Time: Using Son or Las

Question

I have noticed that when asked the time, such as "¿Que hora es?", that I should answer using "son las" for all times except "Uno". Por ejemplo, "Son las dos y media. But when using 'llegar" or "sale" such as, "el avión sale a las tres de la tarde", "son" is not used. Why?

Answer 1

"Son" is not used, because son las tres means "it's three o clock"

You would be then saying: The plane leaves at it's three in the afternoon.

Sometimes the best answers are just so simple. Thank you. - tcoursey, Jan 10, 2013

Answer 2

Es la una de la tarde, but

Son las dos de la tarde.

Es is only used when the time starts with una.

Es la una y cuarto.

Es la una y media.

Es la una y cuarenta y cinco.

Es la una de la mañana.

Es la una y diez de la mañana.

Llegar and salir follow the same (singular or plural) pattern:

El avión llega a las dos. El tren sale a la una.

Hola Franco. I am looking forward to seeing you on the hundred dollar bill! - kirk1, Jan 10, 2013

Answer 3

"Son" is not used, because son las tres means "it's three o clock"

You would be then saying: The plane leaves at it's three in the afternoon.

Answer 4

¿Qué hora es? asks for current time. Es la una, son las dos etc.

¿A qué hora es? asks for time of an event. Es en la mañana / es por la mañana.

The answer is expressed with a when a specific time is mentioned : Es a las once de la mañana / es a las siete y media de la tarde.

I hope I have this right.