Spanish · A2 · Family moment
Everything Has Space in Spanish
Help your child organize their craft and project supplies by describing where things are located. This guide focuses on using the verb 'estar' with prepositions to describe stationary locations around the home.
What you'll learn
- Identify common project materials and storage locations
- Use prepositions like 'en', 'sobre', and 'debajo de' to describe location
- Master the contraction 'del' (de + el) when identifying masculine nouns
- Practice using the verb 'estar' for temporary locations
Spanish phrases for everything has space
Tu proyecto está en el salón.
Your project is in the living room.
'En' is used here for 'in'.
Las tijeras están en el cajón.
The scissors are in the drawer.
Use 'están' for plural subjects like 'tijeras'.
Tu cuaderno está sobre la mesa.
Your notebook is on the table.
'Sobre' specifically means 'on' or 'on top of'.
La pintura está sobre la caja.
The paint is on the box.
'Sobre' is interchangeable with 'encima de' in many contexts.
Tu mochila está al lado del escritorio.
Your backpack is next to the desk.
'Del' is a mandatory contraction of 'de' + 'el'.
El póster está al lado de la puerta.
The poster is next to the door.
'Al lado de' means 'beside' or 'next to'.
Tu bolsa de deporte está debajo de la cama.
Your sports bag is under the bed.
'Debajo de' is the standard way to say 'under'.
Los periódicos están debajo del banco.
The newspapers are under the bench.
Note the contraction 'del' before the masculine noun 'banco'.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
el salón
living room
Also commonly used for 'lounge' or 'sitting room'.
el cajón
drawer
Not to be confused with 'la caja' (the box).
el escritorio
desk
Specifically refers to a writing or work desk.
al lado de
next to
Always requires the particle 'de' before the object.
Stationary Locations with 'Estar'
In Spanish, we use the verb 'estar' (to be) for locations. Unlike English where we use 'is/are', Spanish distinguishes between permanent traits (ser) and locations or states (estar).
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | está | El libro está en la mesa. |
| Plural | están | Las pinturas están en la caja. |
Prepositions and Contractions
When using prepositions that end in 'de', if the following word is the masculine article 'el', they merge into 'del'. This does not happen with the feminine article 'la'.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| de + el | del | debajo del banco (under the bench) |
| de + la | de la | al lado de la puerta (next to the door) |
More examples
¿Dónde están mis lápices?
Where are my pencils?
A common question to ask for project materials.
Están al lado del ordenador.
They are next to the computer.
Demonstrates the 'del' contraction with technology terms.
La regla está debajo del cuaderno.
The ruler is under the notebook.
Using 'debajo del' with school supplies.