Grammar:Prepositions for telling time

[2020.05.06] 發表
(明報製圖)
(picture 2)(明報製圖)

【明報專訊】The Smarties are visiting a newly opened amusement park - Bunnieland. Which shows do they want to see?

Pat: Hurry up, Bill! (1) It is ten to eleven now! The Carrot Catwalk Show is starting in 10 minutes!

Bill: Calm down, Pat. I guess if we arrived at the venue now there would be no seats with a good view. Why don't we go to the three o'clock show and do something else first?

Pat: You're right... How about the Grassland Magic Circuit? (2) The next show kicks off at half past eleven and is one-hour long.

Bill: Sounds nice to me. How about you, MoMo?

MoMo: I want to feed the rabbits at the Happy Farm. (3) I think I will finish at twenty past two. (4) Shall we meet at the Carrot Catwalk Show at half past two?

Bill: Sounds perfect! See you soon and enjoy! ◆

When we talk about time, we count how many minutes before/ after a full hour.

to →

We use ''to'' to describe time before reaching a certain hour:

e.g. five to eleven = five minutes before eleven o'clock = 10:55

past →

We use ''past'' to descibe time after reaching a certain hour:

e.g. twenty past three = 20 minutes after three o'clock = 3:20

■Gear up

Write in numbers the times of the Smarties' schedule in Bunnieland.

(1) Grassland Magic Circuit

________________________________

(2) When will MoMo finish feeding the rabbits at Happy Farm?

________________________________

(3) Meet up at Carrot Catwalk Show

________________________________

Draw on the clocks below the correct times.

(See picture 2)

(4) A quarter past five

(5) Five minutes to six

(Answers on next text)

■Glossary

guess (v) 猜想

else (adj) 其他的

kick off (phr v) 開始

perfect (adj) 完美的

[Smarties' Power English 第278期]

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