Ask what time it is
There are two simple patterns for asking the current time: What time is it? and What is the time? The second is often shortened to What's the time? They mean the same thing.
In the direct question What time is it?, is comes before it. Use what time, not how time, in this pattern.
What time + is + it? / What is (What's) + the time?
What time is it, Rosa? — It is 11:10.
What time is it, Rosa? — It is 11:10.
Addressing someone by name does not change the word order of the question.
Ask politely
When speaking to a stranger, you can begin with Excuse me and add please at the end. In the right situation, the simple question Do you have the time? asks someone to tell you what time it is.
Use have after do you. This is a ready-to-use simple pattern; complicated indirect questions are not needed here.
Excuse me, what time is it? — It is 3:20.
Excuse me, what time is it? — It is 3:20.
The opening attracts attention politely; the answer gives the current time.
Give a full answer
A full statement of the time begins with It is or It's. It does not refer to a person or object here: it is a grammatical subject.
In conversation, you can give just the time rather than a full sentence. If an exercise asks for a full answer, add it is or it's. Do not put at before the current time.
It is / It's + time.
It’s 6:50 now.
It’s 6:50 now.
Even when the time contains several numbers, the verb form is is.
Give the time of an event
To say when an event happens, put at before a specific time. This is different from stating what time it is now.
A simple question about an event can follow the pattern What time is + event? A short answer can consist of at and the time.
Event + is / starts + at + time.
The picnic is at 1:50.
The picnic is at 1:50.
At links the event to its time; the sentence does not tell us what the clock shows now.
Distinguish clock time from available time
Do you have the time? asks for the current time in a situation involving a clock. Do you have time to ...? usually asks whether someone has time to do something. The meaning also depends on the situation.
If you do not know the time, you can apologise and say you do not know. A short thank-you is appropriate after someone helps you.
Do you have time to read this note?
Do you have time to read this note?
This asks whether someone can spend time on an action, not what time it is now.
Focus on the conversation
This rule practises question-and-answer patterns and the time of an event. Using digits lets you focus on grammar without adding calculations.
Ways of saying exact hours, half hours, and quarter hours are covered separately. Here, they may appear as familiar content in an answer; time zones and long intervals are not needed.
What’s the time, Rob? — It is 10:20.
What’s the time, Rob? — It is 10:20.
Different question patterns lead to answers with the same function.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:How time is it, Chris?
Correct:What time is it, Chris?
Use what time to ask the current time in this pattern.
Incorrect:It are 8:40 now.
Correct:It is 8:40 now.
The impersonal subject it takes is.
Incorrect:The walk starts on 5:10.
Correct:The walk starts at 5:10.
Use at before a specific time when an event happens.