• Home
  • OffQc
  • About
  • Start
  • Off-quoi?
  • Listen to Québécois French

OffQc | Québécois French Guide

For lovers of French + diehard fans of all things québécois!

Feeds:
Posts
Comments
« Review of 5 informal French verbs (#194)
French verb MAGANER used in Quebec (#196) »

Getting used to the 24-hour clock (#195)

29 April 2011 by OffQc

In Quebec, you’ll want to be familiar with the 24-hour clock. If you plan on moving to Quebec or spending an extended amount of time here, consider getting used to it now.

The 24-hour clock is used here in public transport schedules, when taking appointments such as with a doctor or dentist, in TV programming, and so on. The 12-hour clock is also used, especially during regular, informal conversations, but you’ll still need to become familiar with the 24-hour clock too.

If you’ve not grown up with the 24-hour clock, I imagine it will take a little getting used to. One way to convert the time from the 24-hour system to the 12-hour system is to subtract 12: for example, 19 h – 12 = 7 p.m.

I don’t recommend this, though.

When you’re speaking in French, I think you’ll have enough going on in your mind to want to stop and do a mental calculation.

A better way is to simply accept the time in the 24-hour system for what it is. Set your clock, watch or computer to the 24-hour system now, and take note of what you’re doing at different points of the day while looking at the time.

For example, when you take your break at work in the afternoon, what time is it in the 24-hour system? 14 h? 15 h 30? When you finish work, look again at your watch. What time is it? 17 h? 18 h? What time do you get home?

If you can start to associate routine activities with different times in the 24-hour system, you won’t need to think anymore about what 19 h, 20 h or 21 h mean: an image will automatically come up in your head.

For me, I know that at…

16 h 30: In the winter, the sky may already be dark.
17 h: Many people are getting off work.
19 h – 20 h: I’m hungry and ready for supper.
22 h: I’m watching the Téléjournal.

If you’re still uncomfortable with the 24-hour system, consider implementing it in your personal life.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Posted in Entries #151-200 |

  • Books

    The OffQc bookshop is always open. See all titles here.

    Contracted French Put an end to not understanding spoken French by learning the most important contractions used in speech

    C’est what? Overview of common features of spoken Québécois French; pave the way for further independent study

    1000 Learn or review a large amount of everyday words and expressions used in Québécois French in condensed form

  • Follow OffQc by email. It's free. Enter your email address in the box below.

    Join 1,545 other followers

  • Read a random entry
    OffQc bookshop
    OffQc on Twitter
    OffQc on Pinterest
    • Listen to Québécois French: Almost 100 videos + transcripts
  • Number

    • Entries #1151-1200
    • Entries #1101-1150
    • Entries #1051-1100
    • Entries #1001-1050
    • Entries #951-1000
    • Entries #901-950
    • Entries #851-900
    • Entries #801-850
    • Entries #751-800
    • Entries #701-750
    • Entries #651-700
    • Entries #601-650
    • Entries #551-600
    • Entries #501-550
    • Entries #451-500
    • Entries #401-450
    • Entries #351-400
    • Entries #301-350
    • Entries #251-300
    • Entries #201-250
    • Entries #151-200
    • Entries #101-150
    • Entries #51-100
    • Entries #1-50
  • Month

    • June 2017
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
    • April 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
    • December 2015
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    • June 2015
    • May 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • February 2015
    • January 2015
    • December 2014
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013
    • April 2013
    • March 2013
    • February 2013
    • January 2013
    • December 2012
    • November 2012
    • September 2012
    • August 2012
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • March 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
    • December 2011
    • November 2011
    • October 2011
    • September 2011
    • August 2011
    • July 2011
    • June 2011
    • May 2011
    • April 2011
    • March 2011
    • February 2011
    • January 2011
    • December 2010

Blog at WordPress.com.

WPThemes.