Please enter the code we just sent to whatsapp 91-11-46710500 to proceed
Didn't Receive OTP?
Have you ever stood and stared at a clock and heard some one say it is quarter past three and wondered just what they meant? Or maybe you have seen it spelled out as three-thirty and put the connection together, but never really wondered why we say it as such. A marvelously ordinary and yet so intuitive phrase in the business of telling time, "quarter past" is something that we all use to describe a particular time within the hour. It is one of those little pieces of colloquial language that fits right in as soon as you analyze it.
So, let's unlock the mystery of what is quarter past, explore its simple yet elegant quarter past definition, and dive into some clear quarter past time examples to make sure you're a master at this particular segment of the clock.
At its simplest, quarter past definition refers to the time when 15 minutes have passed after the start of an hour. Here the word to note is quarter. Imagine an entire hour is a pie or a circle. Suppose you cut that pie into four equal parts, then you have four quarters. As there are 60 minutes in a complete hour, 60 minutes divided by 4 will give 15 minutes, that is a quarter of an hour.
So, when we say "quarter past the hour," we are literally saying that one-quarter of the hour has gone by since the clock struck the previous full hour. It is an accurate, but lovingly casual, method of indicating the time that is 15 minutes. This will be the basis of learning about analog clocks wherein the position of the minute hand corresponds to these divisions of an hour which can be visualized as a fraction of an hour.
To truly grasp what is quarter past, it's incredibly helpful to visualize it on an analog clock. Think of the clock face as a large round Pizza.
At exactly 12, the minute hand is at the beginning of the new hour (e.g. 3:00, or "three o'clock").
Going around in a clockwise direction, every number the minute hand points at indicates 5 minutes.
At the point when the minute hand is at the number 3, the hand has traveled a quarter of the clock face. And as 3 multiplied by 5 equals 15 minutes, this position indicates 15 minutes after the hour.
It is this visual image that made the phrase quarter past so popular. The minute hand is quite literally one-quarter of the way beyond the top of the hour. For telling time for kids, this visual aid is invaluable. And you can draw a clock and cut it into four pieces to explain to them how that quarter operates.
Let's look at some practical quarter past time examples to make this super clear:
In case it is 7.15 AM: You would say, "It is quarter to eight in the morning. That is 15 minutes since 7:00 AM.
If it is 11.15 PM: You would say, It is quarter to twelve at night. This indicates to you that it is 15 minutes past 11:00 PM.
A train at 4.15: It may be announced as, "The train is at four fifteen."
Two fifteen: You could say to a colleague, "I will see you at quarter to two."
These appliances illustrate the ease with which quarter past can be used in the normal time talks, thus indicating that it is a convenient and short expression to express the 15 minutes point in time talks. It is commonly used in the spoken English language more than saying fifteen minutes past as it is faster and has been in tradition.
Understanding quarter past the hour also opens the door to related time-telling phrases. Whereas, quarter past is 15 minutes after the hour, the opposite of this is quarter to (or quarter of in American English), which is 15 minutes before the hour. e.g. 3:45 is quarter to four, since there are 15 minutes before 4:00. This shows the common notion of clocks being divided into quarters.
In the past, when digital clock was not common, people used analog clock to tell time. The physical appearance of the clock face with its 12 hourly divisions and 60 minute divisions was obviously well suited to expressions such as "half past" (30 minutes) and "quarter past" (15 minutes). These expressions represent an echo of the era when MPs were a bit more dependent on the location of the hands and not only on reading numbers.
The next fascinating fact is the usage of quarter past that may vary in various parts of the world. Although this is widely comprehensible in the English-speaking world, other cultures may operate other systems. But the mathematical concept behind this, that a quarter of 60 minutes is universal. Such a basic expression links us to a common historical method of thinking and speaking time. That goes to show you how pragmatic language is organized around shared tools and procedures.
When it comes to telling time for kids, introducing "quarter past" after they've mastered "o'clock" and "half past" is a great next step.
Begin with the clock face: Have the large analog clock drawn, and actually cut it into four quarters with lines or a different color.
Count in fives: Count the minutes around the clock in fives. 5,10,15. Demonstrate to them that 15 minutes is the first quarter.
Minute hand strategy: Stress that when the minute hand is on the "3" it is always "quarter past."
Digital meet analog: Demonstrate that that quarter past seven is also 7:15 on a digital watch. This is a fillip between analog and digital displays.
Practice, practice, practice: Play real clocks, worksheets and games to fix the idea. Ask them, What time is it when the minute hand is on the 3 and the hour hand is just passed the 9? (Nine-thirty!)
So to sum up, quarter past is not an old rustic saying, it is a time-saving and full of meaning method of time description. It shows the divisions of the hour into quarters, which is ideally suited to the visual perception of an analog clock. When adults perfect this phrase, or children learn it as a part of their basic time vocabulary, it becomes a wonderful touch of exactness and idiomatic usage to our everyday speech. And the next time you look up and that little minute hand is resting on the three, you will understand just why we say, it is a charming little piece of time.
Alpha Math offers a game-based learning experience with a unique four-step approach to mastering every concept in math. Schedule a Free Class Now
Sahr Ahmed is a dedicated educator with expertise in enhancing students' phonics, communication abilities, and self-assurance. She adeptly facilitates the clear and compelling expression of ideas, tailoring her guidance to suit each student's disposition and aspirations. Sahr fosters creativity, celebrates uniqueness, and cultivates a patient and encouraging educational atmosphere.
Unbox English
Little Yogi- Gita for kids
Alpha Math
