How to read 9:20 on an analog clock
At 9:20, the minute hand points at the 4, which represents the 20th minute. The hour hand is between the 9 and the 10, but closer to the 9. This means we are 20 minutes past nine o’clock.
In English, when the minute hand is on the 4, we say phrases like: It’s 20 past 9.
It’s twenty past nine.
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 9:20
- I always start cooking dinner around it’s twenty past nine.
- Her dance class begins precisely at 9:20.
- They left the house at it’s twenty past nine. to catch the train.
- We usually go for a walk around 9:20.
- My alarm goes off at 9:20 every morning.