How to read 9:40 on an analog clock
At 9:40, the minute hand points at the 8, which represents the 40th minute. The hour hand is between the 9 and the 10, but closer to the 10. This means we are 20 minutes away from ten o’clock.
In English, when the minute hand is on the 8, we say phrases like: It’s 20 to 10.
It’s twenty to ten.
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 9:40
- I always start cooking dinner around it’s twenty to ten.
- Her dance class begins precisely at 9:40.
- We usually go for a walk around 9:40.
- My alarm goes off at 9:40 every morning.
- They left the house at it’s twenty to ten. to catch the train.