Telling the time and reading the clock
Dire l'heure et lire l'horloge
- Ask and tell the time
- Read the clock
- Expression of time: "Depuis, Jusqu'à, Pendant, etc..."
- How to tell the time?
Learn how to tell the time in French with key expressions like « quelle heure est-il ? », and vocabulary such as « la montre », « dix-sept heures pile », « et quart », and temporal prepositions like « depuis » and « jusqu'à ».
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
Vocabulary (17) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Reorder sentences
Instruction: Make correct sentences and translate.
Exercise 2: Match a word
Instruction: Match the translations
Exercise 3: Cluster the words
Instruction: Sort the following words into two categories: those that indicate a precise time and those that designate elements useful for telling time.
Heures précises
Éléments pour lire l'heure
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Pile
On the dot
2
Et quart
Quarter past
3
Et demie
Half past
4
Il est l'heure !
It's time!
5
L'horloge
The clock
Exercice 5: Conversation exercise
Instruction:
- What time is it in the pictures? (What time is it in the pictures?)
- What time is it right now? (What time is it right now?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
|
Il est trois heures et demie. It's half past 3. |
|
Il est quatre heures de l'après-midi. It is four o'clock in the afternoon. |
|
Il est midi moins le quart. It's a quarter to twelve. |
|
Il est cinq heures dix. It is ten after five. |
|
Il est dix heures et quart du matin. It's quarter past ten in the morning. |
|
Il est une heure du matin. It is one o'clock at night. |
| ... |
Exercise 6: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 7: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Il est dix-sept heures pile, je ___ l'heure sur ma montre.
(It is exactly five o'clock, I ___ the time on my watch.)2. Depuis ce matin, je ___ des rendez-vous à mes collègues.
(Since this morning, I ___ appointments with my colleagues.)3. Pendant la réunion, je ___ l'agenda attentivement.
(During the meeting, I ___ the agenda carefully.)4. Je ___ toujours l'heure exacte à mes amis.
(I ___ always give the exact time to my friends.)Exercise 8: A Well-Organized Day
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Lire - Read
Présent
- je lis
- tu lis
- il/elle/on lit
- nous lisons
- vous lisez
- ils/elles lisent
Donner - Give
Présent
- je donne
- tu donnes
- il/elle/on donne
- nous donnons
- vous donnez
- ils/elles donnent
Exercise 9: Expression du temps: "Depuis, Jusqu'à, Pendant, etc..."
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Expression of time: "Depuis, Jusqu'à, Pendant, etc..."
Show translation Show answersjusque, pendant, depuis, jusqu'à
Exercise 10: Comment lire l'heure ?
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: How to tell the time?
Show translation Show answersquatre, minuit quatre, cinq, quinze, seize, midi moins le quart, cinquante cinq, moins vingt, et quart, vingt., dix sept heures (pile), neuf
Grammar Share Copied!
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A1.13.2 Grammaire
Expression du temps: "Depuis, Jusqu'à, Pendant, etc..."
Expression of time: "Depuis, Jusqu'à, Pendant, etc..."
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Lire to read Share Copied!
Present
| French | English |
|---|---|
| (je/j') je lis / j'lis | I read |
| tu lis | you read |
| (il/elle/on) il lit / elle lit / on lit | he reads / she reads / one reads |
| nous lisons | We read |
| vous lisez | You read |
| (ils/elles) ils lisent / elles lisent | they read |
Donner to give Share Copied!
Present
| French | English |
|---|---|
| (je/j') donne | I give |
| (tu) donnes | you give |
| (il/elle/on) donne | he/she/one gives |
| (nous) donnons | we give |
| (vous) donnez | You give |
| (ils/elles) donnent | they give |
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Understanding How to Tell Time and Read the Clock in French
This lesson focuses on practical expressions related to time. You will learn how to ask and tell the exact time, mention durations, and use common time-related phrases in French daily life. This is ideal for A1 level learners aiming to master basic time expressions and improve conversation related to schedules and appointments.
Key Time Expressions
Familiarize yourself with expressions that indicate a specific time, such as "dix-sept heures (pile)", "midi", "vingt heures trente", and phrases used to describe parts of the hour like "et quart" (quarter past) and "et demie" (half past). Useful words like "la montre" (watch) and "l'horloge" (clock) are essential vocabulary.
Important Time-Related Prepositions and Connectors
The lesson includes time expressions such as depuis (since/from), jusqu'à (until), and pendant (during/for). These are crucial to talk about when an action starts, ends, or how long it lasts.
Sample Sentences to Know
- "Il est neuf heures pile, nous commençons la réunion." (It's exactly nine o'clock, we start the meeting.)
- "Je travaille jusqu'à dix-huit heures aujourd'hui." (I work until six PM today.)
- "Nous parlons au téléphone pendant dix minutes chaque matin." (We talk on the phone for ten minutes each morning.)
- "Depuis ce matin, je travaille sur ce projet." (Since this morning, I have been working on this project.)
Scenarios Covered
You will practice asking for and giving time at various places such as the train station, office meetings, and cafés. These dialogues help you use key phrases naturally and understand typical daily conversations involving time:
- Asking for departure and arrival times at the train station.
- Setting the start and end times for meetings.
- Discussing opening and closing hours for shops or cafés.
Verb Practice with Time Context
This lesson emphasizes verbs like lire (to read) and donner (to give) in present tense, commonly used when talking about reading the time or giving time information. For example, "Il est dix-sept heures pile, je lis l'heure sur ma montre." (It is exactly five PM, I read the time on my watch.)
Notable Differences: English vs. French Time Expressions
Unlike English, French uses the 24-hour clock more commonly, especially in formal contexts. Instead of "1:30 PM," you say "treize heures et demie." Also, French time expressions often use specific connectors like depuis and pendant to denote duration or starting points of actions, which can differ from English usage. For example, "I have been working since morning" translates to "Je travaille depuis ce matin."
Useful Phrases to Remember
- "Quelle heure est-il ?" – What time is it?
- "La réunion dure jusqu'à dix-huit heures." – The meeting lasts until 6 PM.
- "Je travaille depuis neuf heures du matin." – I have been working since 9 AM.
- "Il est treize heures et demie." – It is 1:30 PM.
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