TELLING THE TIME

Multiples of 5 (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 minutes)

3:00 = It's three o'clock
3:15 = It's (a) quarter past three   (or: it's three fifteen)
3:30 = It's half past three   (or: it's three thirty)
3:40 = It's twenty to four   (or: it's three forty)
3:45 = It's (a) quarter to four  (or: it's three forty-five)
3:05 = It's five past three  (or: it's three o five)
3:25 = It's twenty-five past three  (or: it's three twenty-five)
3:55 = It's five to four  (or: it's three fifty-five)

Not multiples of 5

3:12 = It's twelve minutes past three  (or: it's three twelve)
3:27 = It's twenty-seven minutes past three  (or: it's three twenty-seven)
3:48 = It's forty-eight minutes past three  (or: it's three forty-eight)

quarter = a quarter

7:15= It's quarter past seven = It's a quarter past seven

variation (not common)
3:05 = It's five after three
3:55 = it's five before four

AM & PM
Morning (AM) = 00:00 (midnight) - 12:00 (noon)
Afternoon (PM) = 12:00 (noon) - 6:00 pm (more or less)
Evening (PM) = 6:00 - 00:00 (midnight)

AM = ante meridiem (Latin for: before noon)
PM = post meridiem (Latin for: after noon)

3:00 am = Three o'clock in the morning  (or: three A-M)
3:00 pm = Three o'clock in the afternoon  (or: three P-M)
7:00 pm = Seven o'clock in the evening  (or: seven P-M)
12:00 pm (day time) = It's noon  (or: it's midday)
12:00 am (night time) = It's midnight

24-hour time (not common)
8:00 = 8:00 AM = eight o'clock in the morning
20:00 = 8:00 PM = eight o'clcok in the evening
16:35 = Sixteen, thirty-five = 4:35 PM = Twenty to four P-M = Four thirty in the afternoon.

QUESTIONS: asking the time

- What time is it?
- What's the time?  (= what is the time?)
- Can you tell me the time, please?