D?nde vs Ad?nde

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Marianopolita

Former Spanish forum Mod 2010-2021
Dec 26, 2003
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I just thought it would be interesting to point out this colloquial flaw in Spanish. In my experience the incorrect usage (includes all Spanish speaking countries) is used more than the correct usage but nevertheless it's beneficial to know the difference between the two:

?D?nde?- as an interrogative word means *where* and is used to ask a question about the location of an object, place, person etc. or where an action takes (or took) place.

?Ad?nde?
- is the form used when there is *movement* or *movement towards* a place. If there is no movement *ad?nde* should not be used and it definitely goes against Spanish grammar rules.

I.

In colloquial speech you will hear phrases such as:

a) 'Ad?nde est?s' with the intended meaning of "where are you". However, the correct phrase is D?nde est?s.

b) 'Ad?nde est?n los libros' with the intended meaning of "where are the books". However, the correct phrase is D?nde est?n los libros.

II.

The correct usage of 'ad?nde' requires some kind of movement or movement towards a place. Verbs like 'ir', 'dirigirse' etc. (verbs that indicate movement) are the key indicators.

Here are some examples:

?Ad?nde vas?- "where are you going"

No s? ad?nde van - "I don't know where they are going".

III.

This rule also applies to other adverbs such as:

dentro vs. adentro
fuera vs. afuera


PD. D?nde with an accent on the [o] is the interrogative form of the adverb used when a question is asked, implied or indirectly answers a question.

Donde without the accent on the [o] indicates where an action takes place, where someone is or where a place is located.


LDG.
 
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pi?acolada

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Mar 9, 2005
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Lesley D said:
I just thought it would be interesting to point out this colloquial flaw in Spanish. In my experience the incorrect usage (includes all Spanish speaking countries) is used more than the correct usage but nevertheless it's beneficial to know the difference between the two:

?D?nde?- as an interrogative word means *where* and is used to ask a question about the location of an object, place, person etc. or where an action takes (or took) place.

?Ad?nde?
- is the form used when there is *movement* or *movement towards* a place. If there is no movement *ad?nde* should not be used and it definitely goes against Spanish grammar rules.

I.

In colloquial speech you will hear phrases such as:

a) 'Ad?nde est?s' with the intended meaning of "where are you". However, the correct phrase is D?nde est?s.

b) 'Ad?nde est?n los libros' with the intended meaning of "where are the books". However, the correct phrase is D?nde est?n los libros.

II.

The correct usage of 'ad?nde' requires some kind of movement or movement towards a place. Verbs like 'ir', 'dirigirse' etc. (verbs that indicate movement) are the key indicators.

Here are some examples:

?Ad?nde vas?- "where are you going"

No s? ad?nde van - "I don't know where they are going".

III.

This rule also applies to other adverbs such as:

dentro vs. adentro
fuera vs. afuera


PD. D?nde with an accent on the [o] is the interrogative form of the adverb used when a question is asked, implied or indirectly answers a question.

Donde without the accent on the [o] indicates where an action takes place, where someone is or where a place is located.


LDG.

Hi Lesley, just to correct one thing: ? donde ( (? is a preposition) NOT adonde.
EX: A donde van los ni?os?
 

Marianopolita

Former Spanish forum Mod 2010-2021
Dec 26, 2003
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Pi?acolada

Hola,

Yes [a] is a preposition but the word ad?nde meaning 'where' is an adverb and it should be written as one word according to las reglas gramaticales.

Your example:

A d?nde van los ni?os is not correct because it s/b Ad?nde one word as an 'adverb' meaning 'where'.


A donde (sin acento) xxxx is used in a different grammatical context.

LDG.
 
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ricktoronto

Grande Pollo en Boca Chica
Jan 9, 2002
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Don't forget de donde as well.

De donde eres - from where are you, e.g. what nationality are you?

Or de donde viniste (or vino for ud.) - from where did you come? Asked by migracion at times when they want to know which flight you were on.
 

hugoke01

New member
Dec 31, 2004
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Is "por d?nde" also used ?

Just a short question :"Believe that POR DONDE is also used or is this not correct ?" ej:? Por donde esta el hospital ? Where is the hospital ?

Lesley D said:
Hola,

Yes [a] is a preposition but the word ad?nde meaning 'where' is an adverb and it should be written as one word according to las reglas gramaticales.

Your example:

A d?nde van los ni?os is not correct because it s/b Ad?nde one word as an 'adverb' meaning 'where'.


A donde (sin acento) xxxx is used in a different grammatical context.

LDG.
 

Marianopolita

Former Spanish forum Mod 2010-2021
Dec 26, 2003
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766
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Hugoke01...

Hay que tener cuidado.... 'd?nde' y 'por d?nde' don't have the same meaning.


1) D?nde = where

2) Por d?nde = 'which way to' or 'how does one get to' xxx place.

3) Por d?nde se va a xxx lugar and NOT por d?nde est? xxx


Ejemplo:

?Por d?nde se va al hospital?= 'How does one get to'/ or 'which way does one have to go' to get to the hospital?

As well since we are discussing phrases with 'd?nde' there's also 'hacia d?nde vas' meaning 'which way are you heading'.

Just to recap:

1. Ad?nde ( which also has two other forms not discussed yet)
2. De d?nde
3. Por d?nde
4. Hacia d?nde


LDG.
 

hugoke01

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Dec 31, 2004
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Por dond? se va a

First would like to thank Lesley you for your clear explanation... one more question : Could one replace "por dond?" with "como"..

?Como se va a la iglesia ?
or is ths grammatically incorrect ?

Lesley D said:
Hay que tener cuidado.... 'd?nde' y 'por d?nde' don't have the same meaning.


1) D?nde = where

2) Por d?nde = 'which way to' or 'how does one get to' xxx place.

3) Por d?nde se va a xxx lugar and NOT por d?nde est? xxx


Ejemplo:

?Por d?nde se va al hospital?= 'How does one get to'/ or 'which way does one have to go' to get to the hospital?

As well since we are discussing phrases with 'd?nde' there's also 'hacia d?nde vas' meaning 'which way are you heading'.

Just to recap:

1. Ad?nde ( which also has two other forms not discussed yet)
2. De d?nde
3. Por d?nde
4. Hacia d?nde


LDG.
 

Marianopolita

Former Spanish forum Mod 2010-2021
Dec 26, 2003
4,821
766
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Hugoke01....Por d?nde y c?mo

Gramaticalmente est? bien pero la pregunta es diferente. Si me preguntas 'por d?nde' se va a la iglesia y 'c?mo' se va a la iglesia no significan lo mismo. Es cuesti?n de matices (nuances).

Por d?nde se va a la iglesia = la direcci?n (direction ---> go north, go south, two blocks etc.)

C?mo se va a la iglesia= medio de transporte (mode of transportation ---> by bus, by metro etc.)


From a grammatical standpoint nothing is wrong with 'c?mo se va a la iglesia' but it's definitely a question that has more than one nuance and could have two different responses whereas 'por d?nde se va' will require a response that refers to 'direction' only.


LDG.
 
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