Telling the time and reading the clock

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

This lesson is designed for A1 learners to grasp how to read and express time in German. You will learn practical phrases used in everyday contexts like asking for the time, describing exact hours and quarters, and using common time expressions. The lesson also introduces essential vocabulary related to time and clocks to help you build a solid foundation.

Key Vocabulary: Time Expressions and Timekeeping Devices

Understanding the vocabulary is crucial. Here are some important words divided into categories for clarity:

• Time Expressions: die Minute (minute), die Sekunde (second), die Stunde (hour), die Uhrzeit (time of day), drei Uhr zehn (three ten), viertel nach drei (quarter past three)
• Timekeeping Devices: die Uhr (clock/watch), die Zeit (time)

Common Phrases for Telling Time

You will encounter phrases like:

• "Wie viel Uhr ist es jetzt?" (What time is it now?)
• "Es ist Viertel nach drei." (It is quarter past three.)
• "Der Zug kommt um acht Uhr fünf an." (The train arrives at five past eight.)
• "Der Film fängt um halb sieben an." (The film starts at half past six.)
• "Es ist fünf vor acht." (It is five to eight.)

Practical Dialogues for Real-Life Situations

Practice arranging and understanding common dialogues such as:

• At the train station: Asking about departure times and arrivals.
• At the office: Scheduling meetings and agreeing on times.
• In a café: Asking for and telling the current time.

Verb Practice: Conjugation and Usage

Key verbs include:

• Ankommen (to arrive): ich komme an, du kommst an, er kommt an, etc.
• Wissen (to know): ich weiß, du weißt, er weiß, etc.
• Beginnen (to begin): ich beginne, du beginnst, er beginnt, etc.

You will practice using these verbs in context, such as "Wann kommt dein Kollege zur Besprechung an?" (When does your colleague arrive for the meeting?).

Differences Between English and German Time Expressions

German often uses unique expressions for time that differ from English:

• Half Hours: In German, "halb sieben" means 6:30, literally "half seven," which corresponds to the half hour before seven, unlike English where it would mean 7:30.
• Quarters: "Viertel nach drei" means quarter past three, and "viertel vor zehn" means quarter to ten — these are very commonly used.
• Ordering Words: The verb often comes second in a main clause, affecting how you ask "What time is it?" — "Wie viel Uhr ist es?" which is slightly different from English syntax.

Helpful phrases include:

• "Wie viel Uhr ist es?" (What time is it?)
• "Es ist Viertel vor zwölf." (It is quarter to twelve.)
• "Der Zug fährt um halb fünf ab." (The train leaves at 4:30.)
• "Kommst du pünktlich?" (Are you coming on time?)

This lesson builds a useful skill for daily activities, appointments, and traveling, reinforcing vocabulary through examples and spoken situations.