What time is the breakfast finished?

Question

I want to know exactly the time when the breakfast starts and the time when the breakfast finishes at the bar of a hotel.

¿A qué hora empieza el desayuno? = What time does the breakfast start?

¿A qué hora termina el desayuno? = What time does the breakfast finish?, What time is the breakfast finished?

I am specially interested in the second sentence.

Thanks.

*I want to know what time exactly breakfast starts and finishes at the bar of a hotel... especially :) - --Jen--, Jan 22, 2011

Answer 1

In most situations you would say simply 'what time does breakfast finish'. You might also say 'what time do you stop serving breakfast'. I'd avoid including the 'the' until such time as you are an absolute expert and understand the subtleties entailed in its inclusion. I have to go out now and don't have time to try to explain, which would first mean working it out for myself

Similarly 'what time does breakfast start', 'what time do you start serving breakfast'.

For a slightly more refined sounding phrase you can use 'at what time'.

A linguist would be able to explain more readily than I can the subtleties of the use of the definite article in instances such as the above.

'I've heard that the breakfast is good here' would be fitting to say. This is because you are referring to a specific breakfast, the world famous brekka served at this very hotel.

Were you to be talking with someone regarding the services offered at the hotel and were told of breakfast, lunch and dinner, the gym and spa services and the magnificent cabaret that delighted guests on a bi-weekly basis, you might ask:

'What time is the breakfast served'.

The 'the' is not needed in the above sentence but neither is it out of place. You can include it as you are referring to the breakfast that you have already discussed.

As I stated above, unless you are sure that you can use the definite article in instances like the above, don't, if you don't have a native accent it will sound like a mistake.

I'd love for someone to explain the 'rules' for the above, as and when to use the definite article is natural to me as I feel my native tongue. I'd love though to be able to explain the above to others.

I agree - --Jen--, Jan 22, 2011

I think you have done pretty well explaining. - Janice, Jan 22, 2011

Thanks Janice. - afowen, Jan 22, 2011

I have a flowchart explaining the English use of articles but I can't post it here because we cannot post spreadsheets. - ian-hill, Jan 22, 2011

Ian, would you e-mail it to me please? I've sent you a PM. Cheers, Alex. And, if anyone has the equivalent for Spanish I'd love a copy... - afowen, Jan 22, 2011

Answer 2

Nila

In English we do not use the definite artcle "the" for mealtimes.

Examples.

What time is breakfast / lunch / dinner ? etc.

When do you start serving breakfast?

When do you stop serving breakfast?

Answer 3

Why do I keep hearing a missing ""at" in my head?

At what time does breakfast end?

At what time is breakfast over?

Breakfast is over at 9:00 P.M.

Similar to the "a" in "¿A qué hora...?

In my colloquial American dialect, I would have just said "when is breakfast over?" - Stadt, Jan 22, 2011

Me too. - 0074b507, Jan 22, 2011

In my opinion (which comes solely from speaking English), the sentence is strictly speaking, incomplete, without the -'at'. However, the omission of the 'at' is so usual that it is accepted and to many would not even appear incorrect. - afowen, Jan 22, 2011

To me, the inclusion of the 'at' adds a more educated or formal air. I speak in both the above ways and chose the manner depending on the setting, audience and the impression that I might wish to create. - afowen, Jan 22, 2011

Answer 4

In English we do not use the definite artcle "the" for mealtimes

When speaking of meals in general this is true. However, I can think of one situation in which the definite article is used, namely, when the meal is of a celebratory/ceremonial nature. For example: A- We're having a dinner to celebrate his retirement. B- Oh, and what time does the dinner start? or A- You are invited to the President's breakfast tomorrow morning. B- I'd love to attend. What time does the breakfast start? or, even, A- Please join us for Thanksgiving dinner at my house. B- With pleasure. What time will the dinner be served. (In this last, it would probably be better to ask "When should I arrive?" since there may well be drinks or general socializing before the meal but, nonetheless ...)

I agree - ian-hill, Jan 22, 2011

Answer 5

"What time does breakfast finish?" would be a better sentence.

Answer 6

When is breakfast served is sufficient. The respondent will understand that you want the beginning and ending times. If there just one specific time available, the respondent will reply with that.

This though may elicit the response: 'Why sir, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesday etc.' :-) - afowen, Jan 22, 2011

Answer 7

Also,

What time is breakfast over?

Although any English speaker would understand the above, it is distinctly American. So, if you are learning English and want to use both American and British English, note that the earlier phrases are non-nation-specific and the above US/Canadian... - afowen, Jan 22, 2011

... I'm not sure if it is common in Indian, Australasian or African English. - afowen, Jan 22, 2011