what is the meaning of kala and geçe in time related expressions?

to and past

üçe beş kala (3 e 5 kala): five to three, 2:55

yediyi on geçe (7 yi 10 geçe): ten past seven, 7:10

Turkish time questions take 2 main forms

1 Saat kaç? (What´s the time?)

2 Saat kaçta? (At what time? or When?)

For answers to number 2 Turks can use kala and geçe

The formula for ´at...past...´ is;
hour + (y)i + minute + geçe
altıyı beş geçe = at 5 past 6
ikiyi çeyrek geçe = at quarter past 2

Dördü çeyrek geçe buluştuk. [We met at quarter past four.]

So geçe means past ( from geçmek)

 
The formula for ´at....to...´ is;
hour + (y)a/e + minute + kala
dokuza beş kala = at 5 to 9
sekize çeyrek kala = at quarter to 8

Sekize on kala evden çıktım. [I left home at ten to eight.]

So kala means ´to´ (remaining until / remaining to) from kalmak

so it´s interchangeable

üçe beş kala (3 e 5 kala): five to three, 2:55 - üçe beş var

yediyi on geçe (7 yi 10 geçe): ten past seven, 7:10 - yediyi on geçiyor

No, they are used in different circumstances.

When are you coming? At 5 to 3 [üçe beş kala / 3 e 5 kala]

What time is it? 5 to 3 [2:55 - üçe beş var]

and the different circumstances are ? cos i read this 2 and i cant understand when we use kala and when geçe :/

Turkish uses kala and geçe when it talks about the time something will happen/happens/happened.

Salı günü üçü on geçe buraya geleceğim.

I will come here on Tuesday at 10 past 3.

Yarımı beş geçe telefon çaldı.

The phone rang at 12:35.

Posta sabah dokuza çekrek kala gelir.

The mail comes at quarter to nine in the morning. 

You do not use these words if someone asked you

"What time is it?" Saat kaç?

Thank you for your explanation, Henry. It seems that I had forgotten the whole clock thing.

Rica ederim. 

eipä kestä 

I have a feeling that this question must have been asked ( and explained) many times here at this site.

So maybe you could give it a try to find more using search box (if you feel like doing it).