A1 Prepositions & Connectors 15 min read Easy

Spanish Time Prepositions: At & In (a las, en)

Use 'a las' for clock hours and 'en' for months, years, and seasons to indicate when events occur.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'a' for clock time and 'en' for months, seasons, and years to master Spanish time expressions.

  • Use 'a las' for specific clock hours: 'A las ocho' (At eight).
  • Use 'en' for months and years: 'En mayo' (In May), 'En 2024' (In 2024).
  • Use 'a' for 'al mediodía' (at noon) and 'a la medianoche' (at midnight).
Clock Time: 'a' + 'las' + [hour] | Months/Years: 'en' + [time period]

Overview

Mastering the use of time prepositions in Spanish is crucial for clear and precise communication, even at an A1 level. Unlike English, which often uses a single preposition like “at” or “in” for various temporal contexts, Spanish requires you to choose between a la/a las and en based on the specificity of the time you are describing. This distinction is not arbitrary; it reflects a fundamental linguistic logic regarding how Spanish perceives points versus periods in time.

At its core, a indicates a precise point of arrival or a specific destination, whether in space or time. When you use a la/a las for hours, you are pinpointing an exact moment on the clock, akin to saying "at the exact hour of..." Conversely, en denotes containment within a larger period or space. For broader timeframes like months, seasons, or years, en frames the event as occurring within that temporal container.

Understanding this difference is paramount. Misusing these prepositions can lead to confusion for native speakers or make your Spanish sound unnatural. This guide will clarify the underlying principles, provide clear rules for formation, highlight common errors, and demonstrate how native speakers use these prepositions in everyday contexts, ensuring you build a solid foundation for your Spanish communication.

How This Grammar Works

Spanish treats time with varying degrees of granularity. Imagine a timeline: when you "zoom in" to a very specific, exact point—an hour on a clock—you will use a la/a las. When you "zoom out" to a larger, less defined period—such as a month, a season, or a year—you will use en.
A la/a las for Specific Clock Times:
The preposition a is fundamentally about direction and specificity. When paired with definite articles la or las, it indicates a precise hour. The full, implied phrase behind a las cinco is a las cinco horas (at the five hours).
Since horas (hours) is a feminine plural noun, it takes the feminine plural definite article las.
  • La tienda abre a las nueve de la mañana. (The store opens at nine in the morning.)
  • Te espero a las siete y media en el parque. (I'll wait for you at seven-thirty in the park.)
The singular exception to las is for one o'clock. As una hora (one hour) is singular, it correctly uses the singular feminine definite article la. Therefore, you say a la una.
  • El programa termina a la una de la madrugada. (The program finishes at one in the morning.)
  • Comemos a la una en punto. (We eat at exactly one o'clock.)
These phrases are used for setting appointments, stating event times, or indicating when something specific happens on a clock.
En for Broader Timeframes and Durations:
The preposition en conveys the idea of containment or being within a period. It functions similarly to "in" or "on" in English for these broader temporal contexts. This applies to:
  • Months: en enero (in January)
  • Seasons: en invierno (in winter)
  • Years: en 2025 (in 2025)
  • Durations: how long something takes, meaning "in" or "within" a certain amount of time.
  • Mis vacaciones son en julio este año. (My vacation is in July this year.)
  • Siempre hace mucho calor en verano aquí. (It's always very hot in summer here.)
  • Se graduará de la universidad en 2027. (She will graduate from university in 2027.)
When en expresses duration, it specifies the amount of time needed to complete an action. For example, Terminaré el informe en dos horas (I will finish the report in two hours) implies completion within that two-hour period. This usage aligns with the concept of the action being contained within that specific timeframe.
The core linguistic principle linking a and en in both spatial and temporal contexts is that a marks a target point or destination, while en describes a location or period of containment. For clock times, you are targeting a precise moment. For months, years, or seasons, you are referring to an event happening within that larger, encompassing period.

Formation Pattern

1
Consistent patterns govern the use of a la/a las and en. Pay close attention to the number (singular/plural) of the implied noun hora when stating clock times.
2
1. For Specific Clock Times (Hours):
3
Use the preposition a followed by the definite article (la for singular hora, las for plural horas) and the hour. When the exact time is not a whole hour, you can add minutes, using y (and) for minutes past the hour and menos (minus) for minutes to the next hour.
4
| Hour | Spanish Phrase | Literal Meaning (Implied) | Notes |
5
|:-------------|:--------------------|:--------------------------|:-----------------------------------------|
6
| 1:00 | a la una | at the one (hour) | la for singular hora |
7
| 2:00-12:00 | a las [number] | at the [number] (hours) | las for plural horas |
8
| 1:30 | a la una y media | at the one and a half | Common way to express half past the hour.|
9
| 6:15 | a las seis y cuarto | at the six and a quarter | Common for quarter past. |
10
| 6:45 (or 7 menos cuarto) | a las seis y cuarenta y cinco / a las siete menos cuarto | at the six and forty-five / at the seven minus quarter | Two ways to express quarter to the hour. |
11
Fixed Expressions for Specific Points:
12
a mediodía (at noon) – no article needed, acts as a single adverbial phrase.
13
a medianoche (at midnight) – no article needed, similar to a mediodía.
14
Example: La película empieza a las ocho y diez de la noche. (The movie starts at eight ten in the evening.)
15
Example: Siempre cenamos a mediodía cuando visitamos a mi abuela. (We always have lunch at noon when we visit my grandmother.)
16
Example: Nos despedimos a medianoche. (We said goodbye at midnight.)
17
Cultural Insight: Spanish-speaking countries often use the 24-hour clock (e.g., 18:00 for 6 PM), especially in formal contexts like public schedules. In casual conversation, you'll hear a las ocho de la noche more often than a las veinte horas.
18
2. For Broader Timeframes (Months, Seasons, Years):
19
Use the preposition en followed directly by the name of the month, season, or the year itself. Generally, no definite article is used with months or years.
20
| Timeframe Type | Spanish Pattern | Example | Notes |
21
|:---------------|:--------------------------|:---------------------------|:--------------------------------------------------|
22
| Month | en + [month name] | en agosto | No definite article. |
23
| Season | en + [season name] | en otoño | en el otoño is also acceptable, though en otoño is more common and simpler for A1. |
24
| Year | en + [year number] | en 2025 | No definite article. |
25
Example: Siempre viajamos a la costa en julio. (We always travel to the coast in July.)
26
Example: El paisaje es hermoso en primavera. (The landscape is beautiful in spring.)
27
Example: Nacieron sus hijos en 2020. (His children were born in 2020.)
28
3. For Durations (How long something takes):
29
Use the preposition en followed by a quantity and a unit of time to indicate how long an action takes to complete.
30
| Duration Type | Spanish Pattern | Example | Translation |
31
|:---------------------------|:-------------------------------|:-----------------------------|:-------------------------|
32
| X minutes/hours/days/weeks | en + [number] + [time unit] | en cinco minutos | in five minutes |
33
| | | en tres horas | in three hours |
34
| | | en dos semanas | in two weeks |
35
Example: Puedo leer este capítulo en media hora. (I can read this chapter in half an hour.)
36
Example: La construcción del edificio se completó en un año. (The building's construction was completed in one year.)

When To Use It

To reinforce your understanding, let's categorize when each preposition is the correct choice. Remember, a la/a las pinpoints, while en contains.
Use a la/a las when:
  • Stating an exact hour: This is the most common use. You are referring to a precise point in time on a clock.
  • La clase de español empieza a las diez. (The Spanish class starts at ten.)
  • ¿A qué hora nos vemos? – A la una en la cafetería. (At what time do we meet? – At one in the cafeteria.)
  • Referring to mediodía (noon) or medianoche (midnight): These are specific, fixed points in the day.
  • La reunión es a mediodía. (The meeting is at noon.)
  • Volvieron a casa a medianoche. (They returned home at midnight.)
  • Answering ¿A qué hora...? (At what time...?): This question explicitly asks for a precise time.
  • ¿A qué hora llega el tren? – Llega a las tres y veinte. (At what time does the train arrive? – It arrives at three twenty.)
Use en when:
  • Referring to months: This specifies the month during which something occurs.
  • Mi cumpleaños es en septiembre. (My birthday is in September.)
  • El examen final será en diciembre. (The final exam will be in December.)
  • Referring to seasons: Indicate the season an event takes place.
  • Me gusta esquiar en invierno. (I like to ski in winter.)
  • Plantamos flores en primavera. (We plant flowers in spring.)
  • Referring to years: To state the year in which something happened or will happen.
  • El festival comenzó en 1995. (The festival began in 1995.)
  • El próximo viaje será en 2028. (The next trip will be in 2028.)
  • Expressing duration (how long something takes): This is about an action being completed within a certain timeframe.
  • Escribí el ensayo en tres horas. (I wrote the essay in three hours.)
  • Construyeron la casa en seis meses. (They built the house in six months.)
  • Answering ¿En qué mes...? (In what month...?) or ¿En qué año...? (In what year...?): These questions ask for a broader period.
  • ¿En qué mes son tus vacaciones? – Son en agosto. (In what month is your vacation? – It's in August.)
Important Contrast: Specific Day vs. Time
Do not confuse a la/a las or en when talking about specific days of the week or dates. For specific days of the week (e.g., Monday, Tuesday) or dates, Spanish uses the definite article el (for singular day) or los (for plural days, meaning "on Mondays"), not a la/a las or en.
  • El lunes tengo una cita. (On Monday I have an appointment.)
  • Nos vemos el veinte de mayo. (We'll see each other on May twentieth.)
  • Cerramos los domingos. (We close on Sundays.)

Common Mistakes

Beginners often make predictable errors when learning a la/a las and en. Recognizing these patterns will help you avoid them.
  • Mistake 1: Using en with specific hours.
  • Incorrect: En las cinco nos vemos.
  • Correct: A las cinco nos vemos.
  • Why it's wrong: En implies containment within a period. Five o'clock is a precise point, not a period you are "in." Think of it like trying to be "in" a single dot on a line, instead of "at" that dot.
  • Mistake 2: Omitting la/las with hours, or using the wrong article.
  • Incorrect: A una termina la clase. (Missing la)
  • Incorrect: A la tres empieza la fiesta. (Using la instead of las for plural horas)
  • Correct: A la una termina la clase.
  • Correct: A las tres empieza la fiesta.
  • Why it's wrong: The articles la/las are mandatory and agree in number with the implied hora/horas. Remember la for una (singular) and las for all other hours (plural).
  • Mistake 3: Using a with months, seasons, or years.
  • Incorrect: A julio voy de vacaciones.
  • Incorrect: A 2023 construyeron la casa.
  • Correct: En julio voy de vacaciones.
  • Correct: En 2023 construyeron la casa.
  • Why it's wrong: A targets a point. Months, seasons, and years are broad periods or containers of time, requiring en to show an event happening within them.
  • Mistake 4: Confusing en (temporal) with en (spatial).
  • En means "in" or "on" for physical locations (El libro está en la mesa - The book is on the table) and for temporal containment (Nací en marzo - I was born in March).
  • While the meaning is consistent (containment), ensure the context is clear. The mistake often lies in literal translation from English where "on" or "at" might be used for spatial prepositions and different prepositions for time.
  • Mistake 5: Misusing por la mañana/tarde/noche vs. de la mañana/tarde/noche.
  • For general parts of the day, use por: Estudio por la mañana. (I study in the morning.)
  • When specifying which part of the day a specific hour falls into, use de: La reunión es a las diez de la mañana. (The meeting is at ten in the morning.) This helps disambiguate between AM and PM hours without explicitly using a 24-hour clock.
By consciously avoiding these common pitfalls, you will significantly improve the naturalness and accuracy of your Spanish time expressions.

Real Conversations

Understanding these prepositions is one thing; hearing and using them in authentic conversations is another. Here's how native speakers integrate a la/a las and en into their daily exchanges.

Setting Plans and Appointments:

- Friend 1: ¿Quedamos a las ocho en el cine? (Shall we meet at eight at the cinema?)

- Friend 2: Perfecto, ¿pero te viene mejor a las ocho y cuarto? (Perfect, but is eight-fifteen better for you?)

- Friend 1: Sí, genial. Nos vemos a las ocho y cuarto entonces. (Yes, great. We'll see each other at eight-fifteen then.)

Discussing Events and Future Happenings:

- Colleague 1: La nueva campaña de marketing se lanza en marzo. (The new marketing campaign launches in March.)

- Colleague 2: ¿Tan pronto? ¿Y estará todo listo en un mes? (So soon? And will everything be ready in one month?)

- Colleague 1: Sí, el equipo ha estado trabajando duro desde enero. (Yes, the team has been working hard since January.)

Everyday Scenarios (Casual Texting/Chat):

- Cita con médico ➡️ a las 10:00 🩺 (Doctor's appointment ➡️ at 10:00 🩺)

- Viaje familiar en verano! ☀️ (Family trip in summer! ☀️)

- Te llamo a las 3:00 PM. (I'll call you at 3:00 PM.)

- No puedo salir hoy. Tengo examen en una semana. (I can't go out today. I have an exam in one week.)

In Latin American Spanish, a la mañana, a la tarde, a la noche can sometimes be heard for "in the morning/afternoon/evening" in a more general sense, but por la mañana/tarde/noche remains widely used and is a safer general option for A1 learners. For specific hours, a las [hora] de la mañana/tarde/noche is standard across dialects.

A small cultural observation: Punctuality is valued differently across Spanish-speaking cultures. While a las ocho en punto (at eight sharp) implies strict punctuality, in some contexts, a las ocho might have a slightly flexible interpretation, though it always refers to the specific hour.

Quick FAQ

These frequently asked questions address common points of confusion for learners.
  • Q: Why do I say a la una but a las dos, a las tres, etc.?
  • A: It's about grammatical number agreement with the implied word hora (hour). Una is singular (una hora), so it takes the singular feminine article la. All other hours (dos, tres, cuatro, etc.) are plural (dos horas, tres horas), so they take the plural feminine article las.
  • Q: Can I use en la mañana instead of por la mañana?
  • A: While en la mañana is sometimes heard, particularly in Latin America, por la mañana is the most common and universally accepted way to express "in the morning" generally (e.g., Estudio por la mañana). When referring to a specific hour within that part of the day, you must use de la mañana/tarde/noche after a las: La clase es a las ocho de la mañana. Stick to por for general parts of the day and de when specifying an hour's part of the day at the A1 level.
  • Q: How do I say "on Monday" or "on July 15th"? Do I use a las or en?
  • A: Neither. For specific days of the week or specific dates, you use the definite article el (or los for plural days, meaning "on Mondays"). For example, Tengo una reunión el martes (I have a meeting on Tuesday), or Su cumpleaños es el quince de agosto (His birthday is on August 15th). These prepositions are reserved for clock times and broader periods.
  • Q: Are a mediodía and a medianoche always used without an article?
  • A: Yes, these are fixed adverbial phrases. You will never hear a el mediodía or a la medianoche. They function as precise time indicators on their own.
  • Q: How do I ask "At what time?" and "In what month/year?"?
  • A: To ask for a specific time, you use ¿A qué hora...? (At what hour...?). To ask for a month or year, you use ¿En qué mes...? (In what month...?) or ¿En qué año...? (In what year...?). These questions directly reflect the preposition used in the answer.
  • Q: Can en mean "by" a certain time (e.g., "by Friday")?
  • A: While en indicates an action completed within a timeframe, for "by Friday" (meaning a deadline), Spanish typically uses para el viernes or simply el viernes. En focuses on the duration of the action itself rather than a deadline for its completion. For example, El informe estará listo para el viernes (The report will be ready by Friday) is more common than en viernes for a deadline.

Time Preposition Usage

Time Type Preposition Article Example
Clock Hour (1:00)
a
la
a la una
Clock Hour (2-12)
a
las
a las dos
Months
en
-
en enero
Years
en
-
en 2023
Seasons
en
-
en verano
Noon
a
-
al mediodía

Contractions

Preposition Article Contraction
a
el
al

Meanings

These prepositions function as temporal markers to situate actions within a specific point or duration of time.

1

Clock Time

Used to indicate the exact hour of an event.

“Llego a las tres.”

“La reunión es a las diez.”

2

Calendar Time

Used for months, seasons, and years.

“Mi cumpleaños es en marzo.”

“Viajamos en verano.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Spanish Time Prepositions: At & In (a las, en)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
a las + hour
Llego a las cinco.
Negative
no + verb + a las + hour
No llego a las cinco.
Question
¿A qué hora + verb?
¿A qué hora llegas?
Months
en + month
Es en marzo.
Years
en + year
Fue en 2010.
Noon
a + mediodía
Es al mediodía.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
La reunión está programada a las cinco.

La reunión está programada a las cinco. (Work/Social)

Neutral
La reunión es a las cinco.

La reunión es a las cinco. (Work/Social)

Informal
La reunión es a las cinco.

La reunión es a las cinco. (Work/Social)

Slang
Quedamos a las cinco.

Quedamos a las cinco. (Work/Social)

Time Preposition Map

Time

Clock

  • a las at

Calendar

  • en in
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Examples by Level

1

La clase es a las ocho.

The class is at eight.

2

Mi cumpleaños es en mayo.

My birthday is in May.

3

Llego a la una.

I arrive at one.

4

Viajamos en 2025.

We travel in 2025.

1

El tren sale a las diez.

The train leaves at ten.

2

Hace frío en invierno.

It is cold in winter.

3

La cita es a las cuatro.

The appointment is at four.

4

Terminamos en diciembre.

We finish in December.

1

La reunión comienza a las once en punto.

The meeting starts at eleven o'clock sharp.

2

Nací en el año dos mil.

I was born in the year 2000.

3

Almorzamos a mediodía.

We have lunch at noon.

4

La conferencia será en otoño.

The conference will be in autumn.

1

El evento está programado a las ocho de la noche.

The event is scheduled at eight at night.

2

La crisis económica empezó en 2008.

The economic crisis began in 2008.

3

Solemos ir a la playa en agosto.

We usually go to the beach in August.

4

La medianoche llega a las doce.

Midnight arrives at twelve.

1

La sesión plenaria se convocó a las nueve.

The plenary session was called at nine.

2

En el siglo XXI, la tecnología domina.

In the 21st century, technology dominates.

3

A las tres de la madrugada, todo estaba en silencio.

At three in the morning, everything was silent.

4

El proyecto culminará en primavera.

The project will culminate in spring.

1

La cita fue fijada a las diez, ni un minuto más tarde.

The appointment was set at ten, not a minute later.

2

En la década de los noventa, el mundo cambió.

In the nineties, the world changed.

3

A las tantas de la noche, aún seguíamos trabajando.

At the late hours of the night, we were still working.

4

La cosecha se realiza en otoño.

The harvest is carried out in autumn.

Easily Confused

Spanish Time Prepositions: At & In (a las, en) vs A vs De

Learners confuse 'a' (time) with 'de' (parts of the day).

Spanish Time Prepositions: At & In (a las, en) vs En vs El

Using 'en' for specific dates instead of 'el'.

Spanish Time Prepositions: At & In (a las, en) vs A las vs A la

Using 'las' for 1:00.

Common Mistakes

✗

en las tres

✓

a las tres

Use 'a' for clock time.
✗

a mayo

✓

en mayo

Use 'en' for months.
✗

a las una

✓

a la una

1:00 is singular.
✗

en las ocho

✓

a las ocho

Clock time requires 'a'.
✗

a el mediodía

✓

al mediodía

a + el = al.
✗

en las 2024

✓

en 2024

No article with years.
✗

a verano

✓

en verano

Seasons use 'en'.
✗

en las ocho de la mañana

✓

a las ocho de la mañana

Still clock time.
✗

a el año 2020

✓

en 2020

Years use 'en'.
✗

en las doce

✓

a las doce

Clock time.
✗

a el siglo XXI

✓

en el siglo XXI

Centuries use 'en'.
✗

en las horas de la tarde

✓

a las horas de la tarde

Refers to specific time.

Sentence Patterns

La clase es ___ ___ ___.

Mi cumpleaños es ___ ___.

Viajamos ___ ___.

La reunión será ___ ___.

Real World Usage

Scheduling a meeting very common

Nos vemos a las diez.

Travel booking common

El vuelo es en octubre.

Texting friends constant

Llego a las 8.

Job interview common

La entrevista es a las nueve.

Food delivery common

Llega a las siete.

Social media post common

¡Nos vemos en verano!

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💡

The 1:00 Rule

Always remember that 1:00 is singular. Use 'a la una'.
⚠️

No 'en' for hours

Never use 'en' for clock time. It sounds very unnatural.
🎯

Use 'al' for noon

Use 'al mediodía' instead of 'a las doce' for noon.
💬

Time Flexibility

In some cultures, 'a las' is a suggestion, not a strict deadline.

Smart Tips

Always add 'las' after 'a'.

Llego a tres. → Llego a las tres.

Use 'en' and never 'a'.

Es a mayo. → Es en mayo.

Remember it is singular.

A las una. → A la una.

Use 'al mediodía'.

A las doce del día. → Al mediodía.

Pronunciation

a-las

Linking

The 'a' and 'las' often link together in fast speech.

Question

¿A qué hora es?

Rising intonation at the end.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

A is for the Clock, En is for the Calendar.

Visual Association

Imagine an 'A' shaped clock on your wall. Imagine an 'En' envelope containing a calendar page for a month.

Rhyme

For the clock, use 'a', for the month, use 'en', say it again and again.

Story

Maria looks at her clock at 8:00 (a las ocho). She marks her calendar for her trip in May (en mayo). She is never late for her plans.

Word Web

a laseneneroochomediodíaaño

Challenge

Write down your daily schedule using 'a las' for every activity.

Cultural Notes

Lunch is usually late, around 2:00 PM (a las dos).

Time is often flexible, but 'a las' is still used for formal appointments.

Dinner is very late, often after 9:00 PM.

Derived from Latin 'ad' (to) and 'in' (in).

Conversation Starters

“

¿A qué hora te levantas?

“

¿En qué mes es tu cumpleaños?

“

¿A qué hora termina tu jornada laboral?

“

¿En qué año empezaste a estudiar español?

Journal Prompts

Describe your typical morning routine.
Write about your favorite month of the year.
Reflect on a significant year in your life.
Plan your dream vacation.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

La clase es ___ las tres.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Clock time uses 'a'.
Choose the correct option. Multiple Choice

Mi cumpleaños es ___ mayo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: en
Months use 'en'.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Llego en las ocho.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Llego a las ocho.
Clock time needs 'a las'.
Order the words. Sentence Building

las / a / cinco / es / la / reunión

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La reunión es a las cinco.
Correct word order.
Match the time to the preposition. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-a, 2-en
Clock vs Month.
Conjugate the time. Conjugation Drill

At 1:00

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a la una
1:00 is singular.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

We use 'en' for clock time.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Clock time uses 'a'.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: ¿A qué hora es? B: ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A las tres.
Clock time.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

La clase es ___ las tres.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Clock time uses 'a'.
Choose the correct option. Multiple Choice

Mi cumpleaños es ___ mayo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: en
Months use 'en'.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Llego en las ocho.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Llego a las ocho.
Clock time needs 'a las'.
Order the words. Sentence Building

las / a / cinco / es / la / reunión

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La reunión es a las cinco.
Correct word order.
Match the time to the preposition. Match Pairs

Match: 1. 8:00, 2. May

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-a, 2-en
Clock vs Month.
Conjugate the time. Conjugation Drill

At 1:00

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a la una
1:00 is singular.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

We use 'en' for clock time.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Clock time uses 'a'.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: ¿A qué hora es? B: ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A las tres.
Clock time.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

La tienda cierra ___ la una.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Reorder the words to make a correct sentence. Sentence Reorder

invierno / Nieve / en / mucho / .

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nieve mucho en invierno.
Translate to Spanish. Translation

The exam is at three o'clock.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: El examen es a las tres.
Which one is correct for years? Multiple Choice

I traveled to Spain in 2010.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Viajé a España en 2010.
Match the time with the correct preposition. Match Pairs

Match these:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: las seis | a
Correct the mistake. Error Correction

El tren sale a las una.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: El tren sale a la una.
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

¿___ qué hora es la cita?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A
Translate: In ten minutes. Translation

In ten minutes.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: En diez minutos.
Put the words in order. Sentence Reorder

2025 / en / graduamos / Nos / .

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nos graduamos en 2025.
Select the correct greeting/time combination. Multiple Choice

The party is at midnight.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La fiesta es a medianoche.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Because 'horas' is feminine plural. We imply 'a las horas'.

No, that is incorrect. Always use 'a las'.

1:00 is singular, so it is 'a la una'.

No, days of the week use 'el'.

No, years use 'en'.

Use 'al mediodía'.

Both are acceptable, but 'en 2024' is more common.

No, it stays the same.

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

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Improving

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In Other Languages

English moderate

at/in

Spanish requires the article 'las' for hours.

French high

à/en

French doesn't always use the article with hours.

German moderate

um/in

German uses 'um' instead of 'a'.

Japanese low

ni

Spanish uses two different prepositions.

Arabic low

fi

Spanish distinguishes between point and duration.

Chinese low

zai

Spanish requires prepositions.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Spanish Contractions: To the and Of the (al, del)

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