Learning time in English for children. Calculation of time in English. The opposite scheme works with the preposition to

You need release. It "s been far too long. You"ve been torturing yourself, watching POV blowjobs on free tube sites for months, wishing you had a hot flirty little slut to come and suck your cock. You want to fuck a pretty face, make her gag on your cock. You want her to bathe your cock in her saliva, slowly teasing you and worshiping your dick. You can "t take it anymore, you get so hot and horny you do something you thought you would never do, you call an escort agency and ask them to send over their best cocksucker. You" re so horny you can barely keep yourself from jerking off and blowing your load, but 30 minutes later a brunette bombshell walks through your door. You hand her the money and she gets right to work. Her perfectly manicured fingers look gorgeous as they slide up and down your shaft. She takes your cock all the way down to the base with full eye contact. Her tongue is magic and her elegant hands grip your cock firmly stroking as she sucks. It "s so fucking good and you can feel yourself getting ready to cum as she strokes you faster and faster, but then she stops and demands more money to continue. You gladly give her another $100, it"s worth it. She deep throats your cock and you picture your fat load hitting her pretty face. She brings you close to the edge, you feel your orgasm coming...but then she stops again! She wants more cash! You "re fucked. You" re like putty in her hands, she "s in full control, her mouth feels so fucking good and you want to cum so fucking badly. But she keeps demanding more and more! After she" s taken everything you tell her enough is enough. She has you right on the breaking point! You"re so ready...you start to cum! Then she just laughs and stops. She destroys your orgasm. Your cum spills from your cock slit and you twitch as your ruined orgasm leaves you even more frustrated than before. She takes her cash along with the orgasm you so desperately needed.

Times in English language- the main component of any course of study. I know from experience how difficult they can be for some people. But without them, nowhere.

There is a huge amount of literature on this topic, but this routine only confuses.

If you want to start learning English in order to know English or simply, for example, be able to compose questions or translate texts, then this article will be your assistant.

With the help of this article, you will understand the difference in times, it will help you stop getting confused in times, but the rules, forms of education are all easily accessible for self-study. You can also, after reading, on the basis of the principle, delve into the study of this topic.

So let's get started.

There are 4 tenses in English:
Simple.
Long.
Completed.
Long-term completed.

Each tense is divided into:
The present
Past
Future
It's simple, times are divided according to the same system in Russian. Now I will briefly describe each of the tenses and its distinctive properties and how to easily and quickly distinguish it from others.

1) Simple

This is the easiest time. The easiest.

Meaning- statement of fact. Denotes a regular, usual, regular action. Facts, truths. At this time, the exact point in time is NOT defined.

In general, if you just say - it shows the usual action, someone did something, someone knows something, etc. or just a fact. So is an action that, for example, a person does every morning, or every day, or what a person did yesterday.
If the sentence contains the words - everyday, usually, never, at first, then, after, in the morning, in the evening, tomorrow, next week, next month, often, soon- then most likely this is just a simple time. You can distinguish by the presence in the sentence of auxiliary verbs in negative and interrogative sentences: do, does, did, didn "t, don" t, will, shall, will not, shall not. Remember - regularity, fact, routine.

The present- the person does it now, or he does it every day (says every day, or reads a book, writes a letter, etc.).
Past- an action that happened or happened in the past. Well, or a fact from the past (wrote a letter yesterday, worked every day, worked from 90 to 95, went shopping in the evening).
Future- an action or a series of actions that will happen in the future, predictions, forecasts (I will work tomorrow, I will write a letter, I will learn a foreign language every day, I will make an essay soon).

2) Long

Process is the main meaning of time. Indicates that an action is being done, has been done or will be done certain time. Did, but didn't. If the sentence contains the words - now, at the moment, at, when, while, at 20 o "clock, tomorrow - then most likely this is just a long time. You can distinguish by the ing ending of the verbs. Auxiliary verbs - was, were , was not, were not, am, will be, shall be.Remember - indicates that time was spent on the action.

The present- an action that a person is doing right now, he is really doing it and spending his time, and this is what is shown in the sentence (Working now, writing a letter at the moment, going home now).
Past- an action that happened at a certain moment in the past, or that was done at the moment when another action took place. (I was writing a letter at 7 pm; he was writing a letter when I entered the room, he had been sleeping for 4 hours).
Future- an action that will take place at a certain point in the future (I will be writing a letter at 7 pm, I will be digging the ground tomorrow from 7 to 9 am).

3) Completed

The result is the main meaning of time. Shows that action done, is there a result! If the sentence contains the words - twice, lately, recently, several times, yet, already, never, just, ever - then this is most likely the completed tense. You can distinguish by auxiliary verbs - had, has, have, shall have, will have.

Remember - there is a result, the action has ended or will end here, and this is for anyone.

The present- an action that took place in the past, but has the most direct connection with the present. Example: He has already written a letter. I explain: he did this in the past, but the result refers precisely to the present. Example: I just lost my key. I explain: what he lost was in the past, but he is talking about it now.
Past- an action that was completed before a certain point in time in the past (I wrote a letter by 7 o'clock).
Future- an action that will be completed by some specific moment in the future (I will write a letter by 7 o'clock).

4) Completed - long

Here I will advise independent study. This time is not used in colloquial speech, and it is better to come to the study of this time after studying the times written above. Do not worry, work out the previous tenses!

So let's sum it up:

Simple time is a statement of fact.
Long time is a process.
Completed is the result.
Practice leads to perfection. Do simple tasks, guided by this article, and soon you will calmly distinguish one time from another Improve yourself! Good luck!

In English, there are certain rules for writing dates and times. These rules may differ depending on the style, as well as the rules of British English or American English.

Writing dates in English

To write dates in English, cardinal and ordinal numbers are used.

Days of the week and month names are always capitalized because they are proper names.

For month names there are abbreviations other than months May(may and June(June), which are recorded in full.

British English

According to the rules British English first the day is written, then the month and year. Ordinal numbers with the article are used to complete the number. the. There can also be a preposition between the day and the month. of. Often the first day of the month is written in letters. The year is not separated by a comma.

the first of January- January 1
the 31st December- thirty first of December
the 2nd October 1995- October 2, 1995
the 9th of May 2010- May 9th, 2010

Also used abbreviated date spelling with cardinal numbers - or writing the date in numbers through a slash or dots. When writing a date through a dot, the year is written in an abbreviated form (the last two digits).

V British English it is also allowed to write the number after the month. A number can be written as an ordinal number, but without the article the, as well as quantitative numerals. When a number follows a month, the year is separated by commas. comma also separate the name day of the week The that comes before the date.

January 1 , 2016 – January 1, 2016
March 8th, 2001- March 8, 2001
Friday, November 3rd, 1994- Friday 3 November 1994
Monday, December 26, 2016– Monday 26th December 2016

American English

V American version In English, it is customary to write the month first, and then the day. In this case, the number is written only as a cardinal number (without ending th), even if in colloquial speech the date will be pronounced with an ordinal number. Such a record of the date is often found in business correspondence. Date from year separated by a comma.

If in American English the number comes before the month, then it is written as an ordinal number with the ending th and the article the, as in British English. When writing a date, the name of the day of the week is also separated by a comma.

the 4th June 2007
the 2nd April 1999
Tuesday, the 1st May 2006

Separating the year with commas

When writing a full date in a proposal in British version English, the year is separated by commas on both sides, and in American English It is customary to separate only the number from the year with a comma. It is also not customary to start a sentence with a numeral and according to the rules of British English and American English.

British English
May 8th, 1945, was one of the most important days in history.

American English
May 8, 1945 was one of the most important days in history. May 8, 1945 was one of the most important days in history.

According to the general rules year is not separated by commas when no number is specified or it comes before the month. Also, the day of the week is not separated from the month by a comma if the number is not specified.

May 1945 was a really important month for the whole world.– May 1945 was a very important month for the whole world.
Jack was born on a Saturday in April 1992. Jack was born on a Saturday in April 1992.

AD vs BC

V English texts abbreviations are often used to indicate historical dates AD and BC.

AD–Anno Domini(from the Nativity of Christ). Indicates the year of our era. The year of Christ's birth is considered to be the first year of our era - 1 AD.

BC-Before Christ(before Christmas). Indicates the year BC.

Julius Caesar was killed in 44 BC . Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC.
Greek philosopher Socrates was born in 470 and died in 399 BC. The Greek philosopher Socrates was born in 470 and died in 399 BC.
This church was built in 1237 AD.– This church was built in 1237 from the Nativity of Christ.
The Battle on the Ice was fought on April 5, 1242 AD .- The battle on the ice took place on April 5, 1242 AD.

Abbreviations are also used CE and BCE to maintain religious neutrality.

CE - Common Era. Indicates the years of our era (new era). Corresponds AD.
BCE–Before Common Era. Indicates years BC. Corresponds BC.

Julius Caesar was killed in 44 BCE . Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC.
The Battle on the Ice was fought on April 5, 1242 CE .- The battle on the ice took place on April 5, 1242 AD.

How to ask for a date?

In order to find out the current day of the week, number or date in English, the phrase is often used what day…?(what day of the week?) or what date…?(what number?).

The constructions are used to answer today is… or it is… In colloquial speech, they can be omitted.

What day is it today? What day(s) is it today?
It is Thursday today.- Today is Thursday.

What is today? What is today (what day of the week)?
Today is Monday.- Today is monday.

What date is it today?- What is the date today?
What is the date today?- What is the date today?
What is today's date ?- What is today's date?

Today is Monday, the 4th June. Today is Monday, the fourth of June.
(It is) the 31st of December.– (Today) December 31st.

To ask for the current month, use the construct what month…?(what month?).

What month is it?- What month is it?
It isDecember.(Now) December.
What month are we in?- What month is it? (what month are we in?)
We are in December. We are now in December.

In order to ask the date when something happens or happened, a question word is also used. when...?(when?).

When will you arrive in Tokyo? When will you arrive in Tokyo?
When was the Battle on the Ice fought?- When did the Battle of the Ice take place?

writing time

Time in English can be written both in numbers and in words, it can be expressed in a formal or colloquial form, depending on the situation.

V formal version numbers are used in writing. V oral speech first the hour is called, and then the minutes. When pronouncing minutes from 01 to 09, the zero before the minute can be pronounced as o(or Oh).

13:23 - thirty-twenty-three
01:10 – one ten
07:06 – seven (oh) six
23:05 - twenty-three (oh) five

Since it is more commonly used in English 12 hour format time, to distinguish between the pre-lunch and the afternoon in the formal version, the designations are used a.m. and p.m.
a.m.(also AM) – ante meridiem(before noon). Indicates the time from midnight to noon.
p.m.(also PM) – post meridiem(afternoon). Indicates the time after noon until midnight.

01:47 - one forty-seven a.m.
09:30 – nine thirty a.m.
13:05 - one oh five p.m.
21:30 – nine thirty p.m.

V colloquial version 12-hour time format is used.

To indicate the full time (full hours) without minutes, the word is used o'clock. In this case, the word is not used hours(hours), which is used to indicate the duration of the action.

6:00 - six o'clock(six o'clock)
at 13:00 - at one o'clock(at one o'clock)
around 19:00 – around seven o'clock(about seven)

Words used to represent 12 hours midnight(midnight), midday or none(noon).

at 00:00 - at midnight (at midnight)
at 12:00 - at midday, at none (at noon)

V colloquial version Minutes are named first, and then hours. The word can also be used minutes(minutes). To designate from 01 to 30 minutes preposition is used past(after). Half (30 minutes) can also be denoted by the word half, and 15 minutes as quarter(quarter), but without a word minutes.

13:23 - twenty-three minutes past one
01:10 – ten past one
23:05 - five minutes past eleven
22:15 - (a) quarter past ten
03:30 –half past three

To designate 31 to 59 minutes used countdown to the next hour and preposition to(before, without). 45 minutes or "15 minutes to a minute" can also be denoted by the word quarter.

07:45 - fifteen to eight
21:45 – (a) quarter to ten
05:40 - twenty to six
23:58 – two minutes to twelve
16:35 - twenty-five minutes to five

Expressions are used to indicate the time before lunch and after in the morning(... in the morning, in the morning) - until 12 noon, in the afternoon(... of the day, in the afternoon) - after 12 noon, in the evening(... evenings, evenings), at night(... at night, at night). How to demarcate noon from evening, evening from night and night from morning often depends on the speaker himself and his sense of time.

03:15 – (a) quarter past three in the morning (at night)
18:35 - twenty-five minutes to seven in the evening
16:07 – seven minutes past four in the afternoon (in the evening)
20:30 - half past eight in the evening (at night)

V American version English preposition past may be replaced by after(except for the expression half past), and the preposition to- for suggestions before, of or till.

How to ask time?

In order to find out the current time, the phrase is often used what time…?(what time is it now?).

To answer the question about the current time, an impersonal construction is used it is...

What time is it (now)?- What time is it now?
It is half past seven.- (Now) half past eight.

What is the time?- What time is it now?
It's ten to one.- (Now) ten minutes to one.

Could you tell me the time, please?- Can you tell me what time it is?
Sure! It is a quarter past three.- Certainly! It's fifteen minutes past three.

In order to ask the time when something happens, the construction is also used what time…? or question word when...?

What time does the train leave?- What time does the train leave?
When does the train leave?- When does the train leave?
At what time does the meeting begin?- What time does the meeting start?

The answer to this question uses the preposition at with a specific time.

The train leaves at 7 a.m.– The train leaves at 7 am.
The meeting begins at 8 in the morning.– The meeting starts at 8 am.

Use of prepositions

To indicate dates and times in English, a number of prepositions are used, the use of which should be remembered.

Pretext at used to indicate a specific time and time of eating.

Pretext at also used with in the following phrases

at Christmas- for Christmas
at Easter- for easter
at night- at night (often the action lasts all night)
at the weekend- on the weekend
at present- now
at the moment- Currently

Pretext in used with years and centuries, seasons, months.

in 2009- in 2009
in 1202 A.D.- in 1202 AD
in the 19th century- in the 19th century
in the twentieth century- in the 20th century

spring– in spring
winter– in winter
in January- in January
in August- in August

Pretext in also used with daytime intervals.

in the morning- in the morning
in the evening- in the evening
in the afternoon- after lunch
in the day time- during the daytime
in the night- at night (a short period of time or an action that occurred at night)

In also used to denote a period of time, across which action will be taken.

I'm leaving ten days.- I'm leaving in 10 days.
We will finish our project in 4 hours. We will finish our project in 4 hours.
She will come back in 3 weeks. She will be back in three weeks.

Pretext on used with dates and days of the week.

Suggestions are not made with an adverb ago(ago ago), which is used in the Past Simple tense and means how long ago a certain action was done.

We arrived two hours ago. We arrived two hours ago.
He was here a few minutes ago.“He was here a few minutes ago.
He saw Kate about three months ago. He saw Kate about three months ago.

Prepositions are also not used before words. next(next), last(last), every(each) and this(this).

I go jogging every Saturday.- I run every Saturday.
Kate was there last month. Kate was there last month.
I called Jack this morning. I called Jack this morning.
Next week I'm visiting my grandma.- I'm going to my grandmother next week.

On time vs in time

Phrases on time and in time(on time) in English have a similar meaning. However, they should not be confused with each other.

On time is used when a planned action occurs on schedule or on schedule without delay.

My train always arrives on time . My train always arrives on time (on schedule).
Our meeting never start on time . Our meetings never start on time.

In time indicates that someone is not late and has enough time to do something. After in time preposition is used for and a noun or infinitive of a verb with a particle to. Also, this expression is often used in the phrase just in time(be in time just in time for...).

We should leave now so we will be there in time for lunch. We must leave now to be there for dinner.
I want to arrive there in time to meet George before the meeting. I want to get there (early) to meet George before the meeting.
You are just in time for dinner!"You're just in time for dinner!"

1 Voiced expressions on the topic

Additional words and expressions

time- time; clock- clock; hours- hour; second- second; minutes- minute

What time is it?(What is the time ?; What o "clock is it?) - What time is it (what time is it)?

About the watch

watch- watches (pocket, wrist); alarm clock– clock with an alarm clock; cuckoo clock- Cuckoo-clock; tick, ticking(of a clock) - colloquial. ticking (clock)

clock face- clock face; hand- clock hand; hour hand- hour hand; minute hand- minute hand; second hand- second hand

2 Time notation in English

The designation of time in English is somewhat different from that adopted in Russian. To designate an even number of hours numerals are used with words o "clock or a.m. and p.m., wherein a.m. stands for morning, a p.m. – afternoon or evening:

6 o "clock- 6 o'clock;
7 p.m.- 7 pm;
4 a.m.- 4 a.m.

(a.m., A.M.- short for lat. expressions ante meridiem, meaning "before noon";
p.m., P.M.- short for lat. expressions post meridiem, meaning "in the afternoon")

To designate hours with minutes two options are used:

1. Used only numerals, if necessary, with the addition a.m. and p.m.:

nine thirty two- nine thirty two
nine thirty-two a.m.– nine thirty-two in the morning (9:30 am)
two fifty- two fifty
two fifty p.m.– two fifty days (2:50 pm)

2. Expressions like "two minutes past one", "seventeen minutes to five" are used. For this, numerals are used, denoting the number of minutes with the preposition past if you mean first half of current hour,
with a pretext to, if you mean remaining minutes until the next hour:

ten past five- ten minutes after five (lit. ten minutes after five);
twenty past eight in the evening- twenty minutes past eight in the evening;
thirty minutes past twelve in the afternoon- thirteen minutes of the first day;
five to six- five minutes to six;
twenty five to eleven at night- twenty five minutes to eleven in the evening;
nineteen minutes to seven in the morning- nineteen minutes to seven in the morning.

At the same time, the numbers 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 can be used without word mentions minutes, after all other numerals denoting the number of minutes, the use of words minutes or minutes necessarily. In this case, the following options are used to specify the time of day:

in the morning- morning ( from 01.00 to 11.59)
in the afternoon– days ( from 12.00 to 16.59)
in the evening- evenings ( from 17.00 to 21.59)
at night- nights ( from 22.00 to 00.59)

(More information about the time of day can be found.)

The construction is used to indicate half an hour. half past – half an hour after specified hour:

half past twelve- half past twelve;
half past six- half past six;
half past twelve at night- half past midnight;
half past six in the evening- Half past seven in the evening.

The word used to represent a quarter of an hour is quarter with a pretext past if you mean quarter of the current hour, with a suggestion to if you mean It is a quarter to one:

quarter past six- quarter past seven
quarter to three- a quarter to three
quarter past six in the morning- quarter past seven in the morning
quarter to three in the afternoon- quarter to three days

Please note that in constructions with the preposition past in English, the previous hour is used, and not the next, as in Russian.

...........................................

3 How to name an even number of hours (video)

...........................................

4 How to name hours with minutes (video)

...........................................

5 Time and clock in English idioms

like a clock- accurate, punctual, like a clock (about a person)
(a) round the clock– around the clock
eat up the clock(kill the clock) - Amer.; sport. play for time
clock in/off– note the time of arrival / departure from work
clock up- record in the asset, in the number of achievements
face that would stop a clock- a very unattractive face; very pretty face
turn (or put) back the clock- turn back time
five o "clock shadow- stubble, unshaven
against the clock- for a limited time

it beats my time- that beats me
sell time– provide airtime (for a fee on radio or television)
pass the time of day with smb.- greet, exchange greetings
not before time- It is high time
it is only a question of time- razg. it's just a matter of time
take your time!- do not hurry!
next time lucky- better luck next time

a bit over a minute- minute or two
a minute over- no more than a minute
up to the minute– cutting-edge

zero hour (= H-hour)- the hour chosen to start something; decisive hour, time "H", appointed hour,
the small hours (= week hours)- pre-dawn hours; first hours after midnight
happy hour- "happy hour" (the time when alcoholic drinks in the bar are sold at a discount)
pumpkin hour- the appointed hour (when the carriage turns into a pumpkin - in the fairy tale about Cinderella)
every hour on the hour- exactly at the beginning of each hour (at zero-zero minutes)
on the half hour- every half an hour
hours on end (for hours on end)- without end
(at) all hours- all day long
after (office) hours- after work
keep late hours- stay up late
one's finest hour- high point
rush hour- rush hour
ungodly hour- off-hours

...........................................

6 Time in English proverbs and sayings

One cannot put back the clock.
You can't bring back the past.

Lost time is never found again.
You can't get back lost time.

A stitch in time saves nine.
One stitch, but on time, is worth nine.

Time is money.
Time is money.

Procrastination is the thief of time.
Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

Take time by the forelock.
Strike while the iron is hot.

An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening.
The morning is wiser than the evening.

The darkest hour is just before the dawn.
The darkest hour is closest to dawn.

...........................................

7 Games, songs and fairy tales in English on the topic: hours and time (flash)

About the Greenwich Meridian

The Greenwich meridian, the prime meridian passing through the city of Greenwich, is the location of the old Greenwich Astronomical Observatory in Great Britain. It serves as the starting point for the geographical longitudes and time zones of the globe. Universal time (mean solar time of the Greenwich meridian) is counted from midnight and differs from Moscow time by 3 hours (15 hours Moscow time corresponds to 12 hours universal time).
The Greenwich meridian was adopted as the reference point for longitudes throughout the globe in 1884. Until that time different countries used their national zero meridians (in France, the "Paris meridian" was used, in Russia - the "Pulkovo meridian").

Exercises and puzzles on the topic: hours and time (in English)

Children's songs on the theme: hours and time (in English)

hickory dickory dock

The clock

Inside Big Ben

"Big Ben" is a large bell (weighs more than 13 tons) on the clock tower of the British Parliament building, the name is also often attributed to the clock and the tower as a whole. Officially, until recently, the tower bore the name of St. Stephen, since September 2012 it has changed its name to "Elizabeth Tower". The tower was erected in 1858, the clock was put into operation in 1859. Since then, "Big Ben" has become one of the most recognizable symbols of the UK.

Big Ben and Little Bens

Charles Bury, the architect who built the Palace of Westminster, in 1844 asked Parliament for a grant to build a clock on St. Stephen's Tower. The mechanic Benjamin Valami undertook to build the clock. It was decided that the new clock would be the largest and most accurate in the world, and its bell the heaviest, so that its ringing could be heard, if not throughout the empire, then at least throughout its capital.
When the clock project was completed, disputes began between its author and the authorities over the required accuracy of the clock. The Astronomer Royal, Professor George Airy, insisted that the first strike of the bell every hour should be accurate to one second. Accuracy was to be checked hourly by telegraph linking Big Ben with the Greenwich Observatory.
Valami said that for watches open to winds and bad weather, such accuracy is not possible, and that no one needs it at all. This dispute lasted five years, and Airy won. Valami's project was rejected. Clocks with the required accuracy were designed by a certain Dent. They weighed five tons.
Then a lot of trouble began to cast the bell and debate in Parliament on this matter. It is to this time that the versions of the origin of the name "Big Ben" are attributed. The versions are as follows: this is either the name of the chairman of the parliamentary commission, Benjamin Hall, or the name of the famous boxer Benjamin Count.

Less Ben
When the clock and bell had already been raised and mounted, it turned out that the cast-iron hands were too heavy, and they were poured from a lighter alloy. The clock was opened on May 31, 1859. Until 1912, the clock was lit by gas jets, which were later replaced by electric lamps. And on the radio for the first time the chimes sounded on December 31, 1923.
After a bomb hit the St. Stephen's Tower during the Second World War, the clock began to move not so accurately.
These watches have gained incredible popularity both in England and abroad. Many "Little Bens" appeared in London, small copies of St. Stephen's tower with a clock on top. Such towers - a cross between an architectural structure and a living room grandfather clock - began to be erected at almost all intersections.
The most famous "Little Ben" stands at Victoria railway station, but in fact, in almost every area of London you can find little Ben.

Alexander Voronikhin, bbcrussian.com

Almost immediately after mastering the basic grammar and vocabulary, they move on to the topic "". It would seem that it can be difficult? But even here there are many snags, since some points differ from how we used to call time in our native language.

Features of the topic "how to call time in English"

Let's see, how to say time in english right. It is important to pay attention to the fact that English speakers do not have 17.00, 20.00, 21.00 and so on. Their hours are quite limited: from 00.00 to 12.00. In order for the interlocutor to understand everything correctly, they specify part of the day. That is, to the phrase you need to add in the morning or in the evening. The most commonly used abbreviations in this case are: a.m.(for the first half of the day) and p.m.(for the afternoon). That is, seven in the morning in English will be 7 o'clock in the morning, and seven in the evening - 7 o'clock in the evening . When talking in English, one should generally forget that 19.00 exists in nature.

How to say time in English

Now let's expand our vocabulary to no longer think about how to say time in english. Here are some words that will definitely come in handy for you:

half– half (30 minutes)

quarter- quarter (15 minutes)

to- to (for phrases like "without 15 minutes")

past- after

sharp- exactly

Now we conditionally divide the clock face into two parts. In order to say 5, 10 or more minutes of an hour, one cannot do without a preposition past. If there are a certain number of minutes left before the round number, then we need an excuse from the left side of the dial - to.