Complete the sentence: __ las dos y veinte.
A. Es
B. Son
C. Está
D. Están
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is B. Son.
In Spanish, when telling time, the verb “ser” is used rather than “estar.” The phrase “__ las dos y veinte” translates to “It is twenty past two.” Here’s a breakdown of the options and why “son” is the appropriate choice:
- Es: This form of the verb “ser” is singular, used with singular nouns. For example, “Es la una” (It is one o’clock). However, since “las dos” (the two) is plural, “es” would be incorrect in this context.
- Son: This is the plural form of “ser,” used with plural nouns. In the context of telling time, when referring to any hour beyond one o’clock, the plural “son” is used. Therefore, for “las dos” (the two o’clock hour), the correct phrase is “Son las dos y veinte.”
- Está: This form of the verb “estar” is used for temporary states or locations. While “estar” is used in various contexts, it is not appropriate for telling time.
- Están: This is the plural form of “estar.” Similar to “está,” it would be used for conditions or locations but is not used in the context of time.
Explanation of Telling Time in Spanish
In Spanish, telling time involves a specific structure. The phrase usually starts with “Es” or “Son,” followed by “la” or “las” (depending on whether the hour is singular or plural).
For example:
- “Es la una” (It is one o’clock).
- “Son las dos” (It is two o’clock).
When adding minutes, the format is typically “las [hour] y [minutes].” So, “Son las dos y veinte” translates to “It is twenty minutes past two.”
In conclusion, the correct choice for completing the sentence is B. Son, as it aligns with the grammatical rules of telling time in Spanish.