Spanish grammar
Eran las diez, era la una
Give the time something happened in the past.
From the scene Eran las doce (It was twelve o'clock)
In short
For clock time in the past, say era la una, and eran las + number for all other hours.
Your turn
Which one goes with it was one o'clock?
Options: era la una · eran las diez de la noche · eran casi las tres
Show answer
it was one o'clock → era la una
How it works
Clock time in the past uses the imperfect of ser: era with la una (one o'clock), eran with every other hour.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Fui derecho a casa. (blank) casi las once.
Options: Eran · Era · Fueron
Show answer
Fui derecho a casa. Eran casi las once.
I went straight home. It was almost eleven.
Good to know
Add de la noche / de la madrugada to say which part of the night.
it was ten at night eran las diez de la noche
Tomás
Eran las diez de la noche cuando cerré.
It was ten at night when I closed.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) cuando cerré.
Options: Era la una · Eran casi las tres · Eran las diez de la noche
Show answer
Tomás
Eran las diez de la noche cuando cerré.
It was ten at night when I closed.
it was one o'clock era la una
Elena
¿Todo el mundo? Yo no. Era la una y no dormía.
Everyone? Not me. It was one and I wasn't sleeping.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
¿Todo el mundo? Yo no. (blank) y no dormía.
Options: Eran las diez de la noche · Eran casi las tres · Era la una
Show answer
Elena
¿Todo el mundo? Yo no. Era la una y no dormía.
Everyone? Not me. It was one and I wasn't sleeping.
it was almost three eran casi las tres
Elena
No me dormí. Eran casi las tres y vi algo raro.
I didn't fall asleep. It was almost three and I saw something strange.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
No me dormí. (blank) y vi algo raro.
Options: Era la una · Eran casi las tres · Eran las diez de la noche
Show answer
Elena
No me dormí. Eran casi las tres y vi algo raro.
I didn't fall asleep. It was almost three and I saw something strange.
midnight medianoche
Elena
¿Y a medianoche? ¿Dónde estabas?
And at midnight? Where were you?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
¿Y a (blank)? ¿Dónde estabas?
Options: eran las diez de la noche · era la una · medianoche
Show answer
Elena
¿Y a medianoche? ¿Dónde estabas?
And at midnight? Where were you?
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 | eran las diez de la noche |
|---|---|
| it was one o'clock | era la una |
| it was almost three | eran casi las tres |
| midnight | medianoche |
More lines from the story
- TomásFui derecho a casa. Eran casi las once.I went straight home. It was almost eleven.
- TomásEn la cama, dormido, como todo el mundo.In bed, asleep, like everyone else.