Telling Time – Lección 7: Para and Faltan

Learn

In many parts of Latin America, speakers use para to talk about minutes before the next hour. This gives you another way to express the same idea you practiced with menos in the previous lesson.

You will also see faltan, from the verb faltar to be lacking. It means something like "are left", "are missing", "are lacking". When you hear Faltan veinte para las dos, the idea is "twenty minutes are left until two o'clock."

In this lesson, practice both versions: Son veinte para las dos. and Faltan veinte para las dos. The first version says the time directly. The second version says how much time is left before the next hour.

By itself, para las dos can mean "for two o'clock" or "by two o'clock." Tengo que entregar el ensayo para las ocho. I have to turn in the essay by eight o'clock. In this lesson, focus on complete time expressions: Son veinte para las dos. and Faltan veinte para las dos.

Ejemplos

Recognize para and faltan as common ways to talk about time before the next hour.

1. Son veinte para las dos.

It is twenty minutes before two. / It is 1:40.

2. Faltan veinte para las dos.

There are twenty minutes until two. / It is 1:40.

3. Son diez para las tres.

It is ten minutes before three. / It is 2:50.

4. Faltan cinco para las cuatro.

There are five minutes until four. / It is 3:55.

5. Es cuarto para las dos.

It is quarter to two. / It is 1:45.

6. Son las dos menos veinte.

It is twenty minutes before two. / It is 1:40.

7. Son veinte para las dos.

It is twenty minutes before two. / It is 1:40.

Check Understanding

Para and Faltan Patterns

Click a prompt from Columna A, then click the matching definition from Columna B.
Matching activity for this episode

Practice

Fill-in-the-Blank Quiz

Complete the sentences using the most appropriate word or phrase from the list. You can click or tap on a word from the list to reveal its definition.

para Faltan
Accent marks:
  1. veinte para las dos.
  2. Son veinte las dos.
  3. diez para las tres.
  4. Faltan cinco las cuatro.
  5. Es cuarto las dos.

Use It

Say each time using the para pattern. Try both versions when possible: Son veinte para... and Faltan veinte para...

Ejemplos

Click each time to reveal one model answer.

1. 1:40

Son veinte para las dos.

2. 2:50

Son diez para las tres.

3. 3:55

Faltan cinco para las cuatro.

4. 7:45

Es cuarto para las ocho.

For classroom use

Classroom Practice - Para

Students listen for the Latin American para pattern and answer with complete time expressions.

Ejemplos

Click the time to reveal a para-pattern answer.

1. 1:40

Son veinte para las dos.

2. 2:50

Son diez para las tres.

3. 3:55

Faltan cinco para las cuatro.

4. 7:45

Es cuarto para las ocho.

5. 8:50

Son diez para las nueve.

6. 10:55

Faltan cinco para las once.

Para - Info Gap

Students ask and answer ¿Qué hora es? using the para pattern.

Estudiante A

  1. 1:40
  2. 2:50
  3. 3:55
  4. 7:45

Estudiante B

  1. 8:50
  2. 10:55
  3. 4:45
  4. 6:40

Estudiante C

  1. 12:50
  2. 5:55
  3. 9:45
  4. 11:40
Begin Lesson 8