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'A' and 'De'

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

'A'

'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.
'A'

'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.
Specific verbs

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).
'De'

'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.
'De' after some verbs

'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).
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1

The Basics

2

Current & Future Study & Employment

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2.2

School & Subjects - Translations (Foundation)

2.3

School & Subjects - Translations (Higher)

2.4

Education Post - 16

2.5

Education Post - 16 - Translations (Foundation)

2.6

Education Post - 16 - Translations (Higher)

3

Identity & Culture

3.1

Me, My Family & Friends

3.2

Me, Family & Friends - Translations (Foundation)

3.3

Me, Family & Friends - Translations (Higher)

3.4

Technology in Everyday Life

3.5

Tech in Everyday Life - Translations (Foundation)

3.6

Tech in Everyday Life - Translations (Higher)

3.7

Free Time Activities

3.8

Free Time Activities - Translations (Foundation)

3.9

Free Time Activities - Translations (Higher)

3.10

Customs & Festivals in Spanish Speaking Countries

3.11

Customs & Festivals - Translations (Foundation)

3.12

Customs & Festivals - Translations (Higher)

4

Areas of Interest

4.1

Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region

4.2

Home & Region - Translations (Foundation)

4.3

Home & Region - Translations (Higher)

4.4

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4.5

Social Issues - Translations (Foundation)

4.6

Social Issues - Translations (Higher)

4.7

Global Issues

4.8

Global Issues - Translations

4.9

Travel & Tourism

4.10

Travel & Tourism - Translations

5

Listening Practice

5.1

Time Expressions - Listening

5.2

Me, My Family & Friends - Listening

5.3

Technology in Everyday Life - Listening

5.4

Free-Time - Listening

5.5

Customs & Festivals - Listening

5.6

Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region - Listening

5.7

Social Issues - Listening

5.8

Travel & Tourism - Listening

5.9

Education - Listening

5.10

Food & Drink - Listening

5.11

In the Home - Listening

5.12

Colours - Listening

5.13

Clothes & Accesories - Listening

5.14

Measurements - Listening

5.15

Materials - Listening

6

Common Tenses

7

Important Verbs

8

Advanced Tenses

9

Extra Grammar

9.1

Articles

9.2

Negatives

9.3

Nouns

9.4

Asking Questions

9.5

Adjectives

9.6

Adverbs

9.7

Conjunctions

9.8

Pronouns

9.9

By, With, From, Of

9.10

Verbs

9.11

Comparisons

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