LIFE002 · Telling the Time: Words That Matter on a Night Shift
🕐 Telling the Time
Level: A1 | Time: 5 min | Focus: Numbers + Time expressions
📖 From Sourov’s world: At the casino, time is everything. My shift started at 6 pm and ended at 2 am. In those eight hours I learned that “quarter past”, “half past” and “midnight” are words that really matter when you are tired and watching the clock.
🔑 Key Language
3:00 — It’s three o’clock
3:15 — quarter past three
3:30 — half past three
3:45 — quarter to four
12:00 — midday / midnight
? — What time is it?
💡 Grammar Note: am vs pm
am = midnight → midday pm = midday → midnight
“My shift starts at 6 pm.” = six in the evening
“I finish at 2 am.” = two in the morning — very late!
✏️ Quick Activity — Match the clock
Write the time in words:
- 8:00 → _______________
- 9:15 → _______________
- 10:30 → _______________
- 11:45 → _______________
👀 Show Answers
1. eight o’clock 2. quarter past nine 3. half past ten 4. quarter to twelve
⭐ Takeaway: “past” goes up to the half-hour; “to” counts down to the next hour. Once that clicks, clocks make sense in English.
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