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Spanish Phrase

¿Para cuándo es esta tarea?

/paˈɾa ˈkwan.do es ˈes.ta taˈɾe.a/
Meaning"When is this assignment due?"
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Meaning

The speaker is asking for the deadline of a specific assignment. It literally translates to “For when is this task?” but is understood as “When is this assignment due?”

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When to use

Use this question when you need to know the due date of homework, a project, or any task that has a deadline—whether you’re speaking to a teacher, a classmate, or a coworker.

✦Grammar Breakdown

¿Paracuándoesestatarea?

1

Para (preposition)

Used to indicate a point in time or deadline, similar to 'by' or 'for' in English.

2

cuándo (interrogative adverb)

Accented to differentiate it from the conjunction 'cuando' (when). It asks about time.

3

es (verb ser)

Third‑person singular present of 'ser', used here to ask about the scheduled time of an event.

4

esta (demonstrative adjective)

Matches the feminine noun 'tarea' and means 'this'.

5

tarea (noun)

A feminine noun meaning 'task' or 'assignment'.

🗨In Conversation

A

¿Para cuándo es esta tarea?

When is this assignment due?

Es para el viernes a las cinco de la tarde.

It’s due on Friday at five p.m.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • ¿Para cuando es esta tarea?

    Missing accent changes the word to the conjunction ‘cuando’, which is not used in questions.

  • ¿Para qué es esta tarea?

    ‘Qué’ asks for a thing, not a time; the correct interrogative is ‘cuándo’.

  • ¿Es para cuándo esta tarea?

    The order matters; ‘¿Para cuándo es…?’ is natural, while ‘¿Es para cuándo…?’ sounds awkward.

↔Alternatives

  • ¿Cuál es la fecha de entrega de esta tarea?

    What is the delivery date of this assignment?

  • ¿Hasta cuándo tienes que entregar esta tarea?

    Until when do you have to hand in this assignment?

  • ¿Cuándo debes entregar esta tarea?

    When must you submit this assignment?

es

Cultural Tip

In many Spanish‑speaking schools and workplaces, deadlines are taken seriously, and it’s polite to ask the question using the formal ‘usted’ form if you’re speaking to a teacher or a superior (e.g., “¿Para cuándo es esta tarea, profesor?”). Also, remember to accent ‘cuándo’; omitting the accent changes the meaning to the conjunction ‘cuando’ (when).