Telling time · Quarter past and quarter to
5:45 on a Clock
Quarter to six. The long hand points to 9 and the short hand is between 5 and 6.
5:45
quarter to six
How to read 5:45
- The short hour hand is more than halfway from the 5 to the 6.
- The long minute hand points at the 9. Count by 5s from the 12: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45. That's forty-five minutes past the hour.
Ways to say it
- quarter to six
- five forty-five
Where children slip
If you mix up the hands, this clock looks like 9:25. The short hand always gives the hour.
The long hand is on the 9, but that means 45 minutes, not 9. The time is 5:45, not 5:09.
The short hand looks close to the 6, so it's tempting to say 6:45. It hasn't reached the 6 yet, so the hour is still 5.
Morning or afternoon?
A clock with hands looks the same twice a day. 5:45 a.m. is the morning. 5:45 p.m. is the afternoon. There's more in the guide to a.m. and p.m.
Play with 5:45
Every question in this game has this time in it, as the answer or as one of the choices.
5:45 comes up in every question
Free to play · no signup · works on phones, tablets and computers
5:45 questions
What does 5:45 look like on a clock?
The long hand points to 9 and the short hand is between 5 and 6.
How do you say 5:45?
Most people say quarter to six. You'll also hear five forty-five.
Is the telling time game really free?
Yes. The whole game plays free in your browser, with no signup, no ads and no time limit. An iPhone app is on the way with offline play, a forest trail and a parent view, but the web game stays free.
Coming soon to iPhone
We're building a Clockwood app with what needs a real app: every time read aloud, offline play, and a parent view of which times have stuck and which are still tricky. The full game stays free here on the web.
Coming soon on theApp Store