This deep dive covers La hora — Telling the Time within Numbers, dates and time for GCSE Spanish. Revise Numbers, dates and time in Questions & Roleplay for GCSE Spanish with 13 exam-style questions and 12 flashcards. Use this page as part of a wider topic revision path rather than treating it as an isolated fact. It is section 2 of 4 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
🔍 La hora — Telling the Time
Spanish time follows a simple pattern — but with one critical rule that trips up almost every Foundation student.
TELLING THE TIME — Key forms
- ¿Qué hora es? — What time is it?
- Es la una. — It's one o'clock. (ONLY singular: es la)
- Son las dos. — It's two o'clock.
- Son las tres y cuarto. — It's quarter past three.
- Son las cuatro y media. — It's half past four.
- Son las cinco menos cuarto. — It's quarter to five.
Rule: Only es la una uses the singular. Every other time uses son las (they are...). Think of it as: the clock hands plural — except at one o'clock.
SCHEDULING — a las + time
- El tren sale a las ocho y media. — The train leaves at half past eight.
- La clase empieza a las nueve. — The class starts at nine.
- La tienda cierra a las seis de la tarde. — The shop closes at 6pm.
Time of day markers: de la mañana (am, morning) · de la tarde (pm, afternoon/evening) · de la noche (night)