Telling the Time Game
The Telling the Time Game is a free way to practise saying the time in English. Read an analogue clock and choose the right words, move the hands to match a time, or listen to a British English voice and find the right clock. There are three levels, from o'clock and half past to any minute.
No sign-up · Free to play · Works on mobile
What's the time?
Practise telling the time in English
Review these times
How to play the Telling the Time Game
Look at the clock and choose the correct time from four answers. The wrong answers are the mistakes learners really make, like mixing up past and to.
Drag the hands, or use the + and − buttons, to show the time written in words. If you get it wrong, dotted green hands show the right time.
Hear the time in a British English voice and pick the matching clock. Press Play again as many times as you need.
Each round has 10 questions. Choose Easy (o'clock and half past), Medium (quarters and five-minute times) or Hard (any minute), and practise the traditional style or the digital style.
How to say the time in English
For minutes 1 to 30, say the minutes past the hour. For minutes 31 to 59, say the minutes to the next hour. Use the word "minutes" when the number is not a multiple of five. The digital style simply says the hour and then the minutes.
| Time | Traditional | Digital |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00 | three o'clock | three o'clock |
| 3:05 | five past three | three oh-five |
| 3:15 | quarter past three | three fifteen |
| 3:30 | half past three | three thirty |
| 3:40 | twenty to four | three forty |
| 3:45 | quarter to four | three forty-five |
| 3:19 | nineteen minutes past three | three nineteen |
For the full rules, am/pm, the 24-hour clock and exercises, read our guide: How to tell the time in English.
Telling the Time Game: frequently asked questions
What is the ELS Telling the Time Game?
It is a free game from Elite Language Solutions for practising telling the time in English. You read an analogue clock and choose the right words, move the clock hands to match a time, or listen to a time in British English and pick the right clock.
Is the game free, and do I need to sign up?
Yes, it is free. There is no registration and no download. It runs in your browser on phones, tablets and computers.
What level is it for?
Easy covers o'clock and half past, which suits A1 beginners. Medium adds quarter past, quarter to and five-minute times (A1–A2). Hard uses any minute, such as nineteen minutes past seven, which is good practice up to B1.
Should I say 'quarter past three' or 'three fifteen'?
Both are correct. The traditional style (quarter past three) is common in British English and expected in most exams. The digital style (three fifteen) is simpler and widely used in everyday speech. The game lets you practise either, and every answer shows both.
How does the listening mode work?
The game says the time aloud in a British English voice using your device's built-in speech engine, and you choose the clock that shows it. Voice quality varies between devices and browsers. If your browser has no speech engine, the listening mode is hidden.
Are my scores saved?
Your personal best for each game and level is saved in your own browser on your own device. Nothing is sent to ELS. Clearing your browser data or switching device resets it.
Talk about time, plans and routines with confidence
Work with an experienced British English teacher to use times, dates and everyday expressions naturally when you speak.