How to read 12:40 on an analog clock
At 12:40, the minute hand points at the 8, which represents the 40th minute. The hour hand is between the 12 and the 1, but closer to the 1. This means we are 20 minutes away from one o’clock.
In English, when the minute hand is on the 8, we say phrases like: It’s 20 to 1.
It’s twenty to one.
This is a common way of expressing time in spoken English. These expressions sound more natural in everyday conversation.
It’s important to understand that we often refer to the next hour when using “to”, even if the hour hand hasn’t reached it yet.
Example sentences with 12:40
- Don’t forget our call is scheduled for it’s twenty to one!
- They left the house at it’s twenty to one. to catch the train.
- I always start cooking dinner around it’s twenty to one.
- My alarm goes off at 12:40 every morning.
- We usually go for a walk around 12:40.