I’m not quite clear about the use of the ‘se tardan’ plural. The examples given are with a plural number of hours/minutes. Are the time units the ‘subject’ of the passive? In other words if the time was one hour or one minute, could you still use the plural verb? Or is there some other rule that indicates singular or plural? Or are they just equivalent?
use of the plural se tardan
- « Back to Q&A Forum
- « Previous questionNext question »
KarenKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
use of the plural se tardan
This question relates to:Spanish lesson "Using the verb "tardar" = to take time"
Asked 11 months ago
InmaKwiziq team member
Hola Karen
When we use tardar with "se", if the time is expressed in singular, e.g un minuto, una hora... we need "Se tarda", however when we express the time in plural, e.g dos minutos, dos horas... both forms are accepted: "se tarda" and "se tardan"
Se tarda un minuto en llegar a la estación.
Se tardó una hora en preparar la sala para la fiesta.
Se tardó algunos meses en remodelar el edificio.
Se tardaron algunos meses en remodelar el edificio.
Hope it helps
Inma
Karen asked:View original
use of the plural se tardan
I’m not quite clear about the use of the ‘se tardan’ plural. The examples given are with a plural number of hours/minutes. Are the time units the ‘subject’ of the passive? In other words if the time was one hour or one minute, could you still use the plural verb? Or is there some other rule that indicates singular or plural? Or are they just equivalent?
Don't have an account yet? Join today
Ask a question
Find your Spanish level for FREE
Test your Spanish to the CEFR standard
Find your Spanish level