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Ask Questions Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Telling time?
Which one is correct?
It's seven to nine.
It's seven minutes to nine.
I think both are fine, but my grammar book suggests second one. Why?
Thank you.
It's seven to nine.
It's seven minutes to nine.
I think both are fine, but my grammar book suggests second one. Why?
Thank you.
Top answer
Colloquially the first could be okay but certainly the latter is the right one to use in most circumstances. The more common ones - five to, ten to, quarter to, twenty to and twenty-five to - are all used without 'minutes' as they are such regular ones everyone immediately knows what they mean. The less-used numbers - such as seven - need 'minutes' added to them because they aren't obviously about the time as they are infrequently heard.
- Colloquially the first could be okay but certainly the latter is the right one to use in most circumstances.
- The more common ones - five to, ten to, quarter to, twenty to and twenty-five to - are all used without 'minutes' as they are such regular ones everyone immediately knows what they mean.
- The less-used numbers - such as seven - need 'minutes' added to them because they aren't obviously about the time as they are infrequently heard.
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3 Answers
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Colloquially the first could be okay but certainly the latter is the right one to use in most circumstances.
The more common ones - five to, ten to, quarter to, twenty to and twenty-five to - are all used without 'minutes' as they are such regular ones everyone immediately knows what they mean.
The less-used numbers - such as seven - need 'minutes' added to them because they aren't obvious
The more common ones - five to, ten to, quarter to, twenty to and twenty-five to - are all used without 'minutes' as they are such regular ones everyone immediately knows what they mean.
The less-used numbers - such as seven - need 'minutes' added to them because they aren't obvious
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"five/ten/a quarter/twenty/twenty five/half" + "past" + [hour]
"five/ten/a quarter/twenty/twenty five" + "to" + [hour]
Otherwise, if the specific number of minutes is said, then "minutes" should be used.
[cross-posted]
"five/ten/a quarter/twenty/twenty five" + "to" + [hour]
Otherwise, if the specific number of minutes is said, then "minutes" should be used.
[cross-posted]
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Ask QuestionsIt's seven to nine.If the number of minutes is not a multiple of five, it's better to say the hour and number of minutes after the hour.
It's 8:53. (It's eight fifty-three.)
CJ
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