A quarter of an hour is fifteen minutes
Quarter in time expressions means one fourth of an hour: divide sixty minutes by four to get fifteen. On a normal clock face, the long hand at 3 indicates fifteen minutes, and at 9 forty-five minutes.
Here we learn two patterns common in British English. Reading time numerically is also correct, but exercises requiring quarter need this particular pattern.
Our break begins at quarter past one.
Our break begins at quarter past one.
Quarter indicates fifteen minutes; one quarter of an hour has passed since one.
Past: the hour has already been reached
Quarter past names fifteen minutes after an hour already reached. In twelve-hour notation, use the hour before the colon without increasing it. For twenty-four-hour notation, first convert to the range one to twelve: subtract twelve from thirteen through twenty-three, and call 00 twelve.
Think of quarter past as fifteen minutes after the named hour. A digital time is useful for checking the meaning.
hour in the range 1–12 + :15 → (a) quarter past + that hour
My train leaves at a quarter past ten.
My train leaves at a quarter past ten.
The reference hour is ten because ten has already been reached.
To: name the next hour
Quarter to means fifteen minutes remain until the named hour. A digital clock shows forty-five minutes past the current hour; name the next hour after to.
The same number after past and to gives different times. Counting after four and counting towards four, for example, lie on opposite sides of 04:00.
HH:45 → (a) quarter to + next hour
The music stops at quarter to ten.
The music stops at quarter to ten.
This is 9:45: the time is counted towards ten.
One construction, one direction
In a complete statement of the current time, use It is or It’s before the time expression. Quarter and a quarter are both natural.
Quarter remains singular. Choose either past or to; together they do not make a correct time expression. Do not add o’clock to these patterns.
When reporting an event’s time, the expression can follow at in the sentence about the event. Time questions are covered separately.
It is / It’s + (a) quarter + past / to + hour
It is a quarter to four, and the room is empty.
It is a quarter to four, and the room is empty.
The article a is possible; the direction here is only to.
The shop opens at quarter past eleven.
The shop opens at quarter past eleven.
In a statement about an event, at introduces its opening time.
Passing twelve and the topic’s scope
In the twelve-hour pattern, one follows twelve. For 12:45, name the next hour, one; for 12:15, keep twelve.
23:45 is a quarter to twelve, while 00:15 is a quarter past twelve. If the context does not establish day or night, add a natural clarification such as in the morning or at night.
Full hours and half hours are taught separately. We do not practise every minute, time zones or the full range of time questions here.
I finish work at quarter to one in the afternoon.
I finish work at quarter to one in the afternoon.
After twelve, the next reference hour is one.
The night bus leaves at quarter past twelve.
The night bus leaves at quarter past twelve.
The night context identifies twelve as midnight.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:The bell rings at quarter past to two.
Correct:The bell rings at quarter past two.
Past and to do not combine. For fifteen minutes after two, keep past.
Incorrect:Our class ends at quarters to four.
Correct:Our class ends at quarter to four.
We name one quarter of an hour: quarter, without a plural ending.
Incorrect:Dinner starts at quarter past seven o'clock.
Correct:Dinner starts at quarter past seven.
Do not add o’clock to quarter past.