Time is everywhere — in clocks, school bells, TV shows, bus schedules, and even bedtime!
Knowing how to tell time helps you:
Wake up at the right hour
Get to school on time
Know when your favourite cartoon starts
Manage your day better
Example:
If you have a cricket class at 5:00 PM and your home is 15 minutes away from the field, you know you must leave home at 4:45 PM.
Understanding the Clock
Before you read time, you need to know your clock.
The Two Types of Clocks
There are two main types:
Analog Clock – The round clock with numbers (1 to 12) and moving hands.
Digital Clock – Shows numbers directly (like 07:30 or 19:45).
Parts of an Analog Clock
An analog clock has three hands:
Hour Hand – Short hand, points to the hour.
Minute Hand – Long hand, points to minutes.
Second Hand – Very thin hand, moves quickly, counts seconds.
Example:
If the short hand is on 3 and the long hand is on 12, the time is 3:00.
Numbers on the Clock
Numbers 1 to 12 represent the hours in one rotation.
There are 60 minutes in one full circle.
Each number also represents 5 minutes when we read the minute hand.
Example:
Number 1 = 5 minutes, Number 2 = 10 minutes, and so on.
Understanding Hours and Minutes
Reading the Hour Hand
The short hand points to the current hour.
If it is between two numbers, the smaller number is the hour.
Example:
If the short hand is between 4 and 5, it’s 4 o’clock (something).
Reading the Minute Hand
The long hand points to minutes.
Start counting from 12 in steps of 5.
Example:
If the long hand points at 3, it is 15 minutes past the hour.
Combining Hours and Minutes
First read the hour hand, then the minute hand.
Example:
Hour hand at 2, minute hand at 6 → Time is 2:30.
AM and PM – Understanding the Day
The day has 24 hours, but we often use a 12-hour clock with AM and PM.
AM = Morning (Midnight 12:00 AM to 11:59 AM)
PM = Afternoon and night (12:00 PM to 11:59 PM)
Example:
7:00 AM → Breakfast time
7:00 PM → Dinner time
Special Words in Telling Time
4.1 O’clock
When the minute hand is on 12, say o’clock.
Example: 5:00 → Five o’clock
Past and To
Past → Minutes after the hour.
To → Minutes before the next hour.
Examples:
3:10 → Ten past three
3:50 → Ten to four
Quarter and Half
Quarter past → 15 minutes after the hour.
Quarter to → 15 minutes before the hour.
Half past → 30 minutes after the hour.
Examples:
4:15 → Quarter past four
4:45 → Quarter to five
4:30 → Half past four
Practice with Examples
Example 1:
Hour hand at 7, minute hand at 12 → 7:00 → Seven o’clock.
Example 2:
Hour hand at 9, minute hand at 3 → 9:15 → Quarter past nine.
Example 3:
Hour hand between 10 and 11, minute hand at 8 → 10:40 → Twenty to eleven.
Reading a Digital Clock
How it Works
Shows time directly in numbers (HH:MM).
08:30 means 8 hours and 30 minutes.
24-Hour Time
00:00 → Midnight
12:00 → Noon
After noon, hours go up to 23:59.
Examples:
14:00 = 2:00 PM
20:30 = 8:30 PM
Fun Tips to Learn Faster
Practice on both analog and digital clocks.
Use a toy clock with moving hands.
Watch the clock when your favourite show starts.
Ask family members to quiz you.
Why Practice Matters
Just like riding a bicycle, telling time becomes easier with daily use.
By practising, you will be able to quickly tell time and plan your day better.
Summary Table
Term Meaning Example
O’clock Minute hand on 12 6:00 = Six o’clock
Quarter past 15 minutes after the hour 3:15
Half past 30 minutes after the hour 7:30
Quarter to 15 minutes before next hour 5:45
AM Midnight to before noon 10:00 AM
PM Noon to before midnight 8:00 PM
Final Note
Learning to tell time is like learning a new language — the language of the clock. Once you understand hours, minutes, and AM/PM, you can manage your day with confidence.
Remember:
Short hand = Hour
Long hand = Minute
Practice makes perfect!
