La horaLa hora

Telling time in SpanishTelling time in Spanish

Essential InformationEssential Information

Time is Time is femininefeminine We We mustmust use use definite articlesdefinite articles when when

expressing the time in Spanishexpressing the time in Spanish Time uses the verb SERTime uses the verb SER Singular and plural rules applySingular and plural rules apply

Based on the hour of the timeBased on the hour of the time There is more than one way to say There is more than one way to say

“P.M.”“P.M.” Must establish when to use each formMust establish when to use each form

A.M. and P.M.A.M. and P.M.

““De la mañanaDe la mañana” represents A.M.” represents A.M. ““In the morning”In the morning”

““De la tardeDe la tarde” represents the first ” represents the first form of P.M.form of P.M. ““In the afternoon”In the afternoon”

““De la nocheDe la noche” represents the ” represents the second form of P.M.second form of P.M. ““In the evening” or “At night”In the evening” or “At night”

A.M. and P.M.A.M. and P.M.

We’ll use “De la mañana” starting at We’ll use “De la mañana” starting at 12:00 a.m. (midnight) 12:00 a.m. (midnight) up untilup until 12:00 12:00 p.m. (noon)p.m. (noon)

We’ll use “De la tarde” starting at We’ll use “De la tarde” starting at 12:00 p.m. (noon) 12:00 p.m. (noon) up untilup until 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.

We’ll use “De la noche” starting at We’ll use “De la noche” starting at 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. up untilup until 12:00 a.m. 12:00 a.m. (midnight)(midnight)

Time is Time is femininefeminine

This simply means that all/any This simply means that all/any numbers (which normally are numbers (which normally are always masculine) will now be always masculine) will now be made femininemade feminine Ex.) unoEx.) uno unauna

We must use our feminine We must use our feminine definite articlesdefinite articles LaLa LasLas

SERSER

Clue to help remember to use Clue to help remember to use SER when telling time:SER when telling time: When asking what time is it, we When asking what time is it, we

see the see the Él/Ella/UstedÉl/Ella/Usted form of the form of the verb SER in the question:verb SER in the question:

¿Qué hora ¿Qué hora eses??

SERSER

Most of the time we will use the Most of the time we will use the Ellos/Ellas/UstedesEllos/Ellas/Ustedes form of SER form of SER when telling the time.when telling the time. SonSon

During the 1 o’clock hour (During the 1 o’clock hour (1:00-1:00-1:301:30), we’ll use the ), we’ll use the Él/Ella/UstedÉl/Ella/Usted form of SERform of SER EsEs

This is due to singular/plural rulesThis is due to singular/plural rules

Singular & Plural RulesSingular & Plural Rules

Pay attention to the number of the Pay attention to the number of the hour in order to determine if you hour in order to determine if you need to use “Son” or “Es” when need to use “Son” or “Es” when telling the time in Spanishtelling the time in Spanish

1:00-1:301:00-1:30 EsEs

All other times (2:00-12:00)All other times (2:00-12:00) SonSon

We use the plural form of SER We use the plural form of SER because the number itself is pluralbecause the number itself is plural Represents more than 1 (Think in Represents more than 1 (Think in

quantityquantity))

Putting It All TogetherPutting It All Together

It’s 1:00 p.m.It’s 1:00 p.m. EsEs lala ununaa de la tarde. de la tarde.

It’s 11:30 a.m.It’s 11:30 a.m. SonSon laslas onceonce y media de la y media de la

mañana.mañana.

It’s 8:05 p.m.It’s 8:05 p.m. SonSon laslas ochoocho y cinco de la noche. y cinco de la noche.