Telling the Time — Beginner English Dialogue Shadowing
Practice a short, simple English dialogue about asking and telling the time. You shadow easy lines like “What time is it?”, “It's a quarter to five.”, and “We have plenty of time.”. It covers asking the time and reassuring you're not late. Because the dialogue is short and clear, it's ideal for beginners — you speak along with both roles until the exchange feels natural.
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What this dialogue trains
Make these easy lines automatic: “What time is it?”, “It's a quarter to five.”, “We have plenty of time.”, “It didn't make any difference.”.
Language note: Telling time (“a quarter to five”) and “plenty of time.”
Say this everyday vocabulary clearly: what time, quarter to five, plenty of time, by five.
Copy the natural intonation on “It didn't make any difference.” so even simple lines sound real.
Learning goals
- Handle asking and telling the time in simple, correct English.
- Speak short everyday dialogue lines with natural rhythm.
- Shadow both roles so you can start and reply.
- Build beginner confidence through short, repeatable practice.
About this practice
This is a short, classic everyday dialogue about asking and telling the time, ideal for beginner shadowing.
At A1 level it is a quick, complete exchange you can repeat until it's automatic.
Practice tips
- 1Shadow out loud slowly first, then speed up to natural pace.
- 2Drill the vocabulary (what time, quarter to five, plenty of time) until it's clear.
- 3Shadow both speakers so you can lead as well as respond.
Frequently asked questions
Is this good for beginners?
Yes — the dialogue is short and uses simple, high-frequency English, which makes it ideal for early speaking practice.
How should I use a short dialogue like this?
Shadow it several times across a few days until both roles feel automatic, rather than drilling it once.
How do I say times like 4:45?
You practice “a quarter to five,” the natural spoken form beginners often miss.
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