A clock has two hands. The short one and the long one.
Step 1: Let's Learn
Read it, or press Listen and follow the words.
The short hand
The short hand tells the hour. It is the one you read first.
O’clock
When the long hand points straight up, we say o’clock.
A digital clock writes it as 3:00. The 00 means no minutes yet.
The hands do different jobs
The short hand names the hour. The long hand says how far through it you are. Reading the wrong one is the usual mistake.
Every time comes round twice
Three o’clock happens in the night and in the afternoon. A clock face alone cannot tell you which.
Step 2: Try It Yourself
Change the hour and read both clocks.
Short hand: the hourLong hand: the minutes
This clock says 3 o'clock.
Minutes
Step 3: Watch an Example
One step at a time.
Watch Leo Read a Clock
The long hand points straight up. The short hand points at the 7.
- Step 1
He checks the long hand first. It is straight up.
Step 4: Your Turn
Practice makes it stick.
School Starts
Problem 1 of 1
The short hand is on 9 and the long hand is up. What hour?
Read the Hour
1 of 3
Short hand on 5, long hand up. What hour?
2 of 3
Short hand on 12, long hand up. What hour?
3 of 3
Which hand tells the hour?
Step 5: Quick Check
Show what you know.
Question 1 of 2
Short hand on 4, long hand up. What hour?
Question 2 of 2
How is 6 o’clock written?
What You Learned
- The short hand tells the hour.
- Long hand straight up means o’clock.
- 3 o’clock is written 3:00.