What time is it?

[lebono]

Why isn't it = Quelle heure est-elle?

[mint]

Good question except that the "il" here does not accord with heure because it's not a masculine "il" but is impersonal [:D]

Like in "il faut" or "il y a".

[Théière]

C'est Chico time [:D]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvr4HcC4dG8

[plod]

I don't know the answer but I can't see the logic of your response. There is no noun in "il y a" or "il faut" whereas there is in "quelle heure..."

[mint]

plod, I do beg your pardon as I don't think that I have explained myself at all well..........

Lordy, what is the English equivalent?

Ok, let's say :  Everywhere, it is dark!

Everywhere is NOT the subject, but IT is.

So, in "il faut", the noun is "il" and in "il y a", the noun is "il" as well.

In "quelle heure est-il", the noun is also "il" and it is the subject.

"Il" is impersonal and stands for "the time".

As you know, "l'heure" can mean Hour or Time.  That's the problem really, the French do not have separate words for "hour" and "time".

I would suggest that in "quelle heure est-t'il", the nearest translation is "what time (heure) is IT (il)"? 

[lebono]

Thanks Sweet,

I figured it was something like your explanation but I couldn't quite figure it out. Of course 'le temps (m)' also means time as well as weather, so you can sort of see how the phrase has developed in order to avoid confusion.

[mint]

Voila, lebono![:D]