Opening hours

[Super Saiyan]

Hi, a 4 year old boy asks Peter why the store is so dark. Peter says, ‘it’s because

1. the opening hours haven’t come yet.’
2. the opening hours haven’t arrived yet.’
3. the opening hours haven’t up yet.’

Which ones are correct? If none, what is the natural way? Thanks

 

[heypresto]

I'm afraid none of them is correct. Or natural.

Peter would say something like 'Because it/the shop/store is not open yet.'

 

[Super Saiyan]

Thanks, heypresto. If the boy asks how come they store isn’t open yet. Is it ok to say ‘ the opening hours haven’t started yet.’ Or is it possible to think of a sentence starting with the opening hours? Or it simply don’t work that way?

 

[Edinburgher]

It doesn't work that way.
But you could say: Because opening hours are nine to five and it isn't nine o'clock yet.

 

[Super Saiyan]

It doesn't work that way.
But you could say: Because opening hours are nine to five and it isn't nine o'clock yet.

Thanks, do we need the article ‘the’? ‘Because the opening hours are 9 to 5 and it isn’t 9 o’clock yet.’?

 

[Myridon]

In American English, we don't use the phrase "opening hours". And it sounds very odd to us as "opening" is from 9:00 to 1 second after 9:00 - the time it takes to unlock the door.

 

[Super Saiyan]

In American English, we don't use the phrase "opening hours". And it sounds very odd to us as "opening" is from 9:00 to 1 second after 9:00 - the time it takes to unlock the door.

What do AE speakers say in this situation? ‘Business hours?’

 

[Myridon]

Nothing that I would say to a four-year-old. As heypresto originally indicated, this is a very unnatural way to express this. I can't think of a way to say it conversationally. I can only think of things that sound like a legal document - business hours, hours of operation.
Why is the store so dark?
Because it's closed.
Because it's not open (yet).
Because it doesn't open until 9 and it's not 9 yet.

 

[heypresto]

'Opening hours' has been the topic of several previous threads:

open/opening hours
opening hours
opening hours
Opening hours
opening hours of (the) Walmart
opening hours or hours of operation
opening hours will be 2-4pm [on?] Monday to Friday.
opening hours/opening time(s)
opening vs operating, open, or working hours?
"outside of the opening hours"
roll out longer opening hours

 

[kentix]

Because it doesn't open until 9 and it's not 9 yet.

In that situation you don't really care what hours it operates, you just care what hour they unlock the doors.

 

[Edinburgher]

do we need the article ‘the’? ‘Because the opening hours are 9 to 5 and it isn’t 9 o’clock yet.’?

No, it works both with and without.

 

[Super Saiyan]

Thanks, everybody.