The use of the prepositions "de" and "desde" in Spanish
LikeHello. As a private tutor for Spanish classes, I often see students struggling with the use of the prepositions "de" and "desde". Let´s take a look at some examples of these.
1) "Saludos desde Michigan" or "Saludos de Michigan"? Which is the correct answer?
It's like in English. "Saludos desde Michigan" = Greetings from Michigan.
The word "desde" means "from" when it's about location.
"Desde" can mean "from" or "since" when it's about time.
Examples:
1. La reunión fue desde las 4 pm hasta las 7 pm = The meeting was from 4 pm to 7 pm
2. Vivo aquí desde el año 2010 = I´ve lived here since 2010
2) The preposition "de" means "of" or "from" depending on the context.
Examples:
1. El suéter (hecho) de lana = The sweater made of wool.
2. Él es de Venezuela = He is from Venezuela.
3) Frequently, we combine "de" with "a", and "desde" with "hasta".
Examples:
3. Voy de Nueva York a Chicago = I go from New York to Chicago.
4. Voy desde Nueva York hasta Chicago = I go from New York to Chicago.
It's the same about time.
5. De 4 a 5 = From 4 to 5.
6. Desde las 4 hasta las 5 (notice the use of definite articles) = From 4 to 5.
Literally, we translate "a" as "to", and "hasta" as "until".
We don't say "él es desde Venezuela" but "él es de Venezuela" because "desde" implies "starting from" or "from this very point". We say "saludos desde Phoenix" = Greetings from Phoenix (Arizona). If you say "saludos de Phoenix", it's confusing because it seems you are saying "Phoenix (a person named Phoenix) is sending you his/her regards."
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