Mon réveil sonne à six heures.

My alarm clock rings at six o'clock.

Breakdown of Mon réveil sonne à six heures.

• mon: my
• à: at
• l'heure: the hour
• le réveil: the alarm clock

Questions & Answers about Mon réveil sonne à six heures.

What does réveil refer to here—an alarm clock device or the act of waking up?

In this sentence, réveil is a masculine noun meaning the alarm clock device. It can also refer to the moment of waking (as in au réveil), but with sonne it clearly means the device.

Can I say Mon alarme sonne à six heures instead of Mon réveil sonne à six heures?

Yes, especially for a phone alarm, Mon alarme sonne à six heures is heard. For a physical bedside clock, Mon réveil sonne... is the most idiomatic. Alarme is also common for security systems: L’alarme se déclenche/sonne.

Why is it sonne and not sonnes or sonnent?

Because the subject mon réveil is third-person singular. Regular -er verbs like sonner take -e in the third-person singular: il/elle sonne. For reference: tu sonnes (-es) and ils/elles sonnent (-ent, silent).

What tense/aspect does sonne express?

It’s the present tense and can translate as either simple present or present progressive in English: my alarm rings / is ringing.

Why do we use à before a time?