Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Con un poco de suerte, terminamos antes del atardecer. - With a bit of luck, we’ll finish before sunset.

Spanish often uses the simple present to refer to a near or expected future when the context makes it clear. Here, the idea is “we’ll finish.” You could also say:

Terminaremos antes del atardecer. (simple future; a bit more formal or neutral)
Vamos a terminar antes del atardecer. (very common in Latin America for planned/near future)

Could terminamos also be past tense here?

Yes. For -ar verbs, the 1st person plural present and preterite look the same. Terminamos can mean “we finish” or “we finished.” In this sentence, the phrase Con un poco de suerte makes a future reading much more natural. In a narrative context, though, you could get a past meaning like “With a bit of luck, we finished before sunset.”

Is the comma after the opening phrase necessary?

It’s recommended. After an initial adverbial like Con un poco de suerte, Spanish usually uses a comma to mark the pause. Omitting it isn’t a serious error, but the comma improves clarity.

What exactly does Con un poco de suerte do, and are there shorter or other options?

It frames the sentence as hopeful/conditional: “with a bit of luck.” Common alternatives:

Con suerte, … (shorter, very common in Latin America)
Si tenemos suerte, …
Ojalá (que) …
- subjunctive: Ojalá (que) terminemos…
Esperemos que …
- subjunctive: Esperemos que terminemos…
Colloquial: A ver si …
- present: A ver si terminamos…

Why is it del atardecer and not “de el atardecer”?

Because Spanish contracts de + el to del. Writing “de el” is incorrect (unless él has an accent and means “him,” which isn’t the case here).

What’s the difference between atardecer, anochecer, and “puesta de sol”?

El atardecer: late afternoon/early evening, the period leading into sunset; often “dusk.”
El anochecer: nightfall, when it actually becomes night (usually later than atardecer).
La/La puesta del sol: the sun’s setting as an event (“sunset”). In everyday Latin American Spanish, (antes) del atardecer and (antes) del anochecer are both common; choose based on whether you mean before dusk vs. before nightfall.

Can I say antes de atardecer instead of antes del atardecer?

You will hear antes de atardecer in speech, and many consider it idiomatic. However, the most standard, unambiguous form is antes del atardecer (treating atardecer as a noun, with article). If you want a fully verbal alternative, use a clause: antes de que anochezca / antes de que se ponga el sol.

Do I need the subjunctive anywhere in this idea?

With a noun: antes del atardecer → no subjunctive.
With an infinitive: antes de llegar → no subjunctive.
With a clause: antes de que + verbo → subjunctive required: antes de que anochezca / antes de que se ponga el sol. Also, expressions like Ojalá (que) and Esperemos que trigger the subjunctive: Ojalá terminemos…

Could I use terminemos (subjunctive) after Con un poco de suerte?

Standard usage keeps the indicative: Con un poco de suerte, terminamos… You’ll occasionally hear a bare present subjunctive in similar hopeful statements (e.g., Con suerte, terminemos…) in some regions, but it’s less common and can sound marked. Safer choices: indicative, or switch to Ojalá (que) terminemos…

Is terminar the best verb here, or can I use acabar?

Both are fine:

Terminar is universally safe and slightly more neutral.
Acabar is very common too: Acabamos antes del atardecer. Note: in some places, acabar without an object and in certain contexts can pick up a sexual meaning, especially with pronouns (e.g., acabarse). In normal work/task contexts, acabar = “finish” is standard.

Can I add nosotros?

You can, but Spanish normally drops subject pronouns: Terminamos… Adding nosotros adds emphasis or contrast (e.g., “we, as opposed to others”): Nosotros terminamos antes del atardecer.

Does antes de mean “before” or “by”? How do I say “by sunset”?

Antes de = “before” (strictly earlier than that time).
To express a deadline “by,” Spanish often uses para: Para el atardecer, terminamos (“by sunset we’re done”). “By sunset” can also be conveyed with “for when” phrasing: Para cuando se ponga el sol, terminamos. Use antes de when you mean strictly earlier; para for a deadline target.

Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?

suerte: the “ue” sounds like “we”; single r is a quick tap: suer-te.
terminamos: stress on “-na-” (ter-mi-NA-mos).
atardecer: stress on the last syllable (a-tar-de-CER); single r is a tap.
del is just “de + el” contracted; all vowels are pure (no English-style diphthongizing).

Should any word here have a written accent?

No. Con un poco de suerte, terminamos antes del atardecer has no accent marks. Beware of mixing forms like terminó (he/she finished) vs. terminamos (we finish/finished).

Is the sentence formal or informal?

Neutral. You can use it at work, in casual conversation, or in writing. If you want something more explicitly hopeful or polite, try Ojalá (que) terminemos… or Esperemos que terminemos…