SpeakingA18 min
Telling the time
Ask and give the time in 12h and 24h formats.
France uses 24h time officially (timetables, formal speech) but 12h time in casual conversation.
Formulas
Asking: « Quelle heure est-il ? » Answer: « Il est [number] heures [minutes]. » Half: « et demie ». Quarter past: « et quart ». Quarter to: « moins le quart ».
- It is a quarter past eight. (8:15)
- It is half past noon. (12:30)
- It is a quarter to six. (5:45)
Sample exercise
How do you say 8h45?
- AIt is eight forty-five.
- BIt is a quarter to nine.
- CIt is eight three quarters.
- DThe first two are correct.
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