- Are you confused about whether to say “quarter to” or “quarter of” when telling time?
- Do you know how to describe financial results using “first quarter” or “fourth quarter” correctly?
- Have you ever wondered why we say “living quarters” instead of “living rooms” in certain contexts?
Mastering Quarter Collocations is a vital step for any English learner aiming for fluency. Instead of simply learning the word “quarter” as a fraction (1/4), understanding how it naturally pairs with other words allows you to navigate business meetings, daily time-telling, and travel descriptions with confidence and precision. This guide focuses on modern, high-frequency usage to help you sound more like a native speaker today.
Essential Collocations using QUARTER as a Noun
1. Time and Calendars
In everyday English, “quarter” is most frequently used to divide the hour or the year. These are high-priority phrases for daily communication.
- Quarter past / Quarter after: It is quarter past five. (Note: “After” is more common in US English).
- Quarter to / Quarter of: We are leaving at a quarter to eight. (Note: “Of” is a common US variant).
- First/Second/Third/Fourth Quarter: The project is due by the fourth quarter of the year.
- Fiscal quarter: Our company’s fiscal quarter ends in March.
2. Business and Finance
In professional settings, “quarter” refers to a three-month period. These collocations are essential for reports and presentations.
- Quarterly report: I need to finish the quarterly report by Friday.
- Quarterly earnings: The tech giant saw a massive jump in quarterly earnings.
- Quarter-on-quarter (QoQ): We analyzed the growth on a quarter-on-quarter basis.
- Losses/Gains for the quarter: The company reported significant gains for the quarter.
3. Measurements and Quantities
Use these when discussing specific amounts or fractions of a whole.
- A quarter of: Roughly a quarter of the students passed the exam.
- Three-quarters: Over three-quarters of the Earth’s surface is water.
- A quarter-inch: Please cut the wood to a quarter-inch thickness.
- Quarter-million: The house was sold for a quarter-million dollars.
4. Places and Housing
In these contexts, “quarter” refers to a specific district of a city or a place where people live.
- Living quarters: The ship’s crew returned to their living quarters.
- Business quarter: The skyscrapers are located in the city’s business quarter.
- Historical/Old quarter: We spent the afternoon walking through the historical quarter.
- Close quarters: Working in close quarters can be stressful for some teams.
Common Collocations with QUARTER as a Verb
While less common than the noun form, “quarter” as a verb is used in specific contexts such as cooking, history, or military lodging.
1. Dividing into Parts
- Quarter an orange/apple: You should quarter the potatoes before boiling them.
- Quarter the population: (Statistical/Abstract) The disease effectively quartered the population in that region.
2. Housing and Accommodation
- Be quartered in: The troops were quartered in local villages during the winter.
- Quartering troops: The law forbids the quartering of troops in private homes.
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter past | Noun Phrase | 15 minutes after the hour. |
| Fiscal quarter | Noun Phrase | A 3-month period for financial accounting. |
| Quarter the fruit | Verb Phrase | To cut something into four equal pieces. |
| Living quarters | Noun Phrase | A place where people live (often military or staff). |
| Close quarters | Noun Phrase | A very small or cramped space. |
| Quarter-on-quarter | Adverbial Phrase | Comparing one 3-month period to the previous one. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| It is fifteen minutes from six. | It is a quarter to six. |
| The company had a good three months. | The company had a strong first quarter. |
| I live in the historic part-quarter. | I live in the historical quarter. |
| Cut the bread into four parts. | Quarter the loaf of bread. |
“As we enter the fourth quarter of the fiscal year, we need to review our quarterly earnings closely. Most of our staff are currently working in close quarters at the temporary office, but we expect to move to the new business quarter by quarter past nine on Monday morning. Please ensure the quarterly report is finalized by then.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Quarter Collocations
Is it “quarter to” or “quarter of”?
Both are correct, but they are used in different regions. “Quarter to” is standard in both British and American English (e.g., “quarter to five”). “Quarter of” is a common variation used specifically in parts of the United States to mean the same thing.
What does “close quarters” mean in a modern context?
In modern English, “close quarters” refers to being very near to someone or something, often in a way that feels cramped or lacks privacy. It is commonly used when describing small offices, crowded transport, or intense military combat.
Can I say “a quarter hour” instead of “a quarter of an hour”?
While “a quarter of an hour” is more formal and grammatically precise, “a quarter hour” is frequently used in business and technical contexts (e.g., “billed in quarter-hour increments”). However, for telling time, “quarter past” is much more natural.
Why is it called the “Latin Quarter”?
The term “quarter” here means a specific district of a city. The “Latin Quarter” in Paris is so named because Latin was the language of learning spoken by students at the university there in the Middle Ages. In modern English, you can use “quarter” to describe any specialized area, like the “Jewelry Quarter” or “Museum Quarter.”
Is the verb “to quarter” still used in 2024?
Yes, but primarily in two ways: 1) In cooking, meaning to cut into four pieces (e.g., “quarter the onions”), and 2) In news or history regarding the housing of soldiers or refugees in specific buildings.
The phrase 'fiscal quarter' is new to me. Is 'fiscal' always related to money and taxes, or can it be used more generally for financial periods?
Great question, Ben! 'Fiscal' is indeed strongly associated with money, government revenue, taxes, and financial periods. It almost exclusively refers to financial matters. So, a 'fiscal quarter' specifically denotes one of the four periods into which a government's or company's financial year is divided for accounting and budgeting purposes. It's quite a specific term in its application. Well observed!
Thank you for explaining the difference between 'quarter to' and 'quarter of'! I'm learning US English so 'quarter of' is what I'll focus on for time.
You're very welcome, Ana! That's a smart approach to focus on 'quarter of' if your primary goal is US English proficiency. It's fantastic that you're being so strategic in your learning! Keep up the dedication.
This article perfectly illustrates why learning collocations is crucial. It's not just knowing words, but knowing how they *fit* together. Excellent resource!
What about sports? Do we say 'first quarter' for basketball games like in the US, or is it different in other sports outside the US?
Excellent point, Chloe! You're absolutely right. In many sports, particularly those common in North America like basketball and American football, the game is divided into 'quarters.' So, you'd commonly hear 'first quarter,' 'second quarter,' etc. In other sports, like soccer (football), the game is divided into 'halves' instead. Cricket has 'innings.' It really depends on the sport's rules and traditional terminology, but 'quarter' is very standard for those specific games you mentioned!
So glad I found this! I always just said 'fifteen minutes past' because I was scared to use 'quarter'. Now I feel more confident to try it!
That's wonderful to hear, Samir! Feeling confident is key to fluency. While 'fifteen minutes past' is perfectly correct, incorporating 'quarter' into your vocabulary will definitely make you sound more natural and native-like. Don't be afraid to practice; the more you use it, the more comfortable it will become! You're doing great!
The example 'It is quarter past five' is clear. Do I always need 'it is' or can I just say 'Quarter past five' in casual conversation?
That's a perceptive question, Akiko! In casual, everyday conversation, especially when responding to 'What time is it?' or a similar query, it's very common and perfectly natural to drop 'It is' and simply say 'Quarter past five' or 'Quarter to eight.' Native speakers often omit words when the meaning is clear from context, making the conversation more fluid. Give it a try!
Can 'quarter' be used in other business contexts? Like, 'we are in the final quarter of negotiations' or 'a quarter of the team is working on X'?
Fantastic examples, Ravi! Yes, both of your suggested uses are perfectly natural and common in business English. 'We are in the final quarter of negotiations' effectively means you're in the last fourth of the negotiation process. And 'a quarter of the team is working on X' is a clear and concise way to state that 25% of the team is engaged in that task. It demonstrates a strong grasp of how 'quarter' functions beyond just literal time or financial divisions. Well done!
I loved the tip about 'mastering Quarter Collocations is a vital step for any English learner aiming for fluency.' It's true! I'm trying to move past just translating words directly from my native language.
I usually say 'a quarter to' for time. Is 'a quarter of' also common in Canada, or is it more of a specific US thing?
Hi David! That's an excellent question about Canadian English. Generally, Canadian English often blends elements of both British and American English. For time-telling, 'a quarter to' (e.g., 'a quarter to six') is widely understood and very common in Canada, similar to British usage. While 'a quarter of' might be heard, especially in areas with strong US influence, 'a quarter to' is likely the more prevalent and standard usage across the country. Good to be aware of the subtle differences!
As an ESL teacher, this is fantastic material! I'm going to share this with my advanced students. The focus on high-frequency usage is spot on. Any chance for more articles on specific words like this?
Thank you so much for your kind words, Maria! We're thrilled to hear that the article is a valuable resource for you and your students. We absolutely plan to create more content focusing on high-frequency words and their essential collocations, as we believe it's one of the most effective ways to build fluency. Stay tuned to Translateen.com for more guides like this!