unos segundos v. los segundos

Question

Is the following correct:Estamos a los segundos de las campanadas de fin de año.We are just a few seconds after  the bells of the end of the year.Estamos a unos segundos de las campanadas de fin de año.We are just a few seconds before  the bells of the end of the year.

Answer

Hola Janusz
You can use a sentence with "a los [time] de.... " to express a posterior action but it doesn't quite work with "segundos" unless you are a bit more specific:
A los pocos segundos de sonar las campanadas, llamé a mis padres para desearles un feliz año nuevo.
Just a few seconds after the bells rang, I called my parents to wish them a happy new year.
Here's a lesson about that structure. 
 
But it doesn't work with the verb estar in front:
Estamos a los pocos segundos de... (?????)
Saludos

Answer

Hola Inma,So, is it safe to think:A los pocos segundos de sonar => afterA unos segundos de sonar => beforeA los dos minutos de empezar => afterA dos minutos de empezar => before.Also, could you please confirm that"Estamos a los pocos segundos de..." is wrong,but"Estamos a unos segundos de..." is correct.What would be the reason for this?

Answer

Hola JanuszYes, all correct.Also:"Estamos a unos / a unos pocos / a pocos segundos de..." is correct.(the action after "de..." will happen in a few seconds)But:"Estamos a los pocos segundos de..." sounds odd and incorrect.I'm not quite sure why this sounds so odd - it's probably that it doesn't work with "estar".Saludos

Answer

Thank you very much Inma.