The verb estar is used to express the position of something, but with prepositions of place, it is used to express location.
Spanish
English
La cafetería está enfrente del museo.
The cafeteria is in front of the museum.
Reviewing Verb Estar
Rule 1. The verb estar is one of the main verbs to pick up when starting to learn Spanish. Its conjugation is as follows:
| Subject Pronouns | Estar |
|---|---|
| yo | estoy |
| tú | estás |
| él, ella, está | está |
| nosotros, nosotras | estamos |
| vosotros, vosotras | estáis |
| ellos, ellas, ustedes | están |
| Subject Pronouns | Estar |
|---|---|
| yo | estoy |
| tú | estás |
| él, ella, está | está |
| nosotros, nosotras | estamos |
| vosotros, vosotras | estáis |
| ellos, ellas, ustedes | están |
Rule 2. Among other multiple uses, the verb estar is used to express position.
Spanish
English
Estoy en el salón.
I am in the classroom.
For this reason, it makes sense to use it with prepositions of place to locate something or someone in a certain space.
How to Use the Verb Estar to Express Location?
Rule 3. When accompanied by prepositions of place, the verb estar will help you say where something or someone is. This function is very useful, especially when giving directions, meeting someone, or giving instructions.
Spanish
English
- ¿Dónde estás? No te veo.
- Estoy a un lado de la cancha de baloncesto.
- Where are you? I don't see you.
- I'm at the side of the basketball court.
Prepositions of Place
Rule 4. The most common prepositions of place in Spanish are the following:
| enfrente de | in front of |
| detrás de | behind of |
| a un lado de | next to |
| debajo de | under |
| entre | between |
| cerca de | near |
| lejos de | far from |
| a la izquierda de | to the right of |
| a la derecha de | to the left of |
| dentro de | inside |
| fuera de | outside of |
| enfrente de | in front of |
| detrás de | behind of |
| a un lado de | next to |
| debajo de | under |
| entre | between |
| cerca de | near |
| lejos de | far from |
| a la izquierda de | to the right of |
| a la derecha de | to the left of |
| dentro de | inside |
| fuera de | outside of |
Rule 5. Telling the location of something in Spanish is quite simple: you only have to conjugate the verb estar, add the preposition of place, the preposition de, and the place itself:
| Estar conjugated | Preposition of place | De | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estamos | enfrente | de | la cafetería. |
| We are | in front | of | the coffee shop. |
| Estar conjugated | Preposition of place | De | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estamos | enfrente | de | la cafetería. |
| We are | in front | of | the coffee shop. |
Rule 6. To create the negative form, just add a no before the verb estar:
| No | Estar conjugated | Preposition of place | De | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | estamos | enfrente | de | la cafetería. |
| No | Estar conjugated | Preposition of place | De | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | estamos | enfrente | de | la cafetería. |
Remember about The Definite Article
Rule 7. When telling the location with this construction, the place is always accompanied by a definite article (el, la, los, las).
Spanish
English
¿Están dentro de la pizzería?
Are you inside the pizzeria?
Está a la izquiera de la universidad.
It is to the left of the university.
The Preposition De - Contraction
Rule 8. Another key element in this construction is the preposition de. Please note that since the place must be accompanied by a definite article, the contraction del (de+el) will appear when you use a masculine singular definite article.
Spanish
English
Estoy dentro del museo.
I am inside the museum.
Quiz
1/4
Nosotros _________ a fuera del salón. ¿Y ustedes?
0
correct answers.