Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn how to use Spanish prepositions of place combined with the verb "ir," including "ir + en," "ir + a," "por," and "hacia." This lesson teaches the correct usage of these prepositions to express movement, location, and direction with practical examples for everyday conversation in Spanish.
  1. The conjugations of "ir" in present are: "voy", "vas", "va", "vamos", "vais", "van".
Preposición (Preposition)Reglas (Rules)Ejemplo (Example)
Ir + enMedio de transporte (Means of transport)Yo voy en autobús (I go by bus)
Ir + aDestino específico (Specific destination) vas a Madrid (You are going to Madrid)
Ir + haciaDirección general (Head office)Ella va hacia el norte (She goes towards the north)
SobreMovimiento por encima (Movement above)El avión vuela sobre la ciudad (The airplane flies over the city.)
PorLugar de paso (Through place)Nosotros pasamos por el parque (We passed through the park)
HaciaDirección general (Head office)Vosotros camináis hacia el parque (You walk towards the park)
Desde Punto de origen (Point of origin)Ellos vienen desde la oficina (They are coming from the office)

Exceptions!

  1. Con los medios de transporte usamos la preposición "en", pero decimos "ir a pie".

Exercise 1: Preposiciones de lugar: "Ir + en, ir + a, por, hacia, etc..."

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

por, desde, en, hacia, a, sobre

1.
Caminamos ... el parque.
(We walk through the park.)
2.
Vamos ... coche a la playa.
(We are going by car to the beach.)
3.
Voy ... Madrid mañana.
(I am going to Madrid tomorrow.)
4.
Vengo ... la tienda.
(I am coming from the shop.)
5.
Conducimos ... el norte en coche.
(We drive north by car.)
6.
Voy ... autobús al trabajo.
(I go to work by bus.)
7.
El avión vuela ... las montañas.
(The plane flies over the mountains.)
8.
Paseamos ... la ciudad a pie.
(We walk through the city on foot.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Yo ___ en autobús al trabajo cada día.

(I ___ by bus to work every day.)

2. Tú ___ a pie desde casa hasta la oficina.

(You ___ on foot from home to the office.)

3. Ellos ___ hacia el parque para pasear.

(They ___ towards the park to take a walk.)

4. Nosotros ___ en tren por toda España.

(We ___ by train all over Spain.)

5. Ella ___ el taxi para ir a la estación.

(She ___ the taxi to go to the station.)

6. Vosotros ___ por el centro comercial andando.

(You ___ through the shopping mall on foot.)

Understanding Spanish Prepositions of Place with "Ir"

This lesson focuses on common Spanish prepositions used to express location and direction, particularly in combination with the verb ir (to go). You'll learn how to use phrases like ir + en, ir + a, por, hacia, and others to describe movement and positions relative to places and objects.

Key Prepositions and Their Usage

  • Ir + en: Used to indicate the means of transportation. Example: Yo voy en autobús.
  • Ir + a: Expresses a specific destination. Example: Tú vas a Madrid.
  • Ir + hacia: Indicates a general direction. Example: Ella va hacia el norte.
  • Sobre: Describes movement over or above something. Example: El avión vuela sobre la ciudad.
  • Por: Refers to a place that is passed through. Example: Nosotros pasamos por el parque.
  • Desde: Marks the point of origin. Example: Ellos vienen desde la oficina.

Important Grammar Notes

The verb ir is conjugated in the present tense as: voy, vas, va, vamos, vais, van. Remember that when indicating travel by foot, we say ir a pie instead of using en.

Comparison with English

English prepositions of place like "to," "on," "towards," and "through" serve similar purposes, but Spanish uses them in particular patterns with ir. For example, while English says "I go by bus," Spanish specifically uses ir en autobús. Also, English often uses "towards" for direction, which corresponds nicely to Spanish hacia. Mastering these nuances will improve your fluency and comprehension.

Useful Phrases to Practice

  • Yo voy en autobús al trabajo cada día.
  • Tú vas a pie desde casa hasta la oficina.
  • Ellos van hacia el parque para pasear.
  • Nosotros viajamos en tren por toda España.
  • Ella coge el taxi para ir a la estación.
  • Vosotros andáis por el centro comercial andando.

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