Prepositions of Time in Spanish
This section explains Prepositions of Time in Spanish. Prepositions of time are used to indicate when something happens. In Spanish, different prepositions are used depending on the context, just like in English.
Foundation Tier: Common Prepositions of Time
Preposiciones básicas de tiempo
| English | Spanish | Example Sentence (English) | Example Sentence (Spanish) |
|---|---|---|---|
| At | A | The train leaves at six o’clock. | El tren sale a las seis. |
| On (a specific day) | El | We have an exam on Monday. | Tenemos un examen el lunes. |
| In (a month or year) | En | I was born in December. | Nací en diciembre. |
| Before | Antes de | I have breakfast before school. | Desayuno antes del colegio. |
| After | Después de | We go to the park after lunch. | Vamos al parque después del almuerzo. |
| During | Durante | I studied during the holidays. | Estudié durante las vacaciones. |
Higher Tier: Advanced Prepositions of Time
Preposiciones avanzadas de tiempo
| English | Spanish | Example Sentence (English) | Example Sentence (Spanish) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Until | Hasta | We will stay until midnight. | Nos quedaremos hasta la medianoche. |
| From… to… | Desde… hasta… | The shop is open from nine to five. | La tienda está abierta desde las nueve hasta las cinco. |
| Within | Dentro de | I will finish the project within a week. | Terminaré el proyecto dentro de una semana. |
| By (a deadline) | Para | The essay is due by Friday. | El ensayo es para el viernes. |
| Around (an approximate time) | Hacia | I will arrive around three o’clock. | Llegaré hacia las tres. |
Key Tips for Using Prepositions of Time
- "A" is used for specific times:
- La clase empieza a las ocho. (The class starts at eight.)
- "El" is used before days of the week:
- Voy al cine el sábado. (I’m going to the cinema on Saturday.)
- "En" is used for months, years, and seasons:
- Viajé a España en julio. (I travelled to Spain in July.)
- "Desde… hasta…" is useful for time periods:
- Trabajo desde las nueve hasta las cinco. (I work from nine to five.)
- "Para" is often used to express deadlines:
- Tengo que terminar el proyecto para el lunes. (I have to finish the project by Monday.)
These revision notes will help you with revising Spanish prepositions of time for both foundation and higher tiers.
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