Skill: Use a.m. and p.m.

The 12-hour clock repeats the same clock numbers twice each day.

• a.m. means the time from midnight through the morning before noon.
• p.m. means the time from noon through the evening before midnight.
• Midnight is $12{:}00$ a.m.
• Noon is $12{:}00$ p.m.

Example

A family’s schedule says:

• Wake up at $7{:}00$
• Eat lunch at $12{:}00$
• Play soccer at $4{:}30$
• Go to bed at $9{:}00$

Write each time with a.m. or p.m.

Step 1: Label the morning time.
Waking up at $7{:}00$ happens before noon, so it is:

$$7{:}00\text{ a.m.}$$

Step 2: Label noon.
Lunch is at noon. Noon is always $12{:}00$ p.m., so it is:

$$12{:}00\text{ p.m.}$$

Step 3: Label the afternoon time.
Soccer at $4{:}30$ happens after noon, so it is:

$$4{:}30\text{ p.m.}$$

Step 4: Label the evening time.
Bedtime at $9{:}00$ happens after noon and before midnight, so it is:

$$9{:}00\text{ p.m.}$$

The completed schedule is:

$$7{:}00\text{ a.m.},\quad 12{:}00\text{ p.m.},\quad 4{:}30\text{ p.m.},\quad 9{:}00\text{ p.m.}$$

Remember: 12:00 a.m. is midnight, and 12:00 p.m. is noon.