chris_quilts

I say twenty of whatever hour all the time. It's the region of the US I grew up in. I do say 20 after the hour. My kids and the kids I taught all learned twenty to the hour. Same thine and we taught the kids analog first and thenm digital and how to both add and subtract time from the clock. Not fun but it can be made to be fun.
Chris

auntpiggylpn

20 past 1 !

Some people don't know half past or a quarter of either. Just depends on how you grew up, I suppose

chris_quilts

I agree as I use quarter past, 10 past the hour, etc. Could be a regional thing or maybe just what you learned from your parents but I do remember learning of and past the hour in school for telling time.

Peckish

This is EXACTLY what I was thinking. I do not think this is a matter of not being able to tell time. I think it is a matter of being unfamiliar with the terminology. I am 43 and have never heard anyone give the time of day in those terms.

Latrinka

I just check my phone.

KathyPhillips

I expected this to say something like a family member asking you what time was dinner, and you said 2 hours from now. I have to finish my quilt first. Or the shorter version, "30 min. after my quilt is finished!"

noveltyjunkie

Me 3. This is the obvious explanation. I have heard "20 of", but rarely, and it is not something you can work out yourself first time you hear it. I wonder where it originated?

I use both. Digital is less ambiguous though. Did you know that in German 'Halb Sieben' is not half past seven but half to seven- ie 6.30?!

I prefer the 24 hour clock too. A.m. and p.m. are just another thing to mix up. So few people know which is 12 a.m. and which 12 p.m. that I use 'Noon' and 'midnight' to be sure, to be sure ;-)

Peckish

I, too, prefer military time, or the 24 hour clock, but hardly anyone else uses it. I taught it to my 11 year old son, which delights him because he thinks it's like a secret language between he and I.