The use of the prepositions "de" and "desde" in Spanish

Hello. 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

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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".

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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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