{"id":2778,"date":"2013-01-14T10:52:50","date_gmt":"2013-01-14T10:52:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/italian\/?p=2778"},"modified":"2013-01-15T13:03:25","modified_gmt":"2013-01-15T13:03:25","slug":"che-ore-sono","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/italian\/che-ore-sono\/","title":{"rendered":"Che Ore Sono?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What time is it? A simple question with many possible replies. Let\u2019s start from the beginning.<\/font><\/p>\n

We divide the clock into:<\/strong><\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

ore<\/strong> (fem.<\/em> hours, singular un\u2019ora<\/strong>, an\/one hour)<\/font><\/p>\n

minuti<\/strong> (masc.<\/em> minutes, singular un minuto<\/strong> a\/one minute)<\/font><\/p>\n

secondi<\/strong> (masc<\/em>. seconds, singular un secondo<\/strong> a\/one second)<\/font><\/p>\n

un quarto<\/strong> (masc<\/em>. a quarter)<\/font><\/p>\n

mezza<\/strong> (fem<\/em>. half)<\/font><\/p>\n

tre quarti<\/strong> (masc<\/em>. three quarters)<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Asking the time<\/strong><\/font><\/p>\n

We have three common ways of asking the time:<\/font><\/p>\n

1. che ore sono?<\/strong> 2. che ora \u00e8?<\/strong> 3. mi sa dire l\u2019ora?<\/strong> 1. and 2. are interchangeable and both mean \u2018what time is it?\u2019, whilst 3. is equivalent to \u2018can you tell me the time?\u2019<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Telling the time<\/strong><\/font><\/p>\n

Although we can ask both che ore sono<\/strong> (literally what hours are they?) and che ora \u00e8<\/strong> (what hour is it?), when replying we only use the singular for: mezzogiorno<\/strong> (midday) mezzanotte<\/strong> (midnight) and l\u2019una<\/strong> (one o\u2019clock), hence: <\/font><\/p>\n

\u00e8 mezzogiorno<\/strong> (it\u2019s midday), \u00e8 mezzanotte<\/strong> (it\u2019s midnight), \u00e8 l\u2019una<\/strong> (it\u2019s one o\u2019clock)<\/font><\/p>\n

In all other cases we use the plural: <\/font>sono le due<\/strong> (it\u2019s two o\u2019clock), sone le undici<\/strong> (it\u2019s eleven o\u2019clock)<\/font><\/p>\n

we then add the fractions of an hour: e dieci<\/strong> (and ten), e un quarto<\/strong> (and a quarter), etc. Let\u2019s have a look at a few examples.<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Mi sa dire l\u2019ora per favore?<\/font><\/strong> <\/font><\/p>\n

Here are a few of the many possible replies that you might get when you ask \u2018could you tell me the time please?\u2019 including alternative ways of giving the same time:<\/font><\/p>\n

\u00e8 mezzogiorno\/mezzanotte e mezza<\/strong> (it\u2019s half past twelve midday\/midnight)<\/font><\/p>\n

sono le dodici e mezza<\/strong> (it\u2019s half past twelve)<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

sono le cinque e quindici<\/strong> (it\u2019s five fifteen)<\/font><\/p>\n

sono le cinque e un quarto<\/strong> (it\u2019s a quarter past five)<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\u00e8 l\u2019una e tre quarti<\/strong> (it\u2019s one forty five)<\/font><\/p>\n

sono le due meno un quarto<\/strong> (it\u2019s a quarter to two \u2013 lit. \u2018they are two minus a quarter\u2019<\/em>)<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Another way of saying \u2018to\u2026\u2019<\/font><\/strong><\/p>\n

A common alternative way of saying \u2018to\u2026\u2019, as in le due meno un quarto<\/strong> (\u2018a quarter to<\/u> two\u2019) is to use the verb mancare<\/strong> (to lack), e.g.: <\/font><\/p>\n

manca un quarto alle due<\/strong> (it\u2019s a quarter to two \u2013 lit. \u2018it lacks a quarter until two\u2019<\/em>) or manca cinque alle otto<\/strong> (it\u2019s five to eight). <\/font><\/p>\n

However, if we want to say \u2018it\u2019s five minutes<\/u> to eight\u2019 we use the plural \u2018mancano\u2019<\/strong> (they lack), e.g.: mancano<\/strong> cinque<\/strong> minuti<\/u> alle otto<\/strong> (lit. \u2018five minutes are lacking until eight\u2019<\/em>).<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The twenty four hour clock<\/font><\/strong><\/p>\n

The twenty four hour clock is more formal, and is used for timetables, whether it\u2019s a train timetable or the opening hours of a shop. The timetable is called l\u2019orario<\/strong>.<\/font><\/p>\n

Here are a couple of examples: Orario Apertura: Mattina dalle 9.00 alle 12.30 Pomeriggio dalle 15.30 alle 20.00<\/strong> (Opening times: Morning from 9:00 until 12:30 Afternoon from 15:30 to 20:00)<\/font><\/p>\n

L\u2019autobus da Parma arriva alle sedici e venti<\/strong> (The bus from Parma arrives at sixteen twenty = 4:20 p.m<\/em>.)<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Now it\u2019s time for you to have a go.<\/font><\/strong> <\/font><\/p>\n

Translate the following replies to the question che ore sono? che ora \u00e8?<\/strong> or mi sa dire l\u2019ora?<\/strong> into Italian:<\/font><\/p>\n

1. it\u2019s seven thirty five ________________<\/font><\/p>\n

2. it\u2019s a quarter past ten ________________<\/font><\/p>\n

3. it\u2019s ten to eleven ________________<\/font><\/p>\n

4. it\u2019s half past noon ________________<\/font><\/p>\n

5. it\u2019s nine thirty five (give two possible variations) ________________    ________________<\/font><\/p>\n

6. it\u2019s three forty (give three possible variations) ________________    ________________   ________________<\/font><\/p>\n

\u2026 and the following timetable announcements (remember to use the 24 hour clock):<\/font><\/p>\n

7. This shop closes at 7:30 p.m. Questo negozio chiude<\/strong> ________________ <\/font><\/p>\n

8. The next train for Pisa departs at 5:10 p.m. Il prossimo treno per Pisa parte<\/strong> ________________ <\/font><\/p>\n

9. The bus from Lucca arrives at 7:30 a.m. L\u2019autobus da Lucca arriva<\/strong> ________________ <\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What time is it? A simple question with many possible replies. Let\u2019s start from the beginning. We divide the clock into: ore (fem. hours, singular un\u2019ora, an\/one hour) minuti (masc. minutes, singular un minuto a\/one minute) secondi (masc. seconds, singular un secondo a\/one second) un quarto (masc. a quarter) mezza (fem. half) tre quarti (masc…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[6,619],"tags":[229243,229241,229242],"class_list":["post-2778","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-grammar","category-italian-language","tag-che-ora-e-italian","tag-tell-the-time-in-italian","tag-what-time-is-it-italian"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t