The clock face
A clock helps us tell the time. A clock face has the numbers 1 to 12 around it. It has two hands that move.
- The short hand is the hour hand.
- The long hand is the minute hand.
Key idea
When the long hand points to 12, we say o'clock. When the long hand points to 6, we say half past.
Reading o'clock
Worked example
The long hand points to 12. The short hand points to 3. The time is 3 o'clock.
Remember
- Short hand = hour.
- Long hand = minute.
- Long hand on 12 means o'clock.