At

¡Hola! Olá! Welcome to our friendly guide on using the preposition "at" in English, specifically designed for Spanish and Portuguese speakers. Prepositions can be challenging to learn, as they often do not have direct translations in other languages. This guide aims to help you understand the different uses of "at" in English and compare them to similar expressions in Spanish and Portuguese. We'll go through various examples to give you a better understanding. Let's get started!

I. The Preposition "At" in English

1.1. "At" for Specific Times

In English, "at" is used to indicate specific times of the day. It is often followed by an expression of time, such as "6 o'clock," "midnight," "noon," etc.

Example: The meeting starts at 3 pm.

1.2. "At" for Specific Locations

In English, "at" is also used to indicate specific locations, such as addresses, places, or events.

Example: I will meet you at the library.

1.3. "At" in Fixed Expressions

In English, "at" is used in some fixed expressions related to time or events.

Example: I am good at playing the guitar.

II. Equivalent Expressions in Spanish and Portuguese

2.1. "At" for Specific Times

In Spanish, "a" or "a las" is used to indicate specific times of the day. In Portuguese, "às" is used for the same purpose.

Examples:

English: I usually wake up at 7 am.

Spanish: Normalmente me despierto a las 7 am.

Portuguese: Normalmente acordo às 7 da manhã.

2.2. "At" for Specific Locations

In Spanish, "en" or "a" is often used to indicate specific locations. In Portuguese, "em" or "no" (for masculine locations) and "na" (for feminine locations) serve a similar purpose.

Examples:

English: He is waiting for us at the entrance.

Spanish: Él nos espera en la entrada.

Portuguese: Ele está esperando por nós na entrada.

2.3. "At" in Fixed Expressions

There is no direct equivalent for "at" in fixed expressions in Spanish and Portuguese. In these cases, the translations will depend on the specific expression.

Example:

English: She is good at painting.

Spanish: Ella es buena pintando.

Portuguese: Ela é boa em pintar.

III. Examples and Comparisons

3.1. Specific Times

English: The train arrives at 8:45 am.

Spanish: El tren llega a las 8:45 am.

Portuguese: O trem chega às 8h45 da manhã.

3.2. Specific Locations

English: They are having a picnic at the park.

Spanish: Van a hacer un picnic en el parque.

Portuguese: Eles vão fazer um piquenique no parque.

3.3. Fixed Expressions

English: He is bad at keeping secrets.

Spanish: Él es malo guardando secretos.

Portuguese: Ele é ruim em guardar segredos.

Conclusion

In this guide, we explored the use of the preposition "at" in English and compared it to equivalent expressions in Spanish and Portuguese. Understanding these similarities and differences will help you better express time and location in relation to actions or events. Keep practicing, and you'll master the use of "at" in no time! ¡Buena suerte! Boa sorte!