- "Desde" indicates the starting point.
- "Hasta" indicates the end point.
- Both prepositions can be used together to indicate the duration of an action, time, or to describe the distance between two places.
| Fórmula (Formula) | Uso (Use) | Ejemplo (Example) |
|---|---|---|
| Desde + [Punto de Inicio] (Starting Point) | Inicio de un periodo de tiempo (Beginning of a period of time) | El curso de cocina ha sido muy interesante desde el primer día. |
| Hasta + [Punto Final] (Full Stop) | Final de un periodo de tiempo (End of a period of time) | El instructor está en el taller hasta las 5. |
| Combinación de (Combination of) "Desde" y "Hasta" | Se usan juntos para definir una duración (They are used together to define a duration.) | La sesión es desde las 10:00 hasta las 12:00. |
Exceptions!
- Both prepositions desde and hasta can indicate both time and distance.
Exercise 1: Las preposiciones: "Desde" y "Hasta"
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
hasta, desde, Desde
1.
Punto final:
: Viviré en Valencia ... el final de este mes.
(I will live in Valencia until the end of this month.)
2.
Punto final:
: El museo está abierto ... las ocho de la tarde.
(The museum is open until eight in the evening.)
3.
Punto de inicio:
... que empecé el taller, aprendí mucho.
(Since I started the workshop, I've learned a lot.)
4.
Duración:
: El evento durará ... las 8 de la mañana ... las 4 de la tarde.
(The event will last from 8 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon.)
5.
Punto final:
Puedes practicar la guitarra ... la sesión final del curso.
(You can practise the guitar until the final session of the course.)
6.
Duración:
: El taller organiza todo, ... la inscripción ... la sesión final.
(The workshop organizes everything, from registration to the final session.)
7.
Punto de inicio:
: Estudio inglés ... hace dos años.
(I have been studying English for two years.)
8.
Punto final:
: Tengo clases ... el viernes pero el sábado estoy libre.
(I have classes until Friday but I'm free on Saturday.)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct sentence that properly uses the prepositions "desde" and "hasta" to indicate the starting or ending point of an action or a time period.
1.
"Hasta" indicates an end point; here the start is meant, so it is incorrect.
A concrete end point is missing for "hasta", which should be a clear hour or moment.
2.
Confusion in the time format; a clear and consistent format should be used.
The order is reversed; "desde" should indicate the start and "hasta" the end.
3.
Incorrect use of "hasta" to indicate the start and "desde" for the end, which is wrong.
The preposition "hasta" is missing to adequately define the end point.
4.
The reversed order changes the meaning and is grammatically incorrect.
Although common, the absence of "hasta" does not respect the rule taught to mark the complete period.