6.3 The Home, Furniture, Rooms & Spatial Prepositions

DELE A1 Study Guide Exam

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1 Introduction, Exam Architecture & Scoring

1.1 About the DELE A1 Exam: Purpose, CEFR Level & Registration 1.2 Exam Architecture: Four Pruebas & Two-Group Scoring System 1.3 Strategic Preparation: Study Schedule, Time Management & Exam Traps

2 Prueba 1: Comprensión de Lectura (Reading Comprehension)

2.1 Reading Tarea 1: One Personal Email or Postcard (5 Questions) 2.2 Reading Tarea 2: Notes, Signs & Short Notices (Match 6 Sentences to 9 Texts) 2.3 Reading Tarea 3: Matching People's Needs to Short Ads (6 of 9) 2.4 Reading Tarea 4: Extracting Details from One Informational Text (8 Questions)

3 Prueba 2: Comprensión Auditiva (Listening Comprehension)

3.1 Listening Tarea 1: Short Interpersonal Dialogues & Graphic Selection 3.2 Listening Tarea 2: Short Messages & Announcements Matched to Pictures 3.3 Listening Tarea 3: Eight Statements from One Monologue (Matching Beginnings and Endings) 3.4 Listening Tarea 4: One Conversation, Seven Sentences to Complete

4 Core Grammar I: Essential Verbs & Foundations

4.1 Subject Pronouns & Regular Present Tense (-ar, -er, -ir) 4.2 Ser vs. Estar: Permanent Identity vs. Temporary States & Locations 4.3 Essential Irregular & Stem-Changing Verbs 4.4 Reflexive Verbs, Daily Routines & Time Sequencing

5 Core Grammar II: Nouns, Modifiers & Structures

5.1 Gender, Number, Articles & Noun-Adjective Agreement 5.2 Expressing Likes & Preferences: Gustar, Encantar, Interesar & Parecer 5.3 Question Words, Demonstratives & Possessive Adjectives 5.4 High-Yield Verbal Periphrases: Ir a + Infinitivo, Tener que + Infinitivo, Estar + Gerundio

6 Essential Vocabulary: Numbers, Time & Daily Life

6.1 Cardinal Numbers (0–1,000), Telling Time, Calendar & Weather 6.2 Personal Data, Nationalities, Family Members & Descriptions 6.3 The Home, Furniture, Rooms & Spatial Prepositions

7 Situational Vocabulary: Shopping, Travel, Health, Work & Free Time

7.1 Food, Market Shopping, Restaurant Orders & Asking Prices 7.2 City Navigation, Public Transport & Asking for/Giving Directions 7.3 Physical Well-Being, Body Parts, Doctor Visits & Pharmacy Purchases 7.4 Studies, Work, Free Time & Communication

8 Prueba 3: Expresión e Interacción Escritas (Written Expression & Interaction)

8.1 Writing Tarea 1: Personal Data Form Completion & Questionnaires 8.2 Writing Tarea 2: Short Epistolary Texts (Emails, Postcards, Messages & Ads, 30–40 Words) 8.3 Writing Scales, Essential Connectors & Common Spelling Errors

9 Prueba 4: Expresión e Interacción Orales (Oral Expression & Interaction)

9.1 Oral Tarea 1: Personal Presentation (1–2 Minute Monologue) 9.2 Oral Tarea 2: Exposición de un tema (2–3 Minute Talk on a Topic) 9.3 Oral Tarea 3: Conversation with the Interviewer (and Your Two Questions) 9.4 Oral Scoring Scales, Pronunciation & Communication Repair

6.3 The Home, Furniture, Rooms & Spatial Prepositions

Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI

In Spain, 'piso' denotes a multi-family apartment or flat, while 'casa' indicates an independent house and 'chalet' refers to a single-family suburban home.

The primary divisions of a home comprise 'el salón' (living room), 'la cocina' (kitchen), 'el dormitorio' or 'la habitación' (bedroom), and 'el cuarto de baño' (bathroom).

Spatial prepositions ending in 'de' undergo mandatory contraction with the masculine singular article 'el' to form 'del' (e.g., al lado del sofá, cerca del armario).

Locational prepositions such as 'encima de / debajo de', 'delante de / detrás de', and 'entre' establish precise spatial coordinates in room-description tasks.

Housing ads, like those in the Modelo 0 reading and writing tasks, use property words such as 'luminoso', 'amueblado', 'céntrico', 'exterior' and 'calefacción'.

Last updated: October 2026

6.3 The Home, Furniture, Rooms & Spatial Prepositions

Housing (the NRE notion Vivienda ) is one of the most visible topics in the DELE A1 model exam. In Comprensión de lectura , the Modelo 0 Tarea 3 uses housing ads ( se alquila , se vende , rooms, prices, months available) that you match to people's needs. In Expresión e interacción escritas , the Modelo 0 Tarea 2 asks you to write an online ad to rent your flat, saying what it is like, where it is, the price and how to contact you. In Expresión e interacción orales , a Tarea 2 topic about places or your home lets you describe rooms and where things are.

Mastering domestic vocabulary and locational prepositions allows you to articulate clear, organized spatial descriptions.

Types of Housing ( Tipos de vivienda )

In the Spanish-speaking world, different terms describe various residential structures:

El piso : The standard, most common term in Spain for an apartment, flat, or condominium located within a multi-story residential building ( un bloque de pisos ).

El apartamento : Widely used throughout Latin America for any apartment. In Spain, it often designates smaller holiday apartments, tourist accommodations, or one-bedroom units.

La casa : An independent, detached, or terraced house.

El chalet / chalé : In Spain, refers to a detached or semi-detached single-family suburban home, frequently featuring a private garden, patio, or swimming pool.

El estudio : A compact studio apartment where the living room, bedroom, and kitchenette share a single open-plan space.

La residencia de estudiantes : A student hall of residence or dormitory.

La habitación en piso compartido : A rented bedroom within a shared flat, a common scenario in A1 reading texts.

Essential Housing Adjectives

When evaluating or describing an apartment, candidates must recognize standard real estate descriptors:

Spanish Adjective Opposite / Contrast English Meaning
luminoso / a oscuro / a bright, full of sunlight / dark
amplio / a (espacioso / a) pequeño / a (estrecho / a) spacious, roomy / small, cramped
céntrico / a alejado / a centrally located / far from downtown
tranquilo / a ruidoso / a quiet, peaceful / noisy
amueblado / a sin amueblar furnished / unfurnished
exterior interior street-facing (natural light) / facing an inner courtyard
nuevo / a antiguo / a brand new / historic, old
reformado / a para reformar newly renovated / in need of renovation

Note

In Spanish real estate listings, the distinction between piso exterior and piso interior is fundamental. A piso exterior features windows facing the public street, offering abundant sunlight and views. A piso interior has windows opening onto an enclosed interior courtyard ( patio de luces ), which is quieter and cheaper but receives limited direct daylight.

Rooms and Areas of the Home ( Partes de la casa )

A residential home is structured into distinct functional zones:

El salón / La sala de estar : The living room or lounge where occupants relax, socialize, and watch television.

El comedor : The dining room, housing the primary dining table and chairs.

La cocina : The kitchen where food is stored and prepared.

El dormitorio / La habitación / El cuarto : The bedroom. A master bedroom is often termed el dormitorio principal or dormitorio de matrimonio .

El cuarto de baño / El aseo : A cuarto de baño contains full sanitary facilities including a bathtub ( bañera ) or shower ( ducha ), sink ( lavabo ), and toilet ( váter / inodoro ). An aseo is a half-bathroom or guest powder room containing only a washbasin and toilet.

El pasillo : The corridor or hallway connecting various rooms.

El recibidor / La entrada : The foyer, entrance hall, or entryway.

El balcón : A balcony projecting from the upper-story exterior facade.

La terraza : A terrace, rooftop patio, or large open outdoor living space.

El jardín : The garden or yard surrounding a house.

El garaje / La plaza de garaje : The garage or dedicated parking space.

El trastero : A private storage locker or basement storage room.

Furniture and Household Appliances ( Muebles y electrodomésticos )

To describe your home in writing or speaking, you need a precise vocabulary organised by room:

1. El Salón (Living Room)
el sofá : the sofa / couch (Remember: el sofá is masculine despite ending in -a !)
el sillón : the armchair
la mesa de centro : the low coffee table
la estantería : the bookshelf or shelving unit
la lámpara : the lamp (de pie = floor lamp; de mesa = table lamp)
la televisión / el televisor : the television set
la alfombra : the rug or carpet
el cuadro : the painting, framed picture, or artwork
2. El Dormitorio (Bedroom)
la cama : the bed ( cama individual = single bed; cama doble / de matrimonio = double bed)
el armario : the wardrobe or closet ( armario empotrado = built-in closet)
la mesita de noche : the bedside table or nightstand
la cómoda : the chest of drawers or dresser
el espejo : the mirror
las cortinas : the window curtains
la almohada : the sleeping pillow
3. La Cocina (Kitchen Appliances & Fixtures)
la nevera / el frigorífico : the refrigerator / fridge
el congelador : the freezer unit
la lavadora : the clothes washing machine
el lavavajillas / el lavaplatos : the dishwasher
el horno : the baking oven
el microondas : the microwave oven
la vitrocerámica / los fuegos : the electric ceramic cooktop / gas stovetop burners
el fregadero : the kitchen sink
la cafetera : the coffee maker
4. El Cuarto de Baño (Bathroom Fixtures)
la ducha : the shower stall
la bañera : the bathtub
el lavabo : the bathroom washbasin
el váter / el inodoro : the toilet
la toalla : the bath towel
Spatial Prepositions & Locational Expressions ( Preposiciones de lugar )

Accurate spatial description requires using prepositions that pinpoint where objects are situated relative to other reference points.

Core Locational Pairs and Expressions
encima de (on top of / above) vs. debajo de (underneath / below)
El ordenador está encima de la mesa. (The computer is on top of the table.)
El gato duerme debajo de la cama. (The cat sleeps under the bed.)
delante de (in front of) vs. detrás de (behind)
Hay una alfombra delante de la puerta. (There is a rug in front of the door.)
El jardín está detrás de la casa. (The garden is behind the house.)
al lado de (next to / beside)
La mesita de noche está al lado de la cama. (The nightstand is beside the bed.)
a la derecha de (to the right of) vs. a la izquierda de (to the left of)
La estantería está a la derecha de la ventana. (The bookshelf is to the right of the window.)
El sillón está a la izquierda del sofá. (The armchair is to the left of the sofa.)
enfrente de (opposite / facing across from)
La televisión está enfrente del sofá. (The television is opposite the sofa.)
entre (between / among)
La mesita está entre los dos sillones. (The small table is between the two armchairs.)

Important

Notice that entre never takes the preposition de ! It is followed directly by the nouns: entre la cama y la ventana , NOT *entre de la cama .

dentro de (inside / within) vs. fuera de (outside / out of)
La leche está dentro del frigorífico. (The milk is inside the fridge.)
Las bicicletas están fuera del garaje. (The bicycles are outside the garage.)
cerca de (near / close to) vs. lejos de (far from)
Mi apartamento está cerca del metro. (My apartment is near the metro.)
El aeropuerto está lejos del centro. (The airport is far from downtown.)

en (in / on / at): General locational preposition without directional nuance:

Los platos están en la cocina. (The plates are in the kitchen.)
The Mandatory Contraction: De + El = Del

Whenever a spatial locution ending in the preposition de is followed immediately by the masculine singular definite article el , the two words must contract into del :

d e + e l = d e l \mathbf{de} + \mathbf{el} = \mathbf{del} de + el = del
al lado de + el armario -> al lado del armario
cerca de + el parque -> cerca del parque
debajo de + el escritorio -> debajo del escritorio
detrás de + el sofá -> detrás del sofá

No contraction occurs with feminine nouns or plural articles:

al lado de la lámpara (no change)
cerca de las tiendas (no change)
delante de los coches (no change)
Grammatical Distribution: HAY vs. ESTAR in Housing Contexts

A frequent accuracy point in A1 writing and speaking is the distinction between hay (existence) and estar (location). Hay vs. Estar Rule of Thumb

HAY ──► Introduces unmentioned or indefinite items (What exists?)
Followed by: un, una, unos, unas, numbers, mucho/a, bare plural nouns
ESTAR ──► Locates specific, already identified items (Where is it?)
Followed by: el, la, los, las, possessive adjectives (mi, tu, su), proper names
When to Use HAY

Use hay (impersonal form of haber ) to state that something exists in a space, or to quantify items:

En el salón hay un sofá azul y dos sillones. (In the living room there is a blue sofa and two armchairs.)
En este piso hay tres dormitorios. (In this apartment there are three bedrooms.)
¿ Hay ascensor en el edificio? (Is there an elevator in the building?)
En la cocina no hay microondas. (There is no microwave in the kitchen.)
When to Use ESTAR

Use estar to specify the precise location of a specific, definite item:

El sofá está al lado de la ventana. (The sofa is next to the window.)
La lavadora está en la cocina. (The washing machine is in the kitchen.)
Mis llaves están encima de la cómoda. (My keys are on top of the dresser.)
¿Dónde está el cuarto de baño? (Where is the bathroom?)
Decoding Real Estate Classified Advertisements

In Reading Comprehension Tarea 3 (and in writing Tarea 2 of the Modelo 0) you deal with ads for flats. Here is an annotated sample demonstrating how key information is presented:

ANUNCIO DE ALQUILER: MADRID CENTRO

Se alquila piso exterior de 70 m², muy luminoso , situado en una 3ª planta con ascensor .

Distribución : Salón-comedor amplio, 2 dormitorios con armarios empotrados , cocina independiente totalmente amueblada y equipada ( frigorífico , lavadora , horno y microondas ) y 1 cuarto de baño completo con plato de ducha .

Climatización : Calefacción individual de gas y aire acondicionado en el salón.

Ubicación : Zona muy tranquila y comercial, a 3 minutos a pie de la estación de metro.

Condiciones : 800 €/mes ( gastos de comunidad incluidos ). Se solicita 1 mes de fianza. No se admiten mascotas .

Interpreting Key Rental Abbreviations and Vocabulary

3ª planta con ascensor : Third floor with elevator access.

Armarios empotrados : Built-in wardrobes fitted flush into bedroom walls.

Plato de ducha : Modern step-in shower tray/stall (as opposed to a bañera / bathtub).

Calefacción individual : Independent heating unit controlled inside the apartment.

Aire acondicionado : Air conditioning.

Gastos de comunidad incluidos : The monthly building maintenance and cleaning fees are covered by the landlord within the €800 rent; the tenant does not pay them separately.

Fianza : Security deposit paid upfront.

No se admiten mascotas : Domestic animals and pets are strictly prohibited.

By systematically analyzing these textual markers, you can answer related comprehension questions quickly and accurately.