“A” la derecha: Distance, Direction & Time

Hands using a digital map on a tablet in an urban setting at night, illustrating navigation and technology.

Spanish commonly uses the preposition “a” to indicate distance, direction or time.

Think “a la derecha‘ and “a la izchierda” and “a las cinco“

“Encontré mi paquete en la puerta de mi apartamento. Hablé con Junior y dice que fue dificilísimo traer eso. Pero no sé por qué, !yo vivo en el primer piso y a tress calles de la tienda!”

The “a” in “a tres calles de la tienda” is used because Spanish commonly uses the preposition “a” to indicate distance or direction. Here’s the breakdown:

Why “a” Is Used:

La tienda está a dos cuadras de aquí.
(The store is two blocks from here.)

Indicating Distance: In Spanish, the preposition “a” is used to describe how far something is from a reference point.

Estoy a tres calles de la tienda.
(I am three blocks from the store.)

Vivimos a 10 kilómetros del centro.
(We live 10 kilometers from downtown.)

Indicating Direction: The “a” also works with places or landmarks to show where something is located.

Está a la derecha.
(It’s to the right.)

Literal Translation vs. Natural English

  • Yo vivo a tres calles de la tienda.
    • Literal: I live at three blocks from the store.
    • Natural English: I live three blocks from the store.

In English, we don’t need “at/from,” but in Spanish, “a” makes the sentence complete.

Key Rule:

When describing distance or location in relation to something, “a” is necessary in Spanish.

Examples of Distance with “A”:

  1. General Distances
    • El parque está a cinco minutos de aquí.
      (The park is five minutes from here.)
    • Mi casa está a 2 kilómetros de la playa.
      (My house is 2 kilometers from the beach.)
    • El supermercado está a 200 metros de la escuela.
      (The supermarket is 200 meters from the school.)
  2. Using Time to Describe Distance
    • La oficina está a 10 minutos caminando.
      (The office is 10 minutes walking.)
    • El aeropuerto está a 20 minutos en coche.
      (The airport is 20 minutes by car.)

Examples of Direction with “A”:

  1. Specific Locations
    • La estación de tren está a la derecha.
      (The train station is to the right.)
    • El restaurante está a la vuelta de la esquina.
      (The restaurant is around the corner.)
  2. Landmarks
    • Estamos a 3 calles de la plaza principal.
      (We are 3 blocks from the main square.)
    • El cine está a dos cuadras del mercado.
      (The cinema is two blocks from the market.)

Examples of “Time” Expressions with “A”

  1. Indicating how long it takes to reach a place:
    • La estación está a 5 minutos caminando.
      (The station is 5 minutes away walking.)
    • El aeropuerto está a 30 minutos en coche.
      (The airport is 30 minutes away by car.)
  2. Referring to time of day for events:
    • La película empieza a las ocho de la noche.
      (The movie starts at 8 p.m.)
    • El tren llega a las cinco de la tarde.
      (The train arrives at 5 p.m.)
  3. Describing travel time in the past or future:
    • Ayer llegué al museo a las diez.
      (Yesterday I arrived at the museum at 10.)
    • Mañana salgo de casa a las siete de la mañana.
      (Tomorrow I leave the house at 7 a.m.)
  4. Time from now to a future point:
    • Estamos a una hora del concierto.
      (We are an hour away from the concert.)
    • La entrega llegará a dos días de ahora.
      (The delivery will arrive two days from now.)

“a + distance + de…”

  1. My house is three blocks from the library.
  2. We live ten kilometers from the airport.
  3. The hotel is five minutes from the beach.
  4. The store is two blocks from my apartment.
  5. Their house is one street away from ours.
  6. The school is just a few meters from the park.
  7. The hospital is a ten-minute walk from here.
  8. The campsite is five miles from the nearest town.
  9. Her office is twenty minutes from the train station.
  10. The lake is only a short drive from the cabin.

“a la derecha,” “a la izquierda,” “a la vuelta…”)

  1. The museum is to the right of the plaza.
  2. The pharmacy is to the left of the bakery.
  3. The bank is around the corner.
  4. The bus stop is just past the intersection.
  5. The park is straight ahead, on the right.
  6. The café is behind the post office.
  7. The restaurant is across from the church.
  8. The entrance is to your left.
  9. The movie theater is a few blocks straight ahead.
  10. The hotel is just around the bend.

“de la derecha”

  1. Take the glass on the right.
  2. The button on the right doesn’t work.
  3. I parked in the space to the right of yours.
  4. Use the door on the right, not the left.
  5. The photo on the right is my cousin.
  6. He lives in the apartment on the right.
  7. The street to the right of the church is ours.
  8. I like the shoes on the right better.
  9. The kid on the right is my nephew.
  10. You’ll see it in the window on the far right.

“a las [hour],” or “a + time to reach…”)

  1. The train arrives at 4 p.m.
  2. The meeting starts at 9 in the morning.
  3. I leave for work at 7 a.m.
  4. The movie starts at 8:30.
  5. We have lunch at 1 every day.
  6. The bus leaves at 6 sharp.
  7. The party is at 10 tonight.
  8. The plane lands at 11:15.
  9. I arrived at the station at 5.
  10. We’ll get there in about 20 minutes.