Discussion Groups / English Usage / November 2006

} barney@cix.co.uk wrote:
}> A question on American English from a British English speaker:
}>
}> Would you tend to say "it's gone nine o'clock" or "it's after nine
}> o'clock" or "it's past nine o'clock" (to mean that the time was later
}> than nine o'clock)?
}
} I'd say "It's after nine o'clock".  I might under some circumstances say
} "it's past nine o'clock".  I'd never say "it's gone nine o'clock" and
} can't recall ever encountering such a usage.
}
}> Any significant regional/period variations in the usage?
}
} Not that I know from.

There's a South African DJ on WBJC (The Voice of Baltimore City Community
College, the only classical public radio in Greater Laurel, Fourth Largest
Metropolitan Area in America, which is also available on the Web) who does
things like "It's just gone five pahst three."  I don't hear it otherwise,
but it always seems to be used with "just", and it generally means the
time mentioned is still displayed on a digital clock.  Judith Crummick (or
Crammick or Cremmick or something; I can't tell).

I'd certainly assiciate it with BrE+, rather than MlE.

I'm essentially an East Coast man, and I usually say "after". I
sometimes say "past nine", but perhaps I've never said "past nine
o'clock".

I suggest that both "gone nine o'clock" and "gone nine", which I have
either run into on TV or in person, I can't recall, are examples of
hillbilly English.

Same for Canada.  I've heard "gone" in this context, but not from the
locals.