My City
Mi Ciudad
After this lesson, you'll be able to:
- ✓Use prepositions of place to describe locations
- ✓Give and understand simple directions
- ✓Name shops and public places
- ✓Use the contractions al and del correctly
Grammar Focus
Essential grammar for this lesson with examples.
Recap: hay + estar from Week 1
Last week you learned to describe your home using hay (there is/are) and estar (location of specific things). This week, we use those same tools for the city. Everything you learned about hay and estar works exactly the same way with shops, parks, and streets.
Examples:
Prepositions of Place
Last week you met some prepositions for furniture in the home. Now here's the full set you need for describing a city or neighborhood. These prepositions tell you where places are in relation to each other.
Examples:
Contractions: al and del
In Spanish, when the prepositions a (to) or de (of/from) are followed by el (the, masculine singular), they must contract. This is not optional - it's a fixed rule of Spanish grammar. However, this ONLY happens with "el" - never with "la", "los", or "las".
Contraction Rules
| Result | Example | |
|---|---|---|
| a + el | al | Voy al parque. |
| de + el | del | Cerca del banco. |
| a + la | a lano change | Voy a la tienda. |
| de + la | de lano change | Cerca de la plaza. |
Examples:
Asking for Directions
When you're lost or looking for a place, these question phrases are your survival toolkit. You'll use them every time you visit a Spanish-speaking city.
Examples:
Giving Simple Directions (Fixed Phrases)
For now, learn these direction phrases as fixed chunks. You don't need to understand the grammar behind the imperative (command) forms yet - just memorise these useful expressions for getting around.
Examples:
¿Dónde está...? vs ¿Hay...?
Just like with furniture in the home, the distinction between hay and estar works the same in the city. Use hay to ask if something exists nearby, and dónde está to ask for the location of a specific place.
Examples:
Combining Location Descriptions
Now put it all together to describe where places are in relation to each other. This is how locals give directions and describe their neighborhood.
Examples:
Conversation Example
Ana and Pablo are looking at apartments. Pablo helps Ana find the neighborhood.
🌍 La Plaza Mayor
Across the Spanish-speaking world, the central square - known as la Plaza Mayor, el Zócalo (Mexico), or la Plaza de Armas (much of South America) - serves as the heart of community life. These squares are typically surrounded by important buildings: the town hall, a cathedral, shops, and cafes. People gather there to socialise, enjoy street performers, attend festivals, and simply watch the world go by. In the evenings, families stroll around the plaza in a tradition known as "el paseo". Madrid's Plaza Mayor dates back to the 17th century, while Mexico City's Zócalo is one of the largest public squares in the world. Even small towns have their own plaza - it's where the community comes together.