What is Quarter Past?

S0-SA5-0425

Grade Level:

Class 2

Time, Daily Life

Definition

What is it?

When we say 'quarter past' a certain hour, it means 15 minutes have passed since that hour. For example, 'quarter past 3' means it is 15 minutes after 3 o'clock, which is 3:15.

Simple Example

Quick Example

Imagine your favourite TV show starts at 7 o'clock. If you reach home 'quarter past 7', it means you arrived 15 minutes after the show began, so at 7:15 PM. You might have missed the first few minutes!

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

Let's find out what time 'quarter past 9' means.

1. Identify the 'hour': The hour given is 9 o'clock.
2. Understand 'quarter past': 'Quarter past' means 15 minutes after the hour.
3. Add 15 minutes to the hour: So, we add 15 minutes to 9:00.
4. Combine the hour and minutes: 9:00 + 15 minutes = 9:15.

So, 'quarter past 9' is 9:15.

Why It Matters

Understanding 'quarter past' helps you read clocks and manage your daily schedule efficiently. Knowing exact times is crucial for professionals like pilots, doctors, and event managers to ensure everything runs smoothly and on time.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Thinking 'quarter past' means 25 minutes past the hour. | CORRECTION: 'Quarter' in time means 15 minutes, not 25. An hour has 60 minutes, and a quarter of 60 is 15.

MISTAKE: Confusing 'quarter past' with 'quarter to'. | CORRECTION: 'Quarter past' means AFTER the hour (e.g., 3:15), while 'quarter to' means BEFORE the next hour (e.g., 2:45 is quarter to 3).

MISTAKE: Writing 'quarter past 5' as 5:05. | CORRECTION: 'Quarter past' means 15 minutes. So, 'quarter past 5' is 5:15, not 5:05.

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: What time is 'quarter past 6'? | ANSWER: 6:15

QUESTION: If your school bus leaves at 'quarter past 8', and you woke up at 8:00, how many minutes do you have to get ready? | ANSWER: 15 minutes

QUESTION: Your favourite cricket match started at 10:00 AM. The first wicket fell 'quarter past 10'. The second wicket fell 30 minutes after the first. What time did the second wicket fall? | ANSWER: The first wicket fell at 10:15 AM. 30 minutes after 10:15 AM is 10:45 AM.

MCQ

Quick Quiz

What does 'quarter past 11' mean?

11:05

11:15

11:25

11:45

The Correct Answer Is:

Option B is correct because 'quarter past' means 15 minutes after the hour. So, 15 minutes after 11 o'clock is 11:15. The other options represent different minute values.

Real World Connection

In the Real World

In India, many public transport schedules, like local train timings or bus departures, often use 'quarter past' in their announcements. For instance, a train might be announced to depart at 'quarter past 7' (7:15 AM) from a station like Mumbai's Churchgate, helping commuters plan their journey precisely.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

QUARTER: One-fourth of something, in time it means 15 minutes | PAST: After a particular time or event | HOUR: A unit of time equal to 60 minutes | MINUTE: A unit of time equal to 60 seconds

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Now that you understand 'quarter past', you can learn about 'half past' and 'quarter to'. These concepts will help you read and tell time even more accurately and confidently.