- We use "Il est" followed by "midi" (noon), "minuit" (midnight), or a specific time.
| Former l'heure (Telling the time) | Exemple (Example) |
|---|---|
| Il est + heure (+ pile) | Il est huit heures (pile). (It is eight o'clock (sharp).) |
| Heure + minutes | Il est sept heures cinq. (It is seven oh five.) |
| Heure + moins + minutes | Il est treize heures moins dix. (It is ten to one.) |
| Heure + et demie | Il est dix heures et demie. (It is half past ten.) |
| Heure + et quart | Il est treize heure et quart. (It is quarter past one.) |
Exceptions!
- Another way to say et demi is trente; for example, 15h30 is written and said as "fifteen hours thirty".
- In France, the 24-hour clock is often used in formal situations (such as train timetables), but in informal conversations, the 12-hour clock is preferred.
Exercise 1: Comment lire l'heure ?
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
quatre, minuit quatre, cinq, quinze, seize, midi moins le quart, cinquante cinq, moins vingt, et quart, vingt., dix sept heures (pile), neuf
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Je travaille ___ neuf heures ce matin.
(I have been working since nine o'clock this morning.)2. La réunion dure ___ dix-huit heures.
(The meeting lasts until six o'clock in the evening.)3. Nous parlons ___ dix minutes.
(We talk for ten minutes.)4. Il est ___ dix-neuf heures trente.
(It is half past seven.)5. Il est midi ___ demi.
(It is half past twelve.)6. Quelle heure est-il ? Il est sept heures ___ quart.
(What time is it? It is quarter past seven.)