Lesson 1.8 - Numbers and Time.. help please

Question

When I went to highschool my spanish teacher taught me that to say 2.50, for example, it would translate to son las tres menos diez

However when I watched lesson 1.8 on time, they didn't use menos, for like 4.40 they said son las cuatro y cuarenta

Which way is most commonly used? I find it easier using the one shown in lesson 1.8..but if the first one is more correct or commonly used I would prefer to use that.

thanks

Answer 1

Yes, I believe that both forms are used...and are accepted as correct It is just a matter of personal preference

Like you I was also taught to use menos in that same construction by mainly native Spanish teachers from both Spain and South America. ..I still prefer this method: using the hour + y for any time up to the half hour eg

Son las cinco y media de la noche = It is 5.30pm

and the next hour menos the minutes back to the half hour for the remainder of the time up to the next hour **( It is quicker to say menos as well if you are giving the time to someone in a hurry you can just say ocho horas menos diez (de la noche) = 7:50pm)

eg Son las ocho menos veinte de la mañana = It is 7.40 am

I hope this helps

thank you.. that is helpful - lauraalbury2010, Sep 24, 2010

De Nada es un placer :) - FELIZ77, Sep 24, 2010

Thank you Felizz , you are helping me no end lately ,great teaching quite precise and easy to understand. - ray76, Sep 24, 2010

Iam pleased and greatly encouraged to hear that Ray :) - FELIZ77, Sep 24, 2010

That's the way I learned it and still hear it. It sounds odd to Americans with digital watches, but English used to do it like that fairly often, too. - KevinB, Sep 24, 2010

Answer 2

Either one is acceptable. Cuarto is interchangeable with quince since 15 is one quarter of an hour. Cuarto means one quarter. Media means one half. Since treinta is 30 and 30 is half an hour this is also true.

Answer 3

Hi, Laura.

Feliz is correct -- it's just a matter of preference. You should learn all the ways that the time is spoken so that you understand them in conversation, but you can pick one format to use when communicating with others and they will understand you perfectly.

3:40 p.m.

1) son las cuatro menos veinte

2) son las tres y cuarenta

3) son las tres con cuarenta

1:30 p.m.

1) es la una y media

2) es la una y treinta

3) es la una con treinta

thank you very much - lauraalbury2010, Sep 24, 2010

Marianne I was familiar with the first two but didn't know the third example but it is logical and obviously correct :) - FELIZ77, Sep 24, 2010

Yes! I've heard the third one many times while listening to Mexican radio stations. - --Mariana--, Sep 24, 2010

Answer 4

Eddy said:

Now I have always said "five and twenty to four"

I wouldn't understand you if you said this to me! I'd ask, "Which is it? Five to four or twenty to four?"

I would usually say twenty five to four :) - FELIZ77, Sep 24, 2010

Answer 5

We have similar problems in English and this is without using the plus or minus formula. Look at this time, 3:35.

Now I have always said "five and twenty to four"

My wife's family have always said "twenty five to four".

Both correct, just a regional variation I suppose.

ive never heard anyone say five and twenty to four.. - lauraalbury2010, Sep 24, 2010

but thank you for answering =) - lauraalbury2010, Sep 24, 2010