some other notion, for example distance (see 39.4). Here are some of the most
important:^25 (p. 116)
39.3.1 A
25.1.1.4 (p. 118)
A is used in a number of set phrases and complex prepositions, for example:a (cinco minutos) de aquí‘(five minutes) from here’ (see 39.4 above)
a la derecha/izquierda‘on the right/left’
a la vuelta (de la esquina)‘round the corner’
al lado‘near’, ‘nearby’
al otro lado‘on the other side’
al final‘at the end’
al fondo‘at the bottom’, ‘at the end’
al teléfono‘on the phone’Note that ‘at’, as in ‘He’s at school’, ‘She’s at the office’, translates into Spanish as en
rather than a: Él está en la escuela, Ella está en la oficina. When expressing close
proximity, however, as in ‘The family were sitting at the table’, ‘at’ translates into
Spanish as a: La familia estaba sentada a la mesa.39.3.2 Bajo, debajo de
Bajo, ‘under’, is normally found in more formal registers, especially in writing, for
example:Viven bajo un mismo techo.
They live under the same roof.25.1.4 (p. 119)
Debajo de, ‘under’, is used in all registers.Las llaves estaban debajo de la cama.
The keys were under the bed.25.1.8 (p. 122)
39.3.3 De
cerca de‘near’
delante de‘in front of’
detrás de‘behind’
enfrente de‘opposite’
al lado de‘next to’, ‘near’
al otro lado de‘on the other side of’
al final de‘at the end of’
al fondo de‘at the end/bottom of’25.1.9 (p. 122); 25.1.13 (p. 123); 25.1.17 (p. 125);^22 (p. 103)
Indicating precise location 39.3