Reference · module 9
Places and directions
Everything this module explains, on one page.
Around town
Name the places in a town.
- el supermercado, la farmacia, el banco, la estación, la parada, el hospital. Six words and most errands are covered.
- hay says what a place has: Aquí hay un banco. And está says where a known one is: El banco está en la esquina.
- cerca de and lejos de need the de: cerca del centro, lejos de aquí. Without it they stand alone: está cerca.
The mistake you are about to make
cerca el centro
cerca del centro
"Near the centre" has no of in English, so de gets dropped. Cerca needs de before what it is near: cerca del centro.
en, sobre, debajo
Say where something is.
- en covers both in and on: el libro está en la mesa, la ropa está en el armario. One word where English needs two.
- For precision there is sobre and encima de for on top, debajo de for underneath. All the de forms need their de.
- al lado de is next to, entre is between and takes y: entre el banco y la tienda. The y is required, exactly as in English.
The mistake you are about to make
La ropa está sobre el armario.
La ropa está en el armario.
English has "in" and "on", so sobre looks more precise. Spanish en covers both: en el armario, en la mesa.
Asking the way
Ask for a place and follow the answer.
- Perdone or Perdona opens the question, depending on whether you are using usted or tú. Both mean excuse me and neither is an apology.
- ¿Cómo se va a la estación? or ¿Dónde está la estación? Both work, and the first asks for the route rather than the location.
- The answer will use todo recto, a la derecha, a la izquierda, la primera calle. Four phrases and you will arrive.
The mistake you are about to make
Perdona, ¿dónde está la estación?
Perdone, ¿dónde está la estación?
Perdona is the tú form. A stranger in the street gets usted: perdone.
Getting around
Say how you travel and buy a ticket.
- en autobús, en tren, en coche, en avión. en with no article, always, whichever kind of transport it is.
- Walking is the exception: a pie, not en pie. One phrase that breaks the pattern, exactly as on foot does in English.
- At a ticket office: Un billete para Madrid, por favor. Ida is one way and ida y vuelta is return, and both are said as they are written.
The mistake you are about to make
en pie
a pie
Every kind of transport takes en, so walking wants to join them. Walking is the exception: a pie.