Why say l'après-midi, when it could never be AM?

Alexander B.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Why say l'après-midi, when it could never be AM?

Hi Team,

I understand the below rule and it makes perfect sense...

​However, when there is risk of confusion between AM and PM, you will either use the 24-hour clock, OR add precisions like du matin (in the morning), de l'après-midi (in the afternoon)

But, why would one say "Il est quatorze heures de l'après-midi." when there is no risk of confusion here and it would never mean anything other than 2pm in the afternoon anyway?

It seems unnecessarily specific to me, so I chose not to select this option for the question:

What are the ways to SPECIFICALLY say "It is two PM." ?

It's like saying, I'm sunbathing under the sun.

Thanks

Asked 5 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Alexander, 

You only use ‘de l’après-midi' and ‘du matin’ with the 12 hour clock.

The passage you quote ends with “.....after the 12 hour clock time.”

‘Il est vingt-deux heures‘ can only be in the evening.

Hope this helps!

Alexander B.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Furthermore, for the question:

What are the ways to SPECIFICALLY say "It is ten PM." ?

After getting the above questions wrong when I didn't select the precision of de l'après-midi (in the afternoon) , I decided that the below option must be acceptable (but it was wrong):

Il est vingt-deux heures du soir.
Alexander B.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Hi Cécile,

Thanks for your response :-)

The rule makes sense to me, however the issue I had is that when I was presented with the question...

What are the ways to SPECIFICALLY say "It is two PM." ?

I did NOT select "Il est quatorze heures de l'après-midi." and I got the question wrong and it said that I should have selected this option?Which is contrary to the rule right

CécileKwiziq team member

If you think there's an error in a quiz, please re-post using the Report it button on your Correction Board as it links directly to the specific quiz and makes it easier for us to answer you...

Why say l'après-midi, when it could never be AM?

Hi Team,

I understand the below rule and it makes perfect sense...

​However, when there is risk of confusion between AM and PM, you will either use the 24-hour clock, OR add precisions like du matin (in the morning), de l'après-midi (in the afternoon)

But, why would one say "Il est quatorze heures de l'après-midi." when there is no risk of confusion here and it would never mean anything other than 2pm in the afternoon anyway?

It seems unnecessarily specific to me, so I chose not to select this option for the question:

What are the ways to SPECIFICALLY say "It is two PM." ?

It's like saying, I'm sunbathing under the sun.

Thanks

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