sorry, I didn't know how to make tildes over the letters on my keyboard :D
To express At what time something is taking place we use:
A + la/las + [time]
Have a look and listen to the following examples:
Voy al gimnasio a las diez y media.
I go to the gym at half past ten.
Salgo de casa a las ocho en punto.
I leave the house at eight o'clock precisely.
Almuerzo siempre a las dos y cuarto.
I always have lunch at quarter past two.
Notice how "a" is always followed by the feminine definite article "las".
Now have a look at these other examples:
A veces cojo en autobús a la una.
Sometimes I take the bus at one.
Mi madre prepara el almuerzo a la una y media.
My mum prepares lunch at half past one.
Notice how when something takes place at any time involving one (i.e 1:00 or 13:00 hours) the article takes the singular form "la".
It is not correct to say:
- Mi madre prepara el almuerzo a las una y media.
- Mi madre prepara el almuerzo a las una menos cuarto.
We also need the preposition "a" if we want to ask when something takes place:
- ¿A qué hora vas a llegar a casa? - Voy a llegar a casa a las nueve.
- What time are you coming home? - I am coming home at nine.
See also Using ser (not estar) to talk about time, days, dates and seasons
Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics
Examples and resources
Voy al gimnasio a las diez y media.
I go to the gym at half past ten.
Almuerzo siempre a las dos y cuarto.
I always have lunch at quarter past two.
Mi madre prepara el almuerzo a la una y media.
My mum prepares lunch at half past one.
Salgo de casa a las ocho en punto.
I leave the house at eight o'clock precisely.
A veces cojo en autobús a la una.
Sometimes I take the bus at one.
- ¿A qué hora vas a llegar a casa? - Voy a llegar a casa a las nueve.
- What time are you coming home? - I am coming home at nine.
Q&A Forum 1 question, 2 answers
PennyKwiziq community member
So using la/las to indicate hour (hora), not the time (tiempo) that is why it's feminine? - A que hora? not A que tiempo?
Asked 3 months ago
InmaKwiziq team member
Hola Penny
That is a possibility as it is logical that if we are talking about "hora" (we do not use the word "tiempo" in this context), and hora is a feminine word. It is as if we were omitting the word "hora" when we say:
-¿A qué hora vas a llegar?
-A las 9 [horas].
Saludos
Inma
Penny asked:View original
So using la/las to indicate hour (hora), not the time (tiempo) that is why it's feminine? - A que hora? not A que tiempo?
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