想學說英語嗎？我們的學習美國英語日常對話在這裡提供一個練習機會。請點擊以下錄音連結，收聽美國人在不同場景中的一段對話，同時還可以參照每篇對話的英文原文和對語言點的中文解釋。今天的對話場景是表達時間。
Natasha: What time is it? We’re going to be late!
Tony:It’s a quarter after 7. We’re on time. Don’t panic.
Natasha: But I thought we had to be at the restaurant by 7:30 for the surprise party. We』ll never make it there with all this evening traffic.
Tony: Sure we will. Rush hour is almost over. Anyway, the party starts at 8. But I do need help with directions. Can you call the restaurant and ask them where we park our car?
語言點（點擊閱讀英文解釋）
• It’s a quarter after seven. (現在是7點一刻。)這是最常用的表達時間的用語，意思是「It’s 15 minutes past 7:00.」(現在是7點過15分)。也可以簡單地說「It’s seven fifteen.」(現在是7點15分。)「It’s a quarter past + 鐘點.」(現在是……點一刻。)是常用表達法。那麼，怎麼判斷一天當中的時間呢？在這裡你可以通過「evening traffic」(晚上交通狀況)找到答案。
• 在這一對話中，娜塔莎和託尼前去參加一個要有驚喜效果的派對。他們必須準時到達，因此有一種 「壓力和匆忙」的感覺。當某人因為時間壓力而感到緊張時，你可以用如下的表達方式進行安慰：Don’t worry.(別擔心。) / Don’t stress. (別緊張。)/ We’re fine.(我們沒事的。)/ We will be on time.(我們會準時。)
• 娜塔莎認為驚喜派對是7:30開始。可以有兩種方式表達這一時間。你可以簡單地說「seven thirty」 (七點三十分)，或者 「half past seven.」(七點半)。
• Rush hour (交通尖峰時間)——通常指早晚交通擁擠的時段，即大多數人坐公車或地鐵和開車或步行上下班的時間。
還想更深入學英語嗎？連線美國經常登載 英語學習內容。美國國務院也提供可供英語教師和學生使用的各種程度的資源（resources for English teachers and students）。
Learning to speak English? Our Everyday Conversations help you practice. Click the audio link to hear a native speaker pronounce each word while you read. Key terms are explained, in your language, at the end of each conversation. Today’s dialogue is about time.
Natasha: What time is it? We’re going to be late!
Tony: It’s a quarter after 7. We’re on time. Don’t panic.
Natasha: But I thought we had to be at the restaurant by 7:30 for the surprise party. We』ll never make it there with all this evening traffic.
Tony: Sure we will. Rush hour is almost over. Anyway, the party starts at 8. But I do need help with directions. Can you call the restaurant and ask them where we park our car?
Language notesIt’s a quarter after 7. This phrase is one of the most common ways of stating this time. It means: 「It’s 15 minutes past 7 o』clock.」 Another possibility here is to simply say: 「It’s 7:15.」 In general you can say: 「It’s a quarter past the hour.」 How do we know the time of day? Look for context clues: 「evening traffic.」
In the dialog, Natasha and Tony are going to a surprise party. They need to be on time. Therefore there is an element of stress and urgency. When someone is stressed for time you can use expressions like: Don’t worry. / Don’t stress. / We’re fine. / We will be on time.
Natasha thinks the surprise party begins at 7:30. There are two different ways to express this time. You may say simply 「7:30」 or 「half past 7.」
Rush hour is the time of day—usually in the morning and evening—when traffic is heavy because of people commuting to and from their workplace by bus, by car, by subway, on foot, etc.
Ready to learn more English? Our materials can help. And the U.S. Department of State has great resources for English teachers and students of all levels.