Elapsed time
You learn to read times that are not whole hours or half hours.
How to work it out
- Count up from the start time to the next whole hour.
- Then count to the finish time.
- Add the two spans together.
What time is it? (Small hand just past 5, big hand at 4)
- The small hand is just past 5, so it is past 5 o'clock.
- The big hand at 4 is 20 minutes.
- It is 5:20.
More examples
What time is it? (Small hand between 3 and 4, big hand at 8)
- The small hand is between 3 and 4, so it is past 3 o'clock.
- The big hand at 8 is 40 minutes.
- It is 3:40.
What time is it? (Small hand just before 10, big hand at 9)
- The small hand is just before 10, so it is almost 10 o'clock.
- The big hand at 9 is 45 minutes.
- It is 9:45.