A1 · Everyday structures
Números, la hora y las fechas
Practical rather than grammatical, and worth its own page because each of the three has a small rule that catches learners out: the number one changes shape, the hour uses ser in the plural, and the date runs day before month.
Numbers that misbehave
Uno becomes un before a masculine noun and una before a feminine one. From sixteen to twenty-nine Spanish writes one word; from thirty-one on, three words with y.
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| 1 with a noun | un libro, una mesa |
| 16–29 | dieciséis, veintiuno, veintinueve |
| 31+ | treinta y uno, cuarenta y cinco |
| 100 exactly | cien |
| 101–199 | ciento uno, ciento cincuenta |
| 200 with a noun | doscientas casas, doscientos libros |
The time
Es only for one o'clock; son for everything else, because the verb agrees with the hours. Past the half hour, Spanish subtracts with menos.
- Es la una.It is one o'clock.
- Son las tres y cuarto.It is a quarter past three.
- Son las siete menos cuarto.It is a quarter to seven.
- Son las ocho y media.It is half past eight.
At what time
To say when something happens, use a, not en.
- La clase es a las cuatro.The class is at four.
- ¿A qué hora llegas?What time do you arrive?
- Trabajo de nueve a seis.I work from nine to six.
Dates
Day, then month, in lowercase, joined with de. The first of the month is uno in Latin America and primero in some countries; both are understood.
- El catorce de marzo.The fourteenth of March.
- Nací el 3 de julio de 1998.I was born on 3 July 1998.
- 12/03 es el 12 de marzo.12/03 is 12 March, not December. · day first
Days of the week
Lowercase, and the article carries the meaning: el lunes is this coming Monday, los lunes is every Monday.
- El lunes tengo examen.On Monday I have an exam.
- Los lunes trabajo desde casa.On Mondays I work from home.
Mistakes to avoid
Son la una.
Es la una.
One hour, singular verb.
Tengo uno hermano.
Tengo un hermano.
Uno shortens before a masculine noun.
En las ocho salgo.
A las ocho salgo.
Clock time takes a.
Try it
___ la una y media.
La reunión es ___ las diez.
Tengo ___ hermana en Cusco.
Son las nueve ___ cuarto. (8:45)