Skill: Read time to the half hour

To read an analog clock to the half hour:

1. Look at the minute hand (the long hand).
   • At $12$, it means $:00$.
   • At $6$, it means $:30$, or one-half hour.
2. Look at the hour hand (the short hand).
   • If the minute hand is at $6$, the hour hand will be between two numbers.
   • Use the number the hour hand has already passed. That is the hour that has begun.

Example: The minute hand points to $6$, and the hour hand is between $4$ and $5.

• The minute hand at $6$ means $30$ minutes.
• The hour hand has passed $4$, so the hour is $4$.

The time is:

$$4{:}30$$

We say, “four thirty,” or “half past four.”