Basic Italian in 30 Days: Telling the time

1. Question 1 of 10

   'Sono le tre e mezza.' What time is it?

   • A3:30
   • B3:45
   • C3:15
   • D2:30
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   Answer: A. 3:30

   Mezza means half, and e means past: three and a half = 3:30.

2. Question 2 of 10

   How do you say 'It's one o'clock'?

   • AÈ l'una.
   • BSono l'una.
   • CSono le una.
   • DÈ la una.
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   Answer: A. È l'una.

   One o'clock is singular, so it uses è, and la una becomes l'una: È l'una.

3. Question 3 of 10

   Fill the gap: '___ le quattro.'

   • ASono
   • BÈ
   • CSei
   • DHa
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   Answer: A. Sono

   For all hours except one o'clock, noon and midnight, use sono le: Sono le quattro.

4. Question 4 of 10

   'Sono le otto meno un quarto.' What time is it?

   • A7:45
   • B7:15
   • C8:15
   • D8:45
   Show answer

   Answer: A. 7:45

   Meno means 'minus' or 'to': eight minus a quarter = 7:45.

5. Question 5 of 10

   What does 'mezzogiorno' mean?

   • Anoon
   • Bmorning
   • Cmidnight
   • Dhalf past
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   Answer: A. noon

   Mezzogiorno is 12 noon. Midnight is mezzanotte.

6. Question 6 of 10

   You ask: 'A che ora apre la banca?' Choose the best reply.

   • ADi nove.
   • BSono le nove.
   • CAlle nove.
   • DNove ore.
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   Answer: C. Alle nove.

   A che ora…? asks 'at what time', so the answer uses alle: Alle nove. Sono le nove answers 'What time is it?'

7. Question 7 of 10

   A ticket says 'ore 21:00'. When is that?

   • A11 p.m.
   • B9 p.m.
   • C9 a.m.
   • D1 p.m.
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   Answer: B. 9 p.m.

   Tickets use the 24-hour clock. 21:00 is 21 − 12 = 9 in the evening.

8. Question 8 of 10

   Read the sign. When is the pharmacy open on Saturday?

   Farmacia Centrale
   Orario: lunedì–venerdì 8:30–13:00 e 15:30–19:30
   sabato 9:00–12:30
   domenica chiuso

   • AIt is closed.
   • B9:00–12:30
   • C15:30–19:30
   • D8:30–13:00
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   Answer: B. 9:00–12:30

   The line sabato (Saturday) shows 9:00–12:30. It is closed on Sunday (domenica).

9. Question 9 of 10

   Listen. What time is it?

   Play audioListen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.

   No sound? Read the text instead

   Luca: Che ore sono?
   Anna: Sono le dieci e venti.

   • A10:12
   • B20:10
   • C12:20
   • D10:20
   Show answer

   Answer: D. 10:20

   Anna says le dieci e venti: dieci (10) e (past) venti (20).

   Transcript

   Luca: Che ore sono?
   Anna: Sono le dieci e venti.

10. Question 10 of 10

    Listen. When does the train leave?

    Play audioListen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.

    No sound? Read the text instead

    Il treno parte alle diciotto e quindici.

    • A18:50
    • B8:15
    • C18:15
    • D16:15
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 18:15

    Diciotto is 18 and quindici is 15, so the train leaves at 18:15 (6:15 p.m.).

    Transcript

    Il treno parte alle diciotto e quindici.

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