Question

how do you tell time

Answer 1

El tiempo es ( TIME) eg: for 5 o'clock. Say: El tiempo es cinco en punto.

Answer 2

If someone was to ask you the time you'd say:

Es la una - it is one o'clock
or where the time is plural, so 2 onwards
Son las tres - it is 3 o'clock

For a time past the hour - Son las 'hour' y 'minutes'
e.g. Son las quatro y veinticinco - it is four twenty-five

For a time before the hour - Son las 'hour' menos 'minutes'
e.g. Son las seis menos cinco - it's five minutes to six

And for quarter you can use cuarto and half you can use media
e.g. Son las siete menos cuarto - it's quarter to seven
and Son las nueve y media

Answer 3

if you want to be literal the o'clock can be said as "en punto" but it's not that common

-Es la una en punto - it is one o'clock

for half past time, say 3:30
-Son las tres y media.

For a quarter to seven you can also say :
-Son las seis cuarenta y cinco / Falta un cuarto para las siete