Italian grammar
Erano le dieci, era l'una
Give the time something happened in the past.
From the scene Erano le dodici (It was twelve o'clock)
In short
Clock time in the past: erano le dieci for most hours, era l'una / era mezzanotte.
- it was ten at night erano le dieci di sera
- it was one o'clock era l'una
- it was almost three erano quasi le tre
- midnight mezzanotte
Your turn
Which one goes with it was one o'clock?
Options: era l'una · erano le dieci di sera · erano quasi le tre
Show answer
it was one o'clock → era l'una
How it works
Clock time in the past uses the imperfect of essere: era with l'una (one o'clock), erano with every other hour.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Sono andato dritto a casa. (blank) quasi le undici.
Options: Furono · Erano · Era
Show answer
Sono andato dritto a casa. Erano quasi le undici.
I went straight home. It was almost eleven.
Good to know
Add di sera / di notte to say which part of the night.
it was ten at night erano le dieci di sera
Tomás
Erano le dieci di sera quando ho chiuso.
It was ten at night when I closed.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) quando ho chiuso.
Options: Erano le dieci di sera · Era l'una · Erano quasi le tre
Show answer
Tomás
Erano le dieci di sera quando ho chiuso.
It was ten at night when I closed.
it was one o'clock era l'una
Elena
Tutti? Io no. Era l'una e non dormivo.
Everyone? Not me. It was one and I wasn't sleeping.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Tutti? Io no. (blank) e non dormivo.
Options: Era l'una · Erano le dieci di sera · Erano quasi le tre
Show answer
Elena
Tutti? Io no. Era l'una e non dormivo.
Everyone? Not me. It was one and I wasn't sleeping.
it was almost three erano quasi le tre
Elena
Non mi sono addormentata. Erano quasi le tre e ho visto qualcosa di strano.
I didn't fall asleep. It was almost three and I saw something strange.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Non mi sono addormentata. (blank) e ho visto qualcosa di strano.
Options: Erano quasi le tre · Erano le dieci di sera · Era l'una
Show answer
Elena
Non mi sono addormentata. Erano quasi le tre e ho visto qualcosa di strano.
I didn't fall asleep. It was almost three and I saw something strange.
midnight mezzanotte
Elena
E a mezzanotte? Dov'eri?
And at midnight? Where were you?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
E a (blank)? Dov'eri?
Options: erano le dieci di sera · era l'una · mezzanotte
Show answer
Elena
E a mezzanotte? Dov'eri?
And at midnight? Where were you?
Watch out
Even though English says "it was ten", Italian uses the plural erano for the hours — only l'una, mezzanotte and mezzogiorno take era.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| it was ten at night | erano le dieci di sera |
|---|---|
| it was one o'clock | era l'una |
| it was almost three | erano quasi le tre |
| midnight | mezzanotte |
More lines from the story
- TomásSono andato dritto a casa. Erano quasi le undici.I went straight home. It was almost eleven.
- ElenaTomás, a che ora hai chiuso la bancarella ieri sera?Tomás, what time did you close your stall last night?