時(shí)間對(duì)于現(xiàn)代人來說是非常重要的，所有用來計(jì)算時(shí)間的工具稱為Time piece，包括：手表(wrist watch)、鐘(watch) 、袋表(pocket watch)，古代人用沙漏(egg timer)　和日晷(sun dial)作時(shí)間工具。如果以上的工具你都沒有，還有你的嘴巴，可以問人：What time is it now?(現(xiàn)在幾點(diǎn)鐘?)或者說：Do you have the time?。剛巧沒有帶表，可回答：I'm sorry. I don't wear a watch.(對(duì)不起，我沒帶表)。 外國人習(xí)慣用 "to"和 "past"來表示時(shí)間，例如9時(shí)45分，英文叫quarter to ten;10時(shí)15分叫quarter past ten。Quarter相等于中文的一刻(十五分鐘)的意思。

對(duì)話

A: Excuse me, what time is it now?

B: See there, the sun's setting and it's late July and we're in the northern hemisphere.......

A: So?

B:I think it's about 6:45 pm.

A: Why don't you look at your watch?

B: My watch has stopped.

甲：請(qǐng)問現(xiàn)在幾點(diǎn)鐘?

乙：看看那兒，太陽正下山，又是七月底，我們?cè)诒卑肭?.....。

甲：那么?

乙：我想是下午6點(diǎn)45分。

甲：為什么你不看你的手表?

乙：我的手表壞了。

問時(shí)間，英文有多種說法，最奇怪的應(yīng)是Do you (happen to) have the (correct) time?或What time do you have?這直譯是‘你有(正確的)時(shí)間么?’和‘你有什么時(shí)間?’實(shí)際意思卻是‘你知道現(xiàn)在幾點(diǎn)嗎?’和‘你的表是幾點(diǎn)鐘?’

其它問時(shí)間的說法有：(1) What's the time?/What time is it?(是什么時(shí)間了?)(2) Could you tell me what time it is? / Could you give (或tell) me the time?(可以告訴我是什么時(shí)間嗎?)(3) Do you know the time? / Do you know what time it is?(你知道現(xiàn)在是什么時(shí)間嗎?)(4) Could I bother you for the time?(麻煩你告訴我是什么時(shí)間好嗎?)(5) What's is the time by your watch?(你的手表是幾點(diǎn)?)

問時(shí)間，可能是因?yàn)樽约旱氖直聿粶?zhǔn)確。手表快了或慢了，英文可以說：My watch is a bit too fast / slow. 要說快了或慢了五分鐘，英文是：My watch is five minutes fast / slow. 每天快或慢一分鐘，則可以說：My watch gains / loses a minute a day。

手表快了，當(dāng)然要撥慢一點(diǎn)，這叫做to put / set the watch back;手表慢了，則須撥快一點(diǎn)，這叫做to put / set the watch forward，例如：The watch should be set back / forward a minute.(手表要撥慢╱撥快一分鐘)。