The hour hand is short and the minute hand is long. Each number on the clock face is 5 minutes for the minute hand, and there are small marks for each single minute between them.
To read the time, find the hour the short hand has passed, then count the minutes: in 5s to the last number, then on in 1s. If the long hand is two marks past the 4, that is 20 + 2 = 22 minutes past.
Worked example
The hour hand is between 3 and 4. The minute hand points to 8. What time is it?
- The hour has passed 3.
- Count in 5s to the 8: 40 minutes.
Answer:3:40
Key words
- hour hand
- the short hand
- minute hand
- the long hand
- a.m. and p.m.
- before and after midday
Practise this
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: 3.MD.A.1