Contractions

to the / at the (masculine singular)

a + el = al

Examples:

• Voy al parque = I go to the park

• Entré al estadio = I entered the stadium

of the / from the (masculine singular)

de + el = del

Examples:

• El libro es del profesor = The book is from the teacher

• Vengo del trabajo = I come from work

When NOT to use “al”

Remember: al = a + el

So you DO NOT use “al” when there is no “el” after “a”.

1) Before feminine nouns

• ✔ Voy a la casa

• ❌ not al casa

• ✔ Voy a la escuela

2) Before plural nouns

• ✔ Voy a los parques

• ✔ Voy a las tiendas

• ❌ not al parques / al tiendas

When “a” is NOT followed by “el”

Sometimes “a” is used in other structures:

• ✔ Voy a comer (to eat)

• ❌ no contraction because there is no “el”

• ✔ Voy a estudia

When NOT to use “del”

Remember: del = de + el

So you DO NOT use “del” when there is no “el” after “de”.

1) Before feminine nouns

• ✔ La casa de la profesora

• ❌ not del profesora

2) Before plural nouns

• ✔ El libro de los estudiantes

• ✔ La opinión de las personas

• ❌ not del estudiantes

3) When “de” is NOT followed by “el”

• ✔ Vengo de aquí = I come from here

• ✔ Hablo de eso = I talk about that
  (no contraction because there is no “el”

Simple rule to remember

• Use al / del ONLY when the next word is “el”

• Otherwise, keep the words separate:

  • a la / a los / a las

  • de la / de los / de las