French Phrase
Il est sept heures moins le quart.
Meaning
This phrase is the standard way to express that the time is 6:45 in French. It literally translates to 'It is seven hours minus the quarter,' following the French convention of subtracting time from the upcoming hour. It is more common in spoken, everyday French than the digital 'six heures quarante-cinq'.
When to use
Use this phrase in casual or semi-formal situations when someone asks for the time or when discussing a schedule. It is specifically used for the 12-hour clock format rather than official 24-hour schedules.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Il estsept heuresmoinsle quart
Il est
The impersonal pronoun 'il' is always used for telling time, regardless of the 'hour' being plural.
Moins le quart
This construction is used for the 45-minute mark. Note that 'moins' can also be used with specific minutes, like 'moins dix' (ten to).
🗨In Conversation
Excusez-moi, vous avez l'heure ?
Excuse me, do you have the time?
Oui, il est sept heures moins le quart.
Yes, it is a quarter to seven.
✕Common Mistakes
Il est sept heures moins quart.
Unlike 'et quart' (and a quarter), 'moins le quart' always requires the definite article 'le'.
Il est six heures moins le quart.
In French, you must use the upcoming hour (7) when subtracting minutes, not the current hour (6).
↔Alternatives
Il est six heures quarante-cinq.
It is six forty-five.
Il est bientôt sept heures.
It is almost seven o'clock.
Cultural Tip
While the 24-hour clock (l'heure officielle) is used for train schedules and official appointments in France, the 12-hour clock with expressions like 'moins le quart' is preferred in conversation. If you are using the 24-hour clock, you would typically say 'dix-huit heures quarante-cinq' instead of subtracting quarters.