English has many ways to express time. Start with our ESL time vocabulary guide for foundations.
Formal Time Expressions
- "It's [number] o'clock" — exact hours
- "It's half past [number]" — for :30
- "It's quarter past/to [number]" — for :15/:45
Informal Expressions
"Around [time]", "A little after/before", "Sharp" / "On the dot", "-ish" ("Come at 3-ish")
Practice Through Games
Use clock games to practice in context. Our complete lesson plan integrates these expressions. Understanding AM/PM conventions is also important.