Living English: What time is it? ( 3)
Living English Episode 3: What time is it?
In her hotel room, Anne rings a number. John Barbour, the private detective, answers the phone.
JOHN
Hello, Barbour’s Private Investigation. John Barbour speaking.
ANNE
Hello. Can you find missing people?
JOHN
Sometimes we can. Have you lost somebody?
ANN
Yes.
JOHN
Perhaps you’d like to tell me about it?
ANN
Can I make an appointment please?
JOHN
When would you like to come in?
ANNE
Is tomorrow okay?
JOHN
Let’s see… Yes, I can see you at ten o’clock. Will that suit you?
ANNE
Okay, thankyou. (consults business card)
23 Mitchell Street – is that right?
JOHN
That’s right. Second floor.
ANNE
Okay. See you then. Goodbye.
JOHN
Goodbye.
He puts down the phone and celebrates.
In her hotel room, Anne puts the phone down, and rings again.
CLERK
Hello?
ANNE
Hello. Reception? What time is it please?
CLERK
It’s five o’clock.
ANNE
And what time do you serve dinner?
CLERK
The restaurant opens in an hour, and dinner is served between six and nine pm.
ANNE
And breakfast?
CLERK
Breakfast is served between seven and nine thirty am ma’am.
ANNE
Thankyou.
CLERK
You’re welcome.
Anne puts the phone down, then notices the photo by her bed and picks it up again. There is a tear in her eye.
| 1. MAKING AN APPOINTMENT | |||
| ANNE Can I make an appointment please?
JOHN | |||
| When we say a specific time, we use at. I’ll see you at ten o’clock. I’ll see you at half-past four. | |||
| JOHN Let’s see… Yes, I can see you at ten o’clock. | |||
| >> more information: Preposition with Time | |||
| 2. CAN | |||
| Can means ‘able to’. I can see you = I am able to see you.
To ask a question using can, change the order of I and can | |||
| |||
| ANNE Can you find missing people?
JOHN | |||
| 3. WILL AND ‘LL | |||
| As we’ve seen before, the word will is used to show that we are talking about the future. I will see you tomorrow.
Usually, in conversation, we shorten this to: | |||
| The other contractions are: he will he’ll she will she’ll it will it’ll you will you’ll we will we’ll they will they’ll | |||
| 4. THE TIME | |||
| For exact hours we say o’ clock. 4:00 = It’s four o’clock. 10:00 = It’s ten o’clock. We can also just say: It’s ten.
Often we add a.m.(for any time after twelve midnight to twelve midday.) | |||
| It’s ten a.m. Or It’s ten p.m. | |||
| For half-way between the hours, we use half-past. 4:30 = It’s half-past four. or we can just say: It’s four-thirty(p.m. or a.m.). | |||
| For quarter hours we say a quarter past or a quarter to. 4:15 = It’s a quarter past four. 4:45 = It’s a quarter to five. Or we can just say: It’s four fifteen. It’s four forty-five.
For any time we can say a number of minutes past an hour up to half-past, or a number of minutes toan hour after half-past. | |||
| 4:10 = It’s ten past four 4:25 = It’s twenty-five past four. 4:35 = It’s twenty-five to five. 4:50 = It’s ten to five. Or we can just say: It’s four ten; four twenty-five; four thirty-five; or four fifty. | |||
| 5. PREPOSITIONS WITH TIME | |||
| The prepositions used with time are: in; at; on; for; from; until | |||
| at = a particular time. I’ll see you at ten o’clock. | |||
| JOHN Let’s see… Yes, I can see you at ten o’clock. | |||
| in= a period of time in the future. I’ll see you in an hour. I’ll see you in a week. | |||
| CLERK The restaurant opens in an hour, and dinner is served between six and nine pm. | |||
| on = a day or date I’ll see you on Wednesday. I saw you on the 30th of June. | |||
| for = a period of time an action takes place. I’ll see you for an hour. I’ve been sick for a week. | |||
| from = the time an action starts. until = the time an action finishes. They worked from 9a.m. until 5 p.m. | |||
| We can also use between to describe time. They were working between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. | |||
| CLERK http://linkengpark.com/living-english-what-time-is-it/ |