quinze rather than et quart trente and rather than et demie with "above 12" times

Paul B.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

quinze rather than et quart trente and rather than et demie with "above 12" times

Asked 6 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Paul,

Indeed, with the 12 hour clock you will use 'et quart', 'et demie'moins le quart etc. but with the 24 hour clock you will use quinze, trente, and quarante cinq.

Just be aware the French love using the 24 hour clock!

Paul B.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
"probably for pronunciation (and elegance) reasons", and also because the convention (at least in English) to always say the numbers when using the 24-hour clock. e.g. 15:15 is fifteen fifteen, never fifteen and a quarter, or a quarter past fifteen. 

quinze rather than et quart trente and rather than et demie with "above 12" times

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