English Vocabulary for Time

Learn How to Tell the Time in English

This is a lesson to help you learn common ways of expressing the time in English. There are eight learning methods for you to work through, including five different games and three different types of flashcard. At the end, there are three example sentences for each word.

Vocabulary Games for

The games and flashcards are currently set to test the following [wait...] words:

Table of Contents

  • Match-the-Pairs Game
  • Memory Game
  • Basic Flash Cards
  • Spell-the-Word Game
  • Multi-Choice Test
  • Learn with Hangman!
  • "Sentence" Flash Cards
  • "Missing Word" Flash Cards
  • Example Sentences

Match-the-Pairs Game

Sets: getting ready...

Clicks: 0

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  • Your mission is to match each picture with the correct word in as few a clicks as possible.
  • There are three pictures in each set, and there are sets to complete.
  • Click on your first square to start. Good luck!
Ranking (Clicks)

Guru ()
Hero ()
Captain ()
Sergeant ()
Recruit ()

Memory Game

Pairs: getting ready...

Clicks: 0

getting ready...
  • Your mission is to pair pictures with their correct titles in as few a clicks as possible.
  • Click on a card to turn it. Next, try to find its partner by clicking on a second card. (If you fail to find a match with your second click, both cards will turn again.)
  • This is a memory game as well as a vocabulary-learning game.
  • Click on your first card to start. Good luck!
Ranking (Clicks)

Guru ()
Hero ()
Captain ()
Sergeant ()
Recruit ()

Basic Flash Cards

Spell-the-Word Game

Spell the word represented by the picture.

Multi-Choice Test

Select the correct word or picture.

Learn with Hangman!

Hangman is a classic word game. In this version, the hidden word is one of the words from the "time" category. Choose your first letter to start.
  • Guess the hidden word by choosing one letter at a time.
  • If you guess a letter in the hidden word, then all is good.
  • If you guess a letter that is not in the hidden word, then the hangman starts to build the gallows.
  • If the gallows are completed, you lose.
  • Good luck!
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Create Your Own Version of This Game

Here is the word library for this game:

"Sentence" Flash Cards

Click on the box to see the word in a sentence.

"Missing Word" Flash Cards

Click on the box to see the missing word in a sentence.

Example Sentences

Here are 3 sentences for each of the following words from the "time" category:
  • ten past, ten to, twenty five past, twenty five to, twenty past, twenty to, afternoon, evening, five past, five to, half past, midday, midnight, morning, night, o'clock, quarter past, quarter to
ten to

ten to

  • We need to leave in ten to five minutes if we want to catch the bus.
  • He has a meeting scheduled for ten to noon.
  • They'll be back in ten to twenty minutes.
ten past

ten past

  • It's ten past nine, so we still have some time before the movie starts.
  • She arrives at work at ten past eight every morning.
  • They meet for coffee at ten past ten to catch up.
twenty five past

twenty five past

  • It's twenty five past three, and the school bell will ring soon.
  • She usually finishes her workout at twenty five past the hour.
  • They met at twenty five past seven in the evening for a quick chat.
twenty five to

twenty five to

  • The train to the city departs at twenty five to six.
  • He's always home from work by twenty five to five in the evening.
  • They have a reservation for dinner at twenty five to eight.
twenty past

twenty past

  • It's twenty past four, and the kids will be home from school soon.
  • She likes to take a break at work at twenty past every hour.
  • They arrived at the airport at twenty past two for their flight.
twenty to

twenty to

  • We should meet at the park at twenty to three.
  • He finishes his daily run at the track at twenty to seven.
  • They have an appointment with the dentist at twenty to eleven in the morning.
afternoon

afternoon

  • The sun is shining, and it's a beautiful afternoon for a picnic.
  • She enjoys reading a book in the afternoon when the house is quiet.
  • They plan to have a barbecue in the afternoon with friends.
evening

evening

  • They like to take a leisurely walk in the park in the evening.
  • She has a dinner reservation for this evening at her favorite restaurant.
  • He'll be working late into the evening to finish his project.
five past

five past

  • It's five past one, and they've just started their lunch break.
  • She arrives at the bus stop at five past six every morning.
  • They'll meet you at the park at five past four.
five to

five to

  • They need to leave in five to ten minutes to make it to the movie on time.
  • She finishes her work tasks by five to five o'clock.
  • He'll call you back in five to twenty minutes.
half past

half past

  • It's already half past eleven, and they're still in bed.
  • She usually takes a break at work at half past the hour.
  • They'll meet you at the cafe at half past three.
midday

midday

  • It's midday, and they decided to have a picnic in the park.
  • She enjoys a peaceful walk in the garden at midday.
  • He always takes his lunch break at exactly midday.
midnight

midnight

  • They celebrated New Year's Eve until midnight and watched the fireworks.
  • She realized she left her keys at the office when it was already midnight.
  • He stayed up until midnight to finish his book.
morning

morning

  • The birds are chirping, and it's a lovely morning to go for a walk.
  • She enjoys having a cup of coffee in the morning to start her day.
  • They usually go jogging in the morning before work.
night

night

  • They like to stargaze at night and try to spot constellations.
  • She's planning to go out dancing with her friends tonight at night.
  • He often stays up late working on his projects at night.
o'clock

o'clock

  • It's already twelve o'clock, and they haven't had lunch yet.
  • She has a meeting scheduled for two o'clock this afternoon.
  • They plan to leave the house at four o'clock to avoid traffic.
quarter past

quarter past

  • It's quarter past seven, and they need to catch the bus soon.
  • She finishes her work tasks by quarter past the hour.
  • They'll meet you at the cafe at quarter past three.
quarter to

quarter to

  • We need to leave in quarter to five minutes if we want to catch the train.
  • He's always home from work by quarter to five in the evening.
  • They have a reservation for dinner at quarter to eight.
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This page was written by Craig Shrives.