Spanish: An Essential Grammar

De in geographical names

la isla de Aruba the island of Aruba

el camino de Machu Picchu the track to Machu Picchu

De to state what something is made of or contains

una caja de madera a wooden box

De to refer to what is written or spoken ‘about’

Están hablando de su visita They are talking about their visit

a México. to Mexico.

Note: A formal and more exhaustive treatment of a subject is often conveyed by

the use of sobre. See 21.10.4.

De to indicate cause

Falleció de cólera. He died of cholera.

loco de alegría wildly happy

De to translate ‘as’ or ‘like’

This usage refers to a person’s actual occupation, an assumed role, or their

stage in life.

It can also indicate the use to which something is put:

Lole trabaja de azafata. Lole works as an air

hostess/flight attendant.

Se vistieron de payasos. They dressed as clowns.

De niño vivía en otro país. As a boy I lived in another

country.

Este palo puede servir de This stick could serve as a

bastón. walking stick.

21.6.7

21.6.6

21.6.5

21.6.4

(^1111) 21.6.3
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

1011

1

12111

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

20111

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

30111

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

40

41111

De

223