Quarter to can be used whenever there are 15 minutes until the next hour. For example, 2:45 could also be said to be quarter to 3. Make sure that whenever you use quarter to you use it with the coming hour! 2:45 does NOT mean the same thing as quarter to 2; that would be 1:45. Quarter after is the opposite and can be used whenever it's 15 minutes after the hour. For example, 3:15 could also be said to be quarter after 3.