type this.

 

• Jul 28, 2017

• #3

LizzieMaine

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"Quattara six." "Happass six." "Quattapass six."

 

• Jul 28, 2017

• #4

wallypop

New in Town

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Try using terms "quarter", 1/2 past, etc., with kids under 18 or so....

 

• Jul 28, 2017

• #5

Tiki Tom

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Here in Austria (in German) they say stuff like "three minutes before quarter to four" or "seven minutes after half 'til five." My wife and I get a kick out of it.

 

• Jul 28, 2017

• #6

HanauMan

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Tiki Tom said:

Here in Austria (in German) they say stuff like "three minutes before quarter to four" or "seven minutes after half 'til five." My wife and I get a kick out of it.

Click to expand...

The Bavarians did the same when I lived there, didn't think it was unusual or anything.

I use 'quarter TO five' or 'half PAST seven'. I also use the 24 hour clock, so I use 1630 for 4.30.

 

• Jul 28, 2017

• #7

LizzieMaine

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Tabletop digital clock, manufactured by Pennwood Co., 1939.

 

• Jul 28, 2017

• #8

Fading Fast

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New York City

⇧ that's just Deco perfect.

 

• Jul 28, 2017

• #9

GHT

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LizzieMaine said:

Tabletop digital clock, manufactured by Pennwood Co., 1939.

Click to expand...

Our mantle clock has something of a similar appearance, must be the fluted edges, I never thought of it as art deco though. And it's not digital, it's still a nightly ritual to remember to wind it up.
My late grandfather, a retired police officer, always used the term: Five & twenty past or five & twenty to. But never transposed any other numerals on the clock. For me it's always past and to the hour. I have to stop and think when I hear five forty five. Ah yes, quarter to six.

 

• Aug 13, 2017

• #10

MisterCairo

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Quarter to/past, half past or "whatever hour" thirty, etc., IF I am referencing an analogue clock.

If I am referencing a digital time, I usually "read it" as presented, i.e if 3:15 I would say "three fifteen".

I am teaching our girls time oddly enough, and emphasize the quarter/ten/twenty/half/whatever past or to approach.