Telling time- Estan or son?

Question

I was always taught that, when telling time, one always begins with 'Están a las....', such as "Están a las seis y media". However, when I speak with a native (but raised in an English-speaking country) speaker, she always says, "Son las..". Are both correct? Where is each one used? Might hers be the 'slangier' version?

Answer 1

Son las tres or a las tres at three. Anything else is Spanglish.--- Sergio

or just bad Spanish. :~) - Jack-OBrien, Nov 6, 2010

Answer 2

Ser is used with time. I've never heard "Están a las...."

Answer 3

Here is the link to the video lesson on this website. You have been taught wrong. It is time to re-learn.

Answer 4

Are you, perhaps, confusing it with dates and temperatures? Estamos a....

Answer 5

Could it be that whoever taught you that did it wrong?

Answer 6

i have never heard estr with time . only and always ser verb is used with time

Answer 7

Like Jack said, you use "son las..." for time. Unless it's one oclock and then you would say "es la...". I've never heard "están a las".