It is half after/past 3.

[wotcha]

Do Americans always say "It's half after three" when reading a clock?

I don't know why my conversation book mentions only
"It's half past three" and does not indicate it is British English.


?-_-?

 

[riquecohen]

Do Americans always say "It's half after three" when reading a clock? No.

I don't know why my conversation book indicates only
"It's half past three" and does not mention it is British English.


?-_-?

Americans generally say "half past" the hour. Wait for a response from a BrE-speaker.

 

[Barb_D]

Amercian use:
We do say "it's a quarter past" or "it's a quarter after" to mean (for example) 3:15. I use both, interchangealy.

We also say "I's a quarter to" or "it's a quarter of" to mean (for example) 2:45.

But for 3:30, it's not "half after."

It's a quarter past 3 means 3:15
It's a quarter after 3 also means 3:15.
It's half past 3 means 3:30
It's a quarter of 3 means 2:45
It's a quarter to 3 means 2:45.

We also often drop the hour.

A: I'll pick you up at 3.
B: Could you make it a quarter of? We hope to finish early today.

A: Can you pick me up at 3?
B: I probably won't be able to get there until quarter after.
A: No problem.I'll wait.

 

[bhaisahab]

BrE speakers say "half past three" or "three_thirty".

 

[SoothingDave]

I think "three-thirty" would be the most common in AmE. Digital clocks.

I've heard people in BrE say "Half eight" to mean "eight-thirty." I don't know how common that is.

 

[bhaisahab]

I think "three-thirty" would be the most common in AmE. Digital clocks.

I've heard people in BrE say "Half eight" to mean "eight-thirty." I don't know how common that is.

Yes, actually that is quite common.