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In German, expressing time can be done in various ways, depending on the level of precision required and the time of day. The most common way to express time is using the 12-hour format for casual conversations, but the 24-hour format is frequently used, especially in formal situations like public transport, schedules, and television broadcasts.

For the 12-hour format, you would say something like “Es ist drei Uhr” (It's 3 o'clock). However, if you need to indicate minutes past the hour, use the following:

• "Es ist zehn nach drei" (It's 3:10)

• "Es ist zwanzig vor vier" (It's 3:40)

• "Es ist halb vier" (It's 3:30)

To express quarter past and quarter to, you’ll use phrases like “Viertel nach” and “Viertel vor”, for instance:

• “Es ist Viertel nach fünf” (It's 5:15)

• “Es ist Viertel vor acht” (It's 7:45)

When referring to half-past the hour, Germans use “halb”. For example, “Es ist halb sieben” means “It's 6:30.” It’s also essential to be familiar with how to express time with specific parts of the day, like “am Morgen” (in the morning), “am Nachmittag” (in the afternoon), and “am Abend” (in the evening).

By mastering these expressions, you’ll be able to express time in German with more nuance and clarity.