What are common mistakes with La hora?

Using 'son' for 1:00 (*Son la una → Es la una). Also forgetting 'las' before the number. 🇬🇧 English speakers: English uses 'it is' for all times. Spanish switches between es (1:00) and son (2:00+). The 'menos' system (6:50 = 'siete menos diez') is unfamiliar. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Russian time-telling is quite different. The Spanish system with 'y' and 'menos' needs practice. 🇨🇿 Czech speakers: Czech time-telling also differs. The 'y cuarto/y media' map to Czech 'čtvrt/půl' concepts somewhat.

La hora: reglas, ejemplos y ejercicios | Spanish Grammar A1

La hora

A1 — Números y tiempo

Telling time: es la una, son las dos, quarter, half

Can ask and tell the time using ser, y/menos, cuarto/media

Telling time: es la una, son las dos, quarter, half

Examples

Son las tres y media. — What time is it? — It's half past three.
Es la una y cuarto de la tarde. — It's a quarter past one in the afternoon.
Son las ocho menos veinte de la mañana. — It's twenty to eight in the morning.

Números y tiempoA1

La hora

Telling time: es la una, son las dos, quarter, half

Learning Goal

Can ask and tell the time using ser, y/menos, cuarto/media

Exam Skills:Comprensión auditivaExpresión oral

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

Son las tres y media.

What time is it? — It's half past three.

Es la una y cuarto de la tarde.

It's a quarter past one in the afternoon.

Son las ocho menos veinte de la mañana.

It's twenty to eight in the morning.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Preguntar y decir la hora en español:

Preguntar: ¿Qué hora es? (What time is it?)

Hora	Español
1:00	Es la una. (singular!)
2:00	Son las dos.
3:15	Son las tres y cuarto.
4:30	Son las cuatro y media.
5:45	Son las seis menos cuarto.
6:10	Son las seis y diez.
7:50	Son las ocho menos diez.
12:00	Son las doce. / Es mediodía.
00:00	Son las doce. / Es medianoche.

Reglas:

1:00 = Es la una (singular, con la)
Todas las demás = Son las... (plural, con las)
y = past the hour (1-30 minutos): las dos y veinte
menos = before the next hour (31-59): las tres menos diez

Partes del día: de la mañana (AM), de la tarde (PM until ~8), de la noche (PM after ~8).

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Using 'son' for 1:00 (*Son la una → Es la una). Also forgetting 'las' before the number. 🇬🇧 English speakers: English uses 'it is' for all times. Spanish switches between es (1:00) and son (2:00+). The 'menos' system (6:50 = 'siete menos diez') is unfamiliar.

Son las tres y media.

What time is it? — It's half past three.

3:30 = son las tres y media. 'Son' (plural) because it's not 1:00. 'Y media' = and half.

Es la una y cuarto de la tarde.

It's a quarter past one in the afternoon.

1:15 PM = es la una y cuarto. SINGULAR 'es la una' — the only hour that uses singular.

Son las ocho menos veinte de la mañana.

It's twenty to eight in the morning.

7:40 = las ocho menos veinte (8 minus 20). 'Menos' = minus/before the next hour.

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course

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Put it into practice

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Frequently asked questions

When is La hora used?: Partes del día: de la mañana (AM), de la tarde (PM until ~8), de la noche (PM after ~8).
What are common mistakes with La hora?: Using 'son' for 1:00 (*Son la una → Es la una). Also forgetting 'las' before the number. 🇬🇧 English speakers: English uses 'it is' for all times. Spanish switches between es (1:00) and son (2:00+). The 'menos' system (6:50 = 'siete menos diez') is unfamiliar. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Russian time-telling is quite different. The Spanish system with 'y' and 'menos' needs practice. 🇨🇿 Czech speakers: Czech time-telling also differs. The 'y cuarto/y media' map to Czech 'čtvrt/půl' concepts somewhat.