Place expressions: "A la izquierda", "A la derecha", "Todo recto", "En el centro"

1. What these expressions do

• These expressions answer: Where is something? or How do I get there?
• They are used with places in a town: la estación, el parque, la oficina…
• They can indicate:
  • Exact position: a la izquierda de, a la derecha de, al lado de, en frente de, en el centro de
  • Direction: a la izquierda, a la derecha, todo recto
  • Distance: cerca de, lejos de

2. The basic pattern with places

To say where something is, you normally use this structure:

• [Place 1] + está + [expression] + de + [Place 2]

Examples:

• El banco está al lado de la oficina de información.
  = The bank is next to the information office.
• La tienda está a la derecha de la plaza.
  = The shop is to the right of the square.
• La estación está cerca de la plaza.
  = The station is near the square.

Notice:

• The verb is almost always está (from estar).
• Most of these expressions need de before the second place.

3. When to use de (and when not)

Compare:

• con de: “in relation to another place”
  El banco está al lado de la oficina.
• sin de: “as a direction from where you are”
  Gira a la derecha. = Turn right.
  Sigue todo recto. = Go straight ahead.

4. Position vs. direction: same words, different use

The same expression can work in two ways:

• Static position (where something is)
• Movement / direction (how to go there)

Quick check:

• If you talk about a movement (go, turn, continue): use the form without de.
• If you talk about a fixed place in relation to another: use the form with de.

5. Small forms you should notice

• al lado de = a + el lado de → contracted to al.
  You never say a el lado de.
• del (de + el) also appears after these expressions:
  La parada está a la izquierda del banco.
  (de + el banco)
• en frente de: in many regions you will also see enfrente de (one word). At A1, treat them as the same meaning: “in front of / opposite”.

6. Typical A1 mistakes and how to avoid them

• 1) Forgetting de
  La tienda está a la derecha la plaza.
  ✔ La tienda está a la derecha de la plaza.
• 2) Using ser instead of estar
  La oficina es en el centro.
  ✔ La oficina está en el centro.
• 3) Mixing position and direction
  Gira a la izquierda de la estación. (you are not comparing two places)
  ✔ Gira a la izquierda.
• 4) English word order in Spanish
  English: near the station
  Not: cerca la estación
  ✔ cerca de la estación

7. Step-by-step: build your own sentence

1. Choose the first place (subject)
   Example: El hotel
2. Add the verb → está
   El hotel está…
3. Choose the right expression
   • Exact location? → en el centro de, al lado de, en frente de…
   • Distance? → cerca de, lejos de
4. Add de + second place
   Example: la estación → de la estación
5. Put it together
   El hotel está cerca de la estación.

8. Mini self-check

• Can you explain to yourself the difference between a la derecha and a la derecha de?
• In your notebook, write 3 sentences with cerca de and 3 with lejos de using real places in your city.
• Say out loud 3 directions from your home to a place, using at least two of these: a la izquierda, a la derecha, todo recto.

If you can do this without checking the table, you have mastered the basics of these place expressions.