Daily English Day 4: Asking the Time and Numbers

Learning how to ask the time and use numbers is an essential step for everyday communication in English. Whether you are traveling, meeting friends, attending class, or simply shopping, knowing how to handle time expressions and numbers will make your conversations smoother and more natural. In this lesson, we will cover common phrases for asking the time, telling the time, and using numbers in real-life contexts.

Why Learning Time and Numbers Matters

Imagine you are in a new city and need to catch a bus. You might ask:

• “What time does the bus leave?”
  Or you may have an appointment and someone asks you:

• “What time should I meet you?”

Similarly, numbers are everywhere—when you buy food, pay for a taxi, or exchange phone numbers. Without them, daily life can be confusing. By the end of this lesson, you will feel confident asking the time, giving the time, and handling numbers in English.

Asking the Time

Here are the most common ways to ask what time it is:

• What time is it? (Most common and simple)

• Do you have the time? (Polite, casual)

• Could you tell me the time, please? (Polite and formal)

Example Dialogue

Anna: Excuse me, what time is it?
Ben: It’s three o’clock.
Anna: Thank you!
Ben: You’re welcome.

Telling the Time

When answering, you usually begin with “It’s…”

• It’s three o’clock. (3:00)

• It’s half past two. (2:30)

• It’s a quarter past four. (4:15)

• It’s a quarter to six. (5:45)

• It’s ten past seven. (7:10)

• It’s twenty to nine. (8:40)

Digital Time

In modern English, many people also use the digital style:

• It’s three fifteen. (3:15)

• It’s five forty-five. (5:45)

• It’s eight thirty. (8:30)

Both traditional (quarter past, half past) and digital forms are correct.

Morning, Afternoon, Evening, Night

To avoid confusion, add these words:

• in the morning (6:00 AM – 11:59 AM)

• in the afternoon (12:00 PM – 5:59 PM)

• in the evening (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM)

• at night (9:00 PM – 11:59 PM)

Example:

• It’s nine o’clock in the morning.

• The party starts at seven in the evening.

Practice Exercise – Asking and Telling Time

1. Ask your partner: “What time is it now?”

2. Answer using both traditional and digital forms. Example:

   • It’s half past ten.

   • It’s ten thirty.

Using Numbers in Daily Life

Numbers are everywhere. Let’s review the basics.

Cardinal Numbers (for counting)

• One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten

• Eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen … twenty

• Thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, ninety, one hundred

Examples:

• I have three brothers.

• She bought twenty apples.

• The hotel is on the fifteenth floor.

Ordinal Numbers (for order)

• First, second, third, fourth, fifth …

• Tenth, twentieth, thirtieth, hundredth

Examples:

• Today is the first of May.

• My birthday is on the twenty-second of July.

• This is my second time in Cebu.

Numbers in Real Conversations

Prices and Money

• How much is this?

• It’s fifty pesos.

• The ticket costs one hundred and twenty pesos.

Age

• How old are you?

• I’m twenty-five years old.

Phone Numbers

Say each number separately. Example:

• 0917 345 6789 → zero nine one seven, three four five, six seven eight nine

Dates

• Today is September third, twenty twenty-five.

• The meeting is on July fifteenth.

Practice Dialogue – Numbers

Lisa: How much is this bag?
Seller: It’s seven hundred pesos.
Lisa: Okay, I’ll take it.

Tom: When is your birthday?
Anna: It’s on the twelfth of December.

Cultural Tips

1. In some countries, people use the 24-hour clock (e.g., 15:00 instead of 3:00 PM). Learn to read both formats.

2. In phone numbers, “0” can be said as zero or oh. Example: 604 can be six zero four or six oh four.

3. When saying years:

   • 1995 → nineteen ninety-five

   • 2025 → twenty twenty-five

Quick Review

• To ask the time: “What time is it?”

• To answer: “It’s three o’clock.”

• Numbers are used for age, prices, phone numbers, and dates.

• Practice both traditional (quarter past, half past) and digital (3:15, 4:30) styles.

Practice Exercises

1. Ask three friends what time it is now and answer back with full sentences.

2. Write your phone number in English.

3. Practice saying your age, birthday, and today’s date aloud.

4. Imagine you are buying food. Ask: “How much is this?” and answer with numbers.

Conclusion

Mastering time and numbers in English is a key skill for daily conversations. Once you can ask and answer about the time, read prices, give your phone number, and say dates, you will feel more confident in almost any situation. Practice regularly, listen to how native speakers say time and numbers, and soon it will become natural.

FAQ:Asking the Time and Numbers

What are the most natural ways to ask for the time?

The three most common and polite ways are: “What time is it?”, “Do you have the time?”, and “Could you tell me the time, please?”. In shops or at stations, you might ask about a specific event: “What time does the store open?”, “What time does the bus leave?”, or “When does the movie start?” Keep your tone friendly and add “please” to sound courteous in any situation.

How do I tell the time in both traditional and digital styles?

Use “It’s + time.” For traditional style, use past and to with minutes: “It’s ten past seven” (7:10), “It’s a quarter past four” (4:15), “It’s half past two” (2:30), “It’s twenty to nine” (8:40), “It’s a quarter to six” (5:45). For digital style, simply say the numbers: “It’s seven ten,” “It’s four fifteen,” “It’s two thirty,” “It’s eight forty,” “It’s five forty-five.” Both are correct and widely understood.

When should I add AM or PM, and is capitalization important?

Use AM for morning (12:00 a.m. to 11:59 a.m.) and PM for afternoon/evening (12:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.). Many style guides accept AM/PM, a.m./p.m., or am/pm. Choose one style and be consistent. In spoken English, people often say “in the morning,” “in the afternoon,” or “in the evening” instead of AM/PM: “The meeting is at nine in the morning.”

How do I say exact hours and use “o’clock” correctly?

Use “o’clock” for exact hours only: “It’s three o’clock,” “It’s ten o’clock.” Don’t add minutes to “o’clock,” and avoid pairing it with AM/PM in speech. Instead of “It’s three o’clock p.m.,” say “It’s three p.m.” or “It’s three in the afternoon.”

What about noon and midnight—are 12 a.m./p.m. confusing?

Yes, “12 a.m.” and “12 p.m.” can be confusing. Prefer “noon” for 12:00 in the day and “midnight” for 12:00 at night. If you must be precise around midnight, add the date: “11:59 p.m. on September 3” or “12:01 a.m. on September 4.” This avoids misunderstandings in schedules and tickets.

How do I read the 24-hour clock (military time)?

Convert hours over 12 by subtracting 12 and adding “p.m.” Example: 15:00 → “three p.m.” 18:30 → “six thirty p.m.” For 00:00, say “midnight,” and for 12:00, say “noon.” In travel contexts (airlines, trains), 24-hour time is common, so practice recognizing it quickly.

What’s the difference between “to” and “past” when telling time?

Use “past” for minutes after the hour and “to” for minutes before the next hour. Examples: 3:05 → “five past three”; 3:20 → “twenty past three”; 3:40 → “twenty to four”; 3:55 → “five to four.” For half hours, say “half past” (2:30 → “half past two”), and for 15 minutes, say “a quarter past/to.”

How do I clearly schedule times across different time zones?

State the time with a time zone label and, if possible, convert for the listener: “The call is at 9:00 a.m. GMT+8 (that’s 2:00 a.m. in London).” In writing, you can add UTC offsets (e.g., “9:00 a.m. UTC+8”) or include both local and recipient times. When inviting internationally, include the date (with month spelled out) to avoid confusion.

How should I say numbers for prices, ages, and quantities?

For prices: “It’s fifty pesos,” “One hundred twenty pesos,” or “One hundred and twenty pesos” (British). For age: “I’m twenty-five years old” or simply “I’m twenty-five.” For quantities: “three apples,” “twenty students,” “one hundred tickets.” Hyphenate compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine when used as adjectives: “a twenty-five-year-old student.”

How do I read phone numbers and room numbers naturally?

Say phone numbers digit by digit: 0917 345 6789 → “zero nine one seven, three four five, six seven eight nine.” The digit “0” can be “zero” or “oh” (“six oh four”). For room numbers, read in groups: “Room three-oh-five” (305) or “Room three zero five.” Consistency and clarity are more important than one fixed style.

What is the best way to say dates in English?

There are two common formats. In American English: “September 3, 2025.” In British and international usage: “3 September 2025.” When speaking, use ordinals: “September third, twenty twenty-five” or “the third of September, twenty twenty-five.” To avoid numerical confusion (9/3/2025 vs 3/9/2025), write the month name.

How do I talk about decimals, fractions, and large numbers?

Decimals: say “point” and read each digit: 3.14 → “three point one four.” Fractions: “one half,” “one quarter,” “three quarters,” “two thirds.” Large numbers use groups: 1,000 → “one thousand,” 1,000,000 → “one million,” 1,500,000 → “one point five million.” For money with decimals, say “point”: “ten point five pesos” (or “ten pesos and fifty centavos,” depending on local usage).

What phrases help me confirm or clarify time politely?

Use softeners and checks: “Just to confirm, is the meeting at two thirty or three thirty?”, “Could you repeat the time, please?”, “Did you say a quarter past or a quarter to?”, “Is that a.m. or p.m.?” These lines prevent mistakes without sounding rude and are especially useful on the phone or in noisy places.

Are there differences between “What time is it?” and “When…?” questions?

Yes. “What time is it?” asks for the current time. “When…?” asks about a schedule: “When do you open?” (general schedule) vs “What time do you open today?” (specific clock time). Similarly: “When is the exam?” (date or general timing) vs “What time does the exam start?” (exact hour and minute).

How can I practice hearing and saying times more fluently?

Try mini-drills: look at a clock and say both versions—“It’s half past ten” and “It’s ten thirty.” Listen to transit announcements or weather reports and write the times you hear. Record yourself saying tricky forms (“a quarter to,” “twenty past”) and compare with online examples. Repetition builds automaticity and confidence.

What common mistakes should I avoid with time and numbers?

• Saying “o’clock” with minutes (“three o’clock thirty”)—don’t. Use “three thirty.”
• Mixing “to” and “past”: 8:40 is “twenty to nine,” not “twenty to eight.”
• Dropping AM/PM or time-of-day phrases when context is unclear—add “in the morning/afternoon/evening.”
• Confusing noon/midnight—prefer “noon” and “midnight” over 12 a.m./p.m.
• Writing ambiguous dates—spell the month: “3 September 2025” or “September 3, 2025.”

Can I use both traditional and digital time in the same conversation?

Absolutely. Many speakers switch naturally. You might hear “Meet at a quarter past four?” and answer “Sure, 4:15 works.” Exposure to both styles improves comprehension. When teaching or presenting, consider your audience: digital time is universally clear; traditional expressions add fluency and are common in everyday speech, media, and announcements.

How do I sound more polite when asking for times or prices?

Add softening language and thanks: “Excuse me, could you tell me the time, please?” “Do you happen to know what time the last train leaves?” “How much is this, please?” Follow with appreciation: “Thank you so much.” Tone, eye contact, and a smile also communicate politeness beyond the words themselves.

What quick phrases can I memorize for real-life situations?

• “What time is it, please?”
• “When do you open/close?”
• “What time does the bus/train leave/arrive?”
• “Could you say that again—was it ten past or ten to?”
• “How much is this?” / “What’s the price?”
• “My phone number is…” (then say each digit)
• “The meeting is at nine in the morning.”

Summary: What should I master first?

Start with three questions (“What time is it?”, “Do you have the time?”, “When does…?”), two telling styles (traditional “past/to”; digital “hour:minute”), and the key time anchors (morning, afternoon, evening, night; noon and midnight). Add everyday number skills—prices, ages, phone numbers, dates, decimals—and practice short dialogues daily. With consistent rehearsal, you’ll quickly understand others and express time and numbers clearly and politely.

Daily English Guide for Beginners: Speak with Confidence Every Day