There are also several verbs that take de+ adjective, to indicate a condi-
tion or characteristic:
Las dos presumían de guapas.
They both thought they were pretty.
De to form adjectival phrases
These may be purely descriptive but can also express intended use:
una niña de ojos azules a girl with blue eyes
un edificio de techo plano a flat-roofed building
un molinillo de café a coffee grinder
De to form adverbial phrases
Examples from the many include:
de buena/ willingly/
mala gana reluctantly
de golpe/repente suddenly
de vez en from time
cuando to time
Other uses of de
Other uses of deare discussed in the relevant sections as follows:
(a) In comparisons: see 26.4.
(b) With time of day and dates: see 23.1.5.1/2.
(c) Before infinitives: see 17.2.1(b), 17.2.5.2, 17.4.
(d) To introduce an agent after a past participle: see p. 178n4
(e) To form compound nouns: see 29.3.2.
Dentro de, fuera de
Dentro deexpresses ‘(with)in’ and ‘inside’ with regard to physical location,
and ‘(with)in’ with reference to time in the future:
21.7
21.6.10
21.6.9
21.6.8
1111
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
21
Prepositions
224
de nuevo again
de paso in passing
de pie standing