Roman numerals on a clock
The hour marks can be shown with Roman numerals from I to XII.
3 o'clock
III is 3 and XII is 12.
Year 3
Tell and write the time from an analogue clock, including using Roman numerals from I to XII
Read analogue clocks that use Roman numerals for the hour marks.
Lesson overview
Time
Some analogue clocks use Roman numerals instead of ordinary numbers. I means 1, V means 5, X means 10 and XII means 12. The hands still work in the same way.
Read the hour and minute hands
A Roman numeral clock still uses the same hour hand and minute hand.
half past 7
The labels look different, but the time idea is the same.
Key Roman numerals
I, V, X and XII are useful ones to remember first.
These help you read the other clock labels more confidently.
Worked example
Read the time on a Roman numeral clock with the minute hand at VI and the hour hand between II and III.
half past 2
- The minute hand at VI means 30 minutes past.
- The hour hand is between II and III.
- That means the hour is 2.
- So the time is half past 2.
Try it
Read the minute hand first, then match the Roman numeral hour mark.
Question 1
What number does XII mean on a clock?
Question 2
What time is shown?
?
Question 3
What time is shown?
?
Question 4
Write the ordinary number for IV.
Question 5
Which statement is correct?
quarter past 4
Common mistakes
Watch for these when working through the lesson.
- Thinking Roman numerals change how the hands work.
- Mixing up VI and IV.
- Reading the next hour instead of the current hour for past times.
Related topics
These ideas fit closely with this lesson.
- Tell and write the time from 12-hour and 24-hour clocks.
- Estimate and read time with increasing accuracy to the nearest minute.