9.9.2

'A' & 'De'

Test yourself

'A' and 'De'

Here are the uses of the prepositions 'a' and 'de':

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'A'

  • When the action of the sentence is happening to a person, you need a personal 'a'.
    • Yo llamo a mi madre.
      • I call my mum.
    • No veo a nadie
      • I cannot see anyone.
    • Mi hermana quiere ayudar a mucha gente.
      • My sister wants to help a lot of people.
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'A'

  • 'A' is used when you want to talk about the idea of travelling.
  • When 'el' is used right after 'a' it becomes 'al'.
    • Voy a el cine → voy al cine.
      • I am going to the cinema.
    • Iremos a la playa.
      • We will go to the beach.
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Specific verbs

  • There are specific verbs that use 'a' after them.
    • Ayudar a (to help to).
    • Empezar a (to start to).
    • Ir a (to go to).
    • Llegar a (to arrive at).
    • Volver a (to return to).
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'De'

  • 'De' is used as a preposition to show who something belongs to.
    • Es la camisa de mi hermana.
      • It is the shirt of my sister.
  • 'De' is also used to show where something is from or started.
    • Soy de Colombia.
      • I am from Colombia.
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'De' after some verbs

  • There are specific verbs that use de.
    • Tratarse de (to be about).
    • Acabar de (to have just).
    • Tratar de (to try to).

Jump to other topics

1The Basics

2Current & Future Study & Employment

2.1School & Subjects

2.2School & Subjects - Translations (Foundation)

2.3School & Subjects - Translations (Higher)

2.4Education Post - 16

2.5Education Post - 16 - Translations (Foundation)

2.6Education Post - 16 - Translations (Higher)

3Identity & Culture

3.1Me, My Family & Friends

3.2Me, Family & Friends - Translations (Foundation)

3.3Me, Family & Friends - Translations (Higher)

3.4Technology in Everyday Life

3.5Tech in Everyday Life - Translations (Foundation)

3.6Tech in Everyday Life - Translations (Higher)

3.7Free Time Activities

3.8Free Time Activities - Translations (Foundation)

3.9Free Time Activities - Translations (Higher)

3.10Customs & Festivals in Spanish Speaking Countries

3.11Customs & Festivals - Translations (Foundation)

3.12Customs & Festivals - Translations (Higher)

4Areas of Interest

4.1Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region

4.2Home & Region - Translations (Foundation)

4.3Home & Region - Translations (Higher)

4.4Social Issues

4.5Social Issues - Translations (Foundation)

4.6Social Issues - Translations (Higher)

4.7Global Issues

4.8Global Issues - Translations

4.9Travel & Tourism

4.10Travel & Tourism - Translations

5Listening Practice

6Common Tenses

7Important Verbs

8Advanced Tenses

9Extra Grammar

9.1Articles

9.2Negatives

9.3Nouns

9.4Asking Questions

9.5Adjectives

9.6Adverbs

9.7Conjunctions

9.8Pronouns

9.9By, With, From, Of

9.10Verbs

9.11Comparisons

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