Ask a Question(Create a thread) |
|
Use of the preposition "del"This is the place for questions about conjugations, verb tenses, adverbs, adjectives, word order, syntax and other grammar questions for English or Spanish. |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Use of the preposition "del"
Why must we say "dedo del pie? or "debajo del?"
What is the significance of this word? |
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
|
#2
|
||||
|
||||
de + el = del
|
#3
|
|||
|
|||
#4
|
||||
|
||||
Simply put, yes. But more can be said.
Spanish uses 'de' in various ways that English doesn't. It also employs articles where English does not. In English, a noun can modify a noun, as in 'bus stop'. The first noun, called an adjunct in English, is the modifier. The equivalent in Spanish is to reverse the order of the nouns, pluralize the modifer, and insert 'de'. la parada de autobuses In English, the genitive is often constructed using back-to-back nouns and suffixing an apostrophe 's' to the first noun, the possessor. Paul's bicycle The Spanish equivalent is 'la bicicleta de Pablo'. The nouns are reversed and 'de' is inserted. In your first sentence, 'de' is being used yet another way - to indicate association. el dedo del pie = the digit (dedo) of (associated with) the foot (pie) = toe debajo de = under, below debajo del = under the (masculine noun) debajo de la = under the (feminine noun) debajo de los = under the (plural masculine noun) debajo de las = under the (plural feminine noun) Here, 'de' is an inseparable part of the preposition that means 'under'. If you don't use two words, 'debajo' takes on another meaning. Likewise, 'después' means 'afterwards', but 'después de' means 'after'. después del desayuno = after breakfast Después, fuimos al cine. = Afterwards, we went to the movies. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Gracias.
Thank you very much, I understood it perfectly. |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
Great! You're welcome.
|
Link to this thread | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Homework help regarding the words "tener", "venir", "preferir", and "querer" | cwlcwlspanish | Practice & Homework | 8 | October 08, 2011 06:20 PM |
Acento de Minerva Borjas (del programa "Tu bebé") | Caballero | General Chat | 2 | July 01, 2011 02:38 PM |
From the movie "El Crimen del Padre Amaro" | tacuba | Translations | 1 | January 27, 2010 10:47 PM |
Preposition "a" with infinitives | bricks | Grammar | 13 | December 28, 2009 11:08 PM |
"... del monton" - "... run of the mill" | ookami | Translations | 8 | September 12, 2009 08:44 AM |