Telling the time "3:15" in American English
Which of the followings is the most common way to say 3:15 in American English?
- A quarter past three
- A quarter after three
- Three fifteen
Also, in the last example "three fifteen", where do you put the stress (fif-TEEN or FIF-teen)?
It's most commonly three fifteen /ˈθri fɪfˈtin/. In the latter word, the stress is on teen.
The other two choices are also fine, with past somewhat more common than after. The article a isn't always included.