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?
- AIl est huit heures quarante-cinq.
- BIl est neuf heures moins le quart.
- CIl est huit heures trois quarts.
- DLes deux premières sont correctes.
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