Aún Estás a Tiempo

[deandddd]

Members of the Forum,

What does "Aún estas a tiempo" mean?

Does it mean that a person still has enough time, that it's not too late.? I heard this on a TV show, and that's what it seemed to indicate.

To me, though, literally, it seems to indicate that the person is still on time for something, such as the start of a show.

And why the accent on "Aún"? Does this mean that it is an adjective?

Thanks for the attention!

Silopanna/Dean

[aleCcowaN]

it's not over ... you still have a chance ... you haven't lost this opportunity yet (hence "a tiempo")

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Dean: "Aun" is always an adverb.
Without the accent, it is synonymous with "incluso", "siquiera", "hasta"...
With the accent, it is synonymous with "todavía".


- No me casaría contigo/incluso aun si fueras millonario.
I wouldn't marry you even if you were a millionaire.

- Quisiera que se me diera crédito por el trabajo, aun/siquiera una parte.
I would like to get the credit for the work, at least a part of it.

- Puedo explicarte, aun/hasta prestarte más libros, pero no voy a hacer tu tarea.
I can explain to you, even lend you more books, but I won't do your homework.


- Este libro de matemáticas es aún más difícil que el que tenía antes.
This maths book is even harder than the one I had before.

- ¿Aún/todavía estás aquí?
Are you still here?

- Ya son las ocho y aún no termino el trabajo.
It's already eight o'clock and I haven't finished my work yet.

[Glen]

Without the accent, it is synonymous with "incluso", "siquiera", "hasta"...
With the accent, it is synonymous with "todavía".

Hey Dean, that difference used to give me fits until I made up a silly way to remember them: one of the meanings of aun is, as Angelica says, "even" [incluso] and carries no accent. Neither does the written word "even" go above small letters.

On the other hand, aún meaning "still" [todavía] does have the accent mark rising above small letters, as also does the written word "still" (the t and the two l's).

Hope that makes sense to you. It sure helps me keep them straight!

[deandddd]

Alec, Angelica and Glen,

Thanks a lot, I keep tweaking my Spanish, and it helps to know that there's a place where I can always go to get good tips.

You all are pretty fast, too.

Dean

[poli]

In a different context can this mean. you're sill on time. (as in even though you were in traffic, you're still on time?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Poli: Yes, if someone can still be on time to do something or to arrive at a place, you can say "aún/todavía estás a tiempo".