Telling the time and reading the clock

Lesson Overview: Telling the Time and Reading the Clock in French

This lesson is designed for A1-level French learners to understand how to express time, read clocks, and use common time-related expressions. You will learn specific vocabulary, sentence structures, and phrases that allow you to talk about hours, durations, and schedules naturally in French.

Key Topics Covered

• Reading the time: Expressing time precisely, such as "Il est neuf heures pile" (It is nine o'clock sharp) or "Il est treize heures et demie" (It is half past one).
• Time-related expressions: Words and phrases like depuis (since), jusqu'à (until), and pendant (during/for) that describe timing and durations.
• Useful vocabulary: Terms to identify clocks and watches, as well as expressions for fractions of an hour like et quart (quarter past) and et demie (half past).

Essential Vocabulary Examples

• Heures précises: "dix-sept heures (pile)" (5 p.m. sharp), "midi" (noon), "minuit" (midnight), "vingt heures trente" (8:30 p.m.)
• Éléments pour lire l'heure: "la montre" (watch), "l'horloge" (clock), "et quart" (quarter past), "et demie" (half past)

Common Phrases and Usage

You'll practice sentences like:

• "Quelle heure est-il maintenant ?" (What time is it now?)
• "La réunion dure jusqu'à dix-huit heures." (The meeting lasts until 6 p.m.)
• "Je travaille depuis neuf heures du matin." (I have been working since 9 a.m.)
• "Nous parlons pendant dix minutes chaque jour." (We speak for ten minutes each day.)

Practical Dialogues

Situations such as asking the time at the train station, scheduling meetings at the office, or discussing café opening hours help contextualize the vocabulary and expressions. For example:

• At the train station: "Excusez-moi, quelle heure est-il, s'il vous plaît ?" and "Le train part à onze heures quinze."
• At the office: "À quelle heure commence la réunion ?" and "Elle dure jusqu'à seize heures."
• At a café: "À quelle heure ouvrez-vous ?" and "Nous sommes ouverts pendant douze heures."

Difference Between English and French Time Expressions

In French, the 24-hour clock ("heure militaire") is commonly used, especially in formal contexts like trains, offices, and schedules—e.g., "treize heures" for 1 p.m. In contrast, English speakers often use the 12-hour clock with a.m. and p.m. To express quarters and halves, French uses "et quart" (15 minutes past) or "et demie" (30 minutes past), while English says "quarter past" or "half past." Also, prepositions like depuis, pendant, and jusqu'à have specific temporal uses important to understand.

Useful Phrases for Beginners

• "Il est neuf heures pile." (It is exactly nine o'clock.)
• "Je travaille jusqu'à dix-huit heures aujourd'hui." (I work until 6 p.m. today.)
• "Nous parlons au téléphone pendant dix minutes chaque matin." (We speak on the phone for ten minutes every morning.)
• "Depuis ce matin, je travaille sur ce projet." (I have been working on this project since this morning.)