italian

Di solito esco di casa alle sette e mezza.
I usually leave home at half past seven.
Literally: 'Of usual (I) go-out of house/home at-the seven and half'.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Morning transport is bad, but I found that I can shave off 20 minutes from my commute – and have enough room in the train to hold my book open – if I leave ten minutes earlier.

Unfortunately it seems that yesterday everybody else had the same idea, and that altered my mood from bad to superbad.

I can't afford to have two superbad days in a row, so today I am starting my journey at seven to beat the crowds.

Oggi esco mezz'ora prima.
Today I'm leaving half an hour earlier.
Literally: 'Today (I) go-out half'hour before'.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

If you want to find out more

When you tell the time, you must put an article ('the') before the number, which I agree is rather odd. I think what is implied is the word 'ore' (hours).

The full translation of 'It is seven o'clock' (now only used for very formal announcements) would be:

Sono le ore sette
(They) are the hours seven

'Ore' is usually dropped, but its article ('le') remains.