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Jacky56Lin Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Talking about telling time in English. help me please.

Dear Teachers



Talking about telling time in English

I know there are many ways. Some questions for your help.

Q1:

8:30 / eight thirty

If the time is 8:08, I will say, eight eight or eight after eight, which one is better in spoken English.

For example: when time is 9:09, 10:10, 11:11, 12:12 or 1:01, how to say it can make people easily understand.

I mean just say one one, or eleven eleven , that way can make people understand?

Or maybe say one after one or eleven after eleven is much better.

Q2:

Mom: do you have the time?

Son: it’s ten to seven.

Generally the son will answer like that way.

But if the mom found the son seems late for something or the son forgot something that he had to do.

The mom just reminds him of the time for him to do something. And asks,

Mom (angry tone): do you have the time? (I don’t know if mom can ask like this in this scene)

1. Son: sorry, I woke up late.

2. or Son: wow! It’s 7:30 already, I will be late for school.

3. or Son: oops! I forgot to do that thing you told me.

Can son answer like 1,2,or 3 ,

Q3: is there any tense mistake the words as below inked yellow?

But if the mom found the son seems late for something or the son forgot something that he had to do.



Thanks a lot.
  

Top answer

Hi, Talking about telling time in English I know there are many ways. Some questions for your help. Q1: 8:30 / eight thirty If the time is 8:08, I will say, eight eight or eight after eight, which one is better in spoken English.

  • Hi, Talking about telling time in English I know there are many ways.
  • Some questions for your help.
  • Q1: 8:30 / eight thirty If the time is 8:08, I will say, eight eight or eight after eight, which one is better in spoken English.
  • ' There is usually no need for greater exactness.
  • For example: when time is 9:09, 10:10, 11:11, 12:12 or 1:01 , how to say it can make people easily understand.
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6 Answers
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Hi,
Talking about telling time in English
I know there are many ways. Some questions for your help.
Q1:
8:30 / eight thirty
If the time is 8:08, I will say, eight eight or eight after eight, which one is better in spoken English.
I'd just say eg 'It's ( about/nearly ) ten past eight.' There is usually no need for greater exactness.
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For 8:08, I would say "eight oh eight."
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Thank you very much.
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Oops!

Teacher Clive I lost one more question that I want to ask.



As this said by you, “In an angry context like this, we usually say 'Do you know the time?'



And When I want to know what time it is now, can I ask somebody “Do you know the time?”?



I mean if it is a natural way to ask someone for the
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Hi,

Not very natural.

The commonest, simplest and most direct things to say are
'What time is it, please?'
'Can you tell me the time, please?'

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Thank you very much!

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