Olga
quarter or A quarter (time)
Hello! Should I put "a" before quarter or half speaking about time? How to say it correctly:
It's quarter to 5 or It's a quarter to 5.
It's half past 8 or a It's a half past 8 etc.
And if it's different without It's (quarter past 3 or A quarter past 3 etc)
Thank you!
2019년 6월 5일 오후 1:53
답변 · 8
2
The other responses are correct, but it's also worth pointing out that the 'a' before 'quarter' is optional - at least in British English. You can say either 'It's quarter to six' or 'It's a quarter to six'. Some people may consider it more correct and formal to use the article, but it is not a mistake to omit it.
Personally, I have never used 'a' before 'quarter' : I have always said simply 'quarter to' and 'quarter past'.
2019년 6월 5일
1
The following are correct:
"It's a quarter to 5." ('a' must be used here)
"It's half past 8." ('a' cannot be used here)
It is no different without "it's". It is always (to my knowledge) "a quarter..." and "half".
Other examples:
"It is a quarter to 5."
"It is a quarter past 5."
"It is half past 8."
"It happened at a quarter to 5."
"It happened at half past 8."
"I will see you at a quarter to 5."
2019년 6월 5일
1
"Half past" but "a quater past/to".
2019년 6월 5일
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