Difference between a.m and p.m.

In this lesson, we will learn how to

• Tell the time in English
• Use 'a.m.', 'p.m.' and 'o’clock'
• Usage of a 'quarter to', 'a quarter past' and 'a half past'

Difference between a.m and p.m.

We use a.m. to talk about time from 12 at night to 11:59 in the
morning

I wake up at 7 a.m.
I go to college at 8:30 a.m.


We use p.m. to talk about time from 12 in the afternoon to
11:59 at night

I come back home at 5 p.m.
I play with my friend from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

12 a.m. and 12 p.m.

12 in the afternoon is called 12 p.m.

12 at night is called 12 a.m.

Usage of o'clock

We also use o’clock to talk about time. o’clock is used to talk
only about full hours.

I wake up at 7 o’clock CORRECT

I wake up at 7:15 o’clock INCORRECT

Question and Answers

• 8:30 in the morning is
•  8:30 a.m.
•  8:30 p.m.
•  8:30 o’clock

We use a.m. to talk about time from 12 at night to 11:59 in the morning. O’clock is used to talk about full hours.

Question and Answers

• 4:30 in the evening is
•  4:30 a.m.
•  4:30 p.m.
•  4:30 o’clock

We use p.m. to talk about time from 12 in the afternoon to 11:59 at night. O’clock is used to talk about full hours.

Question and Answers

• 1:15 at night is
•  1:15 a.m.
•  1:15 p.m.
•  1:15 o’clock

We use a.m. to talk about time from 12 at night to 11:59 in the morning. O’clock is used to talk about full hours.

Question and Answers

• 12 in the afternoon is
•  12 a.m.
•  12 p.m.

12 in the afternoon is 12 p.m. and 12 at night is 12 a.m.

Question and Answers

• Which of the following is correct
•  7 p.m. can be called 7 o’ clock
•  7:15 p.m. can be called 7:15 o’clock
•  7:30 p.m. can be called 7:30 o’clock

O’clock is used to talk about full hours. ‘7 p.m. can be called 7 o’ clock’ is the correct answer.

A QUARTER PAST (15 minutes after an hour)

We also use ‘a quarter past’, ‘a quarter to’ and ‘a half past’
to talk about time.

1:15 – A quarter past one
5:15 – A quarter past five

A QUARTER TO (15 minutes before an hour)

1: 45 – A quarter to two

3:45 - A quarter to four

5:45 – A quarter to six

A HALF PAST (30 minutes after an hour)

2:30 - A half past two

4:30 – A half past four

7:30 – A half past seven

Note we never use a.m. or p.m when we use ‘a quarter
past’, ‘a quarter to’ or ‘a half past’

3:30 p.m

A half past three – CORRECT
A half past three p.m. – INCORRECT


4:15 a.m.

A quarter past four – CORRECT
A quarter past four a.m. - INCORRECT

Question and Answers

• 4:15 p.m. is
•  A quarter past four p.m.
•  A quarter past four
•  A quarter to four p.m.

We use ‘a quarter past’ to talk about 15 minutes after an hour. We don’t use a.m. or p.m with a quarter past, a quarter to or a half past.

Question and Answers

• 6:45 p.m. is
•  A quarter past six
•  A quarter to six
•  A quarter to seven

We use ‘a quarter to’ to talk about 15 minutes before an hour. We don’t use a.m. or p.m with a quarter past, a quarter to or a half past.

Question and Answers

• 5:30 a.m is
•  A half past five a.m.
•  A half past five
•  Two quarters past five

We use ‘a half past’ to talk about 30 minutes after an hour. We don’t use a.m. or p.m with a quarter past, a quarter to or a half past.

Question and Answers

• 6:45 p.m. is
•  A quarter past six
•  A quarter to six
•  A quarter to seven

We use ‘a quarter to’ to talk about 15 minutes before an hour. We don’t use a.m. or p.m with a quarter past, a quarter to or a half past.

Question and Answers

• 3:30 p.m. is
•  A half past three
•  A half to four
•  A half past three p.m.

We use ‘a half past’ to talk about 30 minutes after an hour. We don’t use a.m. or p.m with a quarter past, a quarter to or a half past.

Question and Answers

• 4:45 p.m. is
•  A quarter to five
•  A quarter past five
•  A quarter past four

We use ‘a quarter to’ to talk about 15 minutes before an hour. We don’t use a.m. or p.m with a quarter past, a quarter to or a half past.

Question and Answers

• 2:15 a.m. is
•  A quarter past two p.m.
•  A quarter past two
•  A quarter to two p.m.

We use ‘a quarter past’ to talk about 15 minutes after an hour. We don’t use a.m. or p.m with a quarter past, a quarter to or a half past.

Thank you

NOW RE-TEST YOUR CONCEPT
BEST OF LUCK!!