Comment on dit #1 Dire l'heure en français A1 ⌚

Summary

In this video, you'll learn how to tell time in French, starting with the basics of saying the hour. The speaker explains how to express hours and minutes, including special terms like 'quarter past' and 'half past'. Pronunciation tips are given for linking sounds, and the distinction between 12-hour and 24-hour formats is covered. You'll also discover how to use time markers for morning, afternoon, evening, and night. This tutorial is perfect for anyone looking to master telling time in French with clear examples and helpful guidance.

Takeaways

• 😀 It's important to start by saying 'il est' followed by the time in hours, for example: 'Il est 4 heures' or 'Il est 16 heures'.
• 😀 To specify the time, you can add the number of minutes after the hour, like 'Il est 10h20' or 'Il est 16h40'.
• 😀 Always use 'il est' and do not say 'ils sont' when telling the time in French.
• 😀 For 15 minutes, use 'et quart' and for 30 minutes, use 'et demi' (e.g., 'Il est 8h30' or 'Il est 7h45').
• 😀 You can only use 'et quart' and 'et demi' for hours from 0 to 12. For hours greater than 12, just state the full time (e.g., 'Il est 16h30').
• 😀 French time is based on a 24-hour format, but for the morning (AM) and afternoon (PM), we can use 'du matin' and 'de l'après-midi'.
• 😀 To specify the time of day, we use 'du matin' (morning), 'de l'après-midi' (afternoon), and 'du soir' (evening), starting from 6 PM.
• 😀 'Midi' (noon) and 'minuit' (midnight) are important to remember: 'Midi' is 12:00 PM and 'minuit' is 12:00 AM.
• 😀 The time format does not use AM/PM explicitly; instead, use 'du matin', 'de l'après-midi', or 'du soir' to clarify the time of day.
• 😀 To say time in the afternoon or evening, remember that 'du soir' is used after 6 PM, and never use 'de la nuit' in casual contexts.

Q & A

How do you tell the time in French?

To tell the time in French, start with 'Il est' (It is), followed by the hour. For example: 'Il est 4 heures' (It is 4 o'clock) or 'Il est 16 heures' (It is 16 o'clock).

What is the rule for adding minutes when telling time in French?

When adding minutes, you simply state the number of minutes after the hour. For example: 'Il est 10h20' (It is 10:20), or 'Il est midi 10' (It is 12:10).

How do you pronounce time in French, especially when it involves liaisons?

In French, pay attention to the pronunciation and the liaisons between words. For example, 'Il est 3 heures' (It is 3 o'clock) and 'Il est 19 heures' (It is 7 PM) require correct liaison to sound natural.

What special words are used for 15 and 30 minutes when telling time in French?

For 15 minutes, use 'le quart' (the quarter). For 30 minutes, use 'et demi' (and a half). For example: 'Il est 8h30' (It is 8:30), 'Il est 8 heures et quart' (It is 8:15), 'Il est 7h45' (It is 7:45).

Can you use 'et demi' and 'le quart' for times beyond 12:00?

No, 'et demi' (and a half) and 'le quart' (the quarter) are only used for times between 0:00 and 12:00. For times beyond 12:00, you use the regular format with minutes.

What should you know about telling time after 12 PM in French?

After 12 PM (noon), use 'du matin' for AM times, 'de l'après-midi' for PM times before 6 PM, and 'du soir' for evening times after 6 PM. For example: 'Il est 4 heures du matin' (It is 4 AM), 'Il est 4 heures de l'après-midi' (It is 4 PM), 'Il est 8 heures du soir' (It is 8 PM).

What do you use to indicate the time of day when it is near midnight?

To indicate the time around midnight, you use 'du soir' for times before midnight and 'du matin' for times after midnight. For example: 'Il est 11 heures du soir' (It is 11 PM), 'Il est 1 heure du matin' (It is 1 AM).

Why is it incorrect to say 'de la nuit' when telling time?

'De la nuit' is never used to describe time. Instead, use 'du soir' (evening) or 'du matin' (morning) for times around midnight or early morning.

How do you deal with the 24-hour clock system in French?

In French, the 24-hour clock system is often used in formal contexts, such as for schedules. For example: 'Il est 16 heures' (It is 4 PM), 'Il est 22 heures' (It is 10 PM). However, for everyday use, the 12-hour clock with AM/PM indicators is more common.

What is the correct phrase to use when telling time at noon?

At noon, use 'midi'. For example: 'Il est midi' (It is noon).