Rules for Time

Question

Is there a specific rule when using "son las" and "es un" when telling time?

Answer 1

Hi and welcome to the forum.

We only use "es la una" when we refer to the single hour of one o'clock.

Otherwise, you use the plural for "son las dos" etc. for the other hours.

Here is a flashcard set on telling time.

Answer 2

When it's between 1pm/am and 2pm/am, we say "es la..." ie: "es la una y media."

Everything else is "Son," ie: "Son las cinco."