Times of Day (AM or PM)
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Basics on the topic Times of Day (AM or PM)
What Does AM and PM Stand For?
Have you ever heard someone ask 'what time of day is it?' When someone talks about times of day, they are talking about times like morning, evening and afternoon. What is the meaning of AM and PM? When something happens in the morning, we can use the word AM to talk about it and when something happens in the afternoon we can use the word PM to talk about it.
AM and PM – Meaning
We have found out that AM refers to times in the morning and PM refers to times in the afternoon but what times exactly. This table shows us at what times of day we use AM and PM.
| AM/PM | Time of Day |
|---|---|
| AM | The morning. Any time before 12 midday. |
| PM | The afternoon and evening. Anytime from 12 midday onwards. |
What is am and pm?
AM and PM help us to split the day in half to discuss activities that happen, but how can you tell when to use AM or PM?
First: think about what the activity is.
Then: think about when the activity is.
If it happens in the morning, the activity happens in the AM.
If it happens in the afternoon, the activity happens in the PM.
AM vs PM – Examples
Let’s try an example. A friend of yours tells you that they finished their book yesterday. They stayed up until 10 PM! Is 10 PM morning or night?
Remember, first identify what the activity is, and then when the activity happens.
Remember: We use AM for activities before 12 midday and we use PM for activities after 12 midday.
An activity that happens at 10 PM happens at night.
Let’s try another example, is 12 noon AM or PM? Remember to first think about what the activity is, then think about when the activity is.
Is noon 12 AM or 12 PM? AM is used to refer to the time until noon so noon and anytime after that is PM. That means that when we ask, is noon 12 am or pm, we say PM!
Identifying AM and PM – Summary of Steps:
To identify if an activity is AM or PM, remember these steps;
First: think about what the activity is.
Then: think about when the activity is.
If it happens in the morning, the activity is AM.
If it happens in the afternoon, the activity is PM.
Have you practiced AM PM yet? On this website, you can also find am/pm worksheets and interactive activities. You’ll then be able to say if it is am or pm right now!
Frequently Asked Questions on the Topic What does AM and PM mean?
Transcript Times of Day (AM or PM)
"Welcome to tonight's special, we have a great show planned! Our contestants, Freddie and Zuri are competing for a brand new camper van! But, can they sort my questions correctly? Stay tuned to find out on, the time is right!" Zuri and Freddie need to sort each question based on when it happens during the day. Let's help them learn about times of day to help them win! Have you ever heard someone say 'what time of day is it?' When someone says times of day, they are talking about times like morning and afternoon. When something happens in the morning, we can say AM to talk about it and PM for activities that happen in the afternoon. AM and PM let us split the day in half to describe when things happen. To work out when to use AM or PM, we can think about what the activity is and when it happens. Let's see the first question to help our friends. "Your first question is, what time of day does school usually start?" When trying to work out if an activity happens in the AM or PM, first, think about what the activity is. Here it's when school starts. Then, think about when the activity happens. If it happens in the morning it is AM and if it is in the afternoon it is PM. What time does school start? Schools usually starts in the morning, or AM. "I think I know this! School starts in the AM!" "That is correct! Our guests have answered the first question, but can they get the next one? What time of day do we eat lunch?" When trying to work out when an activity happens start by thinking what the activity is. Here it's when we eat lunch. Then, think about when the activity happens. Does lunch usually happen in the morning or the afternoon? Lunch usually happens in the afternoon, so our friends need to answer PM. "That is also correct! Our friends are on a roll, but can they beat a tricky troll? Your final question is what time of day do you put your pyjamas on?" To work out if it is AM or PM, start by thinking what the activity is. Here it's putting on pyjamas. Then, think about when the activity happens. When do you usually put your pyjamas on? Usually, people put their pyjamas on in the evening. The evening is also PM. "You put your pyjamas on in the PM!" Before we see if our friends won, let's review. Today we learnt about times of day, and how to describe when an activity happens. Remember, start by thinking about what the activity is. Next, think about when the activity usually happens. If it happens in the morning it is AM, and if it happens in the afternoon or evening, it is PM. Now, did our friends win? "The final answer is correct! We have our winners of tonight’s game of The Time is Right!" "Woohoo! We did it, Freddie!" "This is amazing!" "Here it is, your brand new camper van!" "Wait a second..."
Times of Day (AM or PM) exercise
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Does the picture show AM or PM?
HintsThink about what time of day is shown in each picture.
In this picture, the sun is rising in the morning. What time of day is it?
Remember:
- AM means it happens in the morning.
- PM means it happens in the afternoon or at night.
SolutionAM and PM are times of day.
We use the word AM to talk about the morning.
We use the word PM to talk about the afternoon and the night.
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Can you help Freddie and Zuri complete the sentences with the correct times of day?
HintsAM and PM are words used to talk about the time of day. AM happens before PM every day.
Morning is the time of day when you wake up and go to school.
The evening is the last part of the day before you go to sleep.
The afternoon comes between the morning and evening but think about the after part of the word afternoon.
SolutionIn the morning, it is AM.
In the afternoon and evening, it is PM.
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Which activities happen in the PM?
HintsThink about what time of day you do each of these activities. Do they happen in the morning, in the afternoon or evening?
Remember AM means it happens in the morning and PM means it happens in the afternoon or evening.
SolutionWe use the word AM to talk about the morning and the word PM to talk about the afternoon and evening.
PM
- You look at stars when it is dark in the evening or night, so this happens in the PM.
- You go to sleep in the evening, so this happens in the PM.
- You go to school in the morning, so this happens in the AM.
- You eat breakfast in the morning, so this happens in the AM.
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Which sentences use AM / PM correctly?
HintsThink about when you typically do each activity. Do you do them in the morning, in the afternoon or evening?
Remember AM means it happens in the morning and PM means it happens in the afternoon or evening.
Make sure the activities in the sentences match the time of day that is written.
Look carefully at clues in the pictures, is it light or dark?
SolutionThree of the sentences are correct.
- The characters are sat at a campfire in the evening, so PM is correct.
- She is watching TV in the evening when it is dark outside, so PM is correct.
- He is doing his homework with a lamp on after school in the afternoon or evening, so PM is correct.
- You typically do not go home from school in the morning, so AM is not correct.
- The correct sentence is: I go home from school in the PM which can be seen above.
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Which activities happen in the AM and which happen in the PM?
HintsThink about when you do each of these activities. Do they happen in the morning, in the afternoon or the evening?
Remember AM means it happens in the morning and PM means it happens in the afternoon or evening.
SolutionWe use the word AM to talk about the morning.
We use the word PM to talk about the afternoon or evening.You watch the sunset in the afternoon or evening, so this activity happens in the PM.
You get dressed for school in the morning, so this activity happens in the AM.
You read a bedtime story in the evening, so this activity happens in the PM.
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Do these activities happen in the AM, the PM or both the AM and the PM?
HintsRemember AM means it happens in the morning and PM means it happens in the afternoon or evening.
Some activities only happen in the morning.
Some activities only happen in the afternoon.
Some activities can happen both in the morning and in the afternoon.Which of the activities starts in the morning and ends in the afternoon?
SolutionWe use the word AM to talk about the morning and PM to talk about the afternoon and evening.
You eat dinner in the evening, so it is PM.
You wake up in the morning, so it is AM.
You work at school in the morning and you work at school in the afternoon, so it happens in both the AM and PM.
