Study guide
9.3 City Navigation, Places in Town & Giving Directions
DELE A2 — Spanish Language Diploma Elementary
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1 Chapter 1: Exam Overview, Format & Scoring Structure
1.1 DELE A2 Identity, Purpose & Nationality Requirements 1.2 Four Pruebas & Official Test Administration 1.3 Scoring System: The 30/50 Group Rules & Pass Criteria
2 Chapter 2: Prueba 1 — Reading Comprehension Tasks & Strategies
2.1 Reading Tarea 1: Personal Correspondence & Informational Texts 2.2 Reading Tarea 2: Notices, Bulletins & Short Announcements 2.3 Reading Tarea 3: Matching Statements to Thematic Texts 2.4 Reading Tarea 4: Long Narrative Text & Changes of Topic
3 Chapter 3: Prueba 2 — Listening Comprehension Tasks & Auditory Techniques
3.1 Listening Tarea 1: Six Short Conversations with Picture Options 3.2 Listening Tarea 2: Radio News, Ads & Programme Extracts 3.3 Listening Tarea 3: One Conversation – Man, Woman or Neither 3.4 Listening Tarea 4: Seven Messages Matched to Ten Statements
4 Chapter 4: Prueba 3 — Written Expression & Interaction
4.1 Writing Tarea 1: Replying to a Personal Message (60–70 Words) 4.2 Writing Tarea 2: Option A (Personal Life) or Option B (Photos/Data) 4.3 The Official Writing Scale, Cohesion & Common Errors
5 Chapter 5: Prueba 4 — Oral Expression & Interaction
5.1 Oral Test Structure, 12-Minute Preparation & Official Scales 5.2 Oral Tarea 1: Prepared Presentation on a Personal Topic 5.3 Oral Tarea 2: Describing a Photograph (Monologue) 5.4 Oral Tarea 3: Simulated Conversation Linked to the Photo
6 Chapter 6: Essential A2 Grammar — Verb Systems & Tenses
6.1 Present Indicative Regulars, Stem-Changers & Irregulars 6.2 Reflexive Verbs & Verbs of Preference (Gustar, Encantar, Doler) 6.3 The Past Tenses: Pretérito Perfecto vs. Pretérito Indefinido 6.4 Pretérito Imperfecto & The Three-Way Past Tense Contrast
7 Chapter 7: Essential A2 Grammar — Syntax, Periphrases & Operators
7.1 Expressing the Future: Ir a + Inf, Present & Simple Future 7.2 Verbal Periphrases of Obligation, Ability & Desire 7.3 Direct & Indirect Object Pronouns and Position Rules 7.4 Affirmative Imperative: Tú & Usted Commands
8 Chapter 8: Foundational Contrasts & Sentence Building
8.1 Ser vs. Estar: Attributes, Locations, States & Gerunds 8.2 Por vs. Para: Causes, Destinations, Deadlines & Exchanges 8.3 Comparatives, Superlatives, Quantifiers & Negatives 8.4 The Noun Phrase: Gender, Articles, Demonstratives, Possessives & Relatives
9 Chapter 9: Thematic Vocabulary — Daily Life, Housing & Surroundings
9.1 Personal Identity, Physical Description & Family Relations 9.2 Home, Housing Types, Furniture & Household Tasks 9.3 City Navigation, Places in Town & Giving Directions
10 Chapter 10: Thematic Vocabulary — Services, Transactions & Health
10.1 Food, Dining Out, Supermarket Shopping & Ordering 10.2 Shopping for Clothes, Sizes, Prices & Commercial Transactions 10.3 Health, Body Parts, Illnesses & Pharmacy Visits 10.4 Work, Professions, Workplace Routines & Job Applications 10.5 Studies, Courses, Phones & Everyday Services
11 Chapter 11: Thematic Vocabulary — Leisure, Travel & Environment
11.1 Free Time, Hobbies, Sports & Entertainment 11.2 Travel, Accommodations, Transport Modes & Bookings 11.3 Weather, Climate, Seasons & Natural Environment
12 Chapter 12: Exam Day Strategy, Time Management & Final Review
12.1 Timing, Answer Sheets & Pacing on Exam Day 12.2 Identifying Distractors, False Friends & Traps 12.3 6-Week Structured Study Plan & High-Yield Checklist
9.3 City Navigation, Places in Town & Giving Directions
Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI
Urban geography on the DELE A2 centers on public thoroughfares (calle, avenida, paseo, plaza), civic municipal infrastructure (ayuntamiento, comisaría, correos), and primary healthcare facilities (hospital, centro de salud, farmacia).
Spatial locative expressions govern prepositional dependencies: compound structures (delante de, detrás de, al lado de, enfrente de, cerca de, lejos de) require the preposition de, whereas entre connects coordinates without prepositions.
A decisive spatial contrast separates delante de (directly ahead or in front on the same side) from enfrente de (directly opposite on the other side of a street or plaza), representing a high-frequency testing point in listening and reading comprehension.
Inquiring about and delivering street navigation combines courteous opening formulas (Disculpe / Por favor, ¿cómo se va a...?) with sequential directional verbs in the imperative or present indicative (sigue todo recto, gira a la derecha, cruza la calle, toma la segunda bocacalle).
Public transit proficiency requires understanding ticketing options (billete sencillo, abono de diez viajes, tarjeta de transporte), station architecture (andén, vía, transbordo/correspondencia), and schedule announcements (salida, llegada, retraso).
Last updated: September 2026
Quick Summary: City navigation and urban transactions are central to the practical communicative scope of the DELE A2. Whether following recorded directions in Prueba 2 Tarea 1 , reading urban notices in Prueba 1 Tarea 2 , or simulating asking a passerby for street directions in Prueba 4 Tarea 3 , candidates must master urban landmarks, directional verbs, spatial prepositions, and public transit terminology.
1. Urban Infrastructure and Public Amenities ( La Ciudad y los Servicios Urbanos )
Hispanic cities and towns are structured around central public gathering places, radiating thoroughfares, and communal service hubs. Understanding the exact function of civic and commercial facilities is essential for responding appropriately in exam tasks.
Thoroughfares and Physical Street Elements
La calle: Street; the standard urban vehicular and pedestrian thoroughfare.
La avenida: Broad, multi-lane avenue often lined with commercial businesses.
El paseo: Wide, tree-lined pedestrian boulevard designed for strolling (e.g. Paseo del Prado ).
La plaza / la plaza mayor: Town square; the social and cultural heart of Hispanic towns, surrounded by cafes, municipal offices, and historic architecture.
El barrio: Neighborhood or district ( un barrio tranquilo, céntrico, histórico ).
La esquina: Street corner ( en la esquina de la calle Alcalá ).
La acera: Sidewalk or pavement designated for pedestrian foot traffic.
El paso de peatones / paso de cebra: Marked pedestrian crosswalk.
El semáforo: Traffic light ( cruzar en el semáforo en verde ).
La rotonda / glorieta: Traffic circle or roundabout.
Civic Buildings, Healthcare & Commercial Landmarks
Facility (Spanish) Primary Function / Context False Friends & Important Distinctions Authentic Exam Example
El ayuntamiento Town hall / city municipal government offices Houses the mayor's office ( alcaldía ) and local registry Tiene que empadronarse en el ayuntamiento de su distrito.
La comisaría (de policía) Police station For reporting lost documents, theft ( denuncia ), or renewals Fui a la comisaría a renovar mi documento de identidad.
La oficina de correos Post office State postal service (Correos in Spain); parcel sending and stamps Tengo que recoger un paquete certificado en correos.
La oficina de turismo Tourist information office Free city maps, event guides, and cultural itineraries Pida un plano de la ciudad en la oficina de turismo.
La biblioteca (pública) Public lending library Warning: Place to borrow books for study, NOT a bookstore! Estudio por las tardes en la biblioteca municipal.
La librería Bookstore / bookshop False Friend: Commercial store where books are bought Compré la novela en una librería del centro.
El hospital Large hospital Inpatient care, major surgeries, specialized departments Ingresaron al paciente en el hospital universitario.
El centro de salud / ambulatorio Primary care public medical clinic Everyday outpatient consultations, family doctors, nurses Pida cita con su médico de cabecera en el centro de salud.
La farmacia Pharmacy / chemist Marked by an illuminated green cross; sells medicine Compré analgésicos en la farmacia de guardia.
El banco / el cajero automático Bank / ATM cash machine Financial operations, withdrawing cash with a debit card Necesito sacar dinero del cajero automático antes de cenar.
2. Spatial Prepositions and Locative Phrases ( Preposiciones y Expresiones de Lugar )
Navigating an urban map requires using exact spatial locatives. In Spanish, locative expressions fall into two grammatical classes: compound locatives governing the preposition de , and simple prepositions that connect directly without de .
Compound Prepositions Governing DE
When followed by a specific noun, these expressions contract with masculine singular articles ( de + el = del ):
Delante de: In front of / ahead of ( delante del ayuntamiento ).
Detrás de: Behind ( detrás de la catedral ).
Enfrente de: Across from / opposite ( enfrente de la parada de metro ).
Al lado de / Junto a: Next to / beside ( al lado del banco ).
Cerca de vs. Lejos de: Close to / near vs. Far from ( cerca de la estación vs. lejos del centro ).
A la derecha de vs. A la izquierda de: To the right of vs. To the left of ( a la derecha de la farmacia ).
Al final de: At the end of ( al final de la calle peatonal ).
En la esquina de: On the corner of ( en la esquina de la avenida ).
The Simple Preposition: ENTRE
Unlike compound expressions, entre (between / among) joins two coordinates directly without any preposition:
El cajero automático está entre la farmacia y la panadería. (The ATM is between the pharmacy and the bakery.)
Never write *entre de la farmacia .
The Crucial Contrast: Delante de vs. Enfrente de
This spatial difference often decides how you understand directions:
Delante de: Placed on the same side / same pavement , immediately in front of the building's facade or entrance.
El taxi está esperando delante del hotel. (The taxi is pulled up right at the hotel's front entrance on the same curb).
Enfrente de: Placed on the opposite side , across the street or across an open plaza, looking face-to-face at the building.
El restaurante está enfrente del hotel. (The restaurant is on the other side of the avenue; you must cross the street to get to it).
3. Politeness Strategies and Inquiring About Locations ( Preguntar por una Dirección )
In oral role-plays (Prueba 4 Tarea 3) or written messages (Prueba 3 Tarea 1), candidates must formulate courteous inquiries to strangers or public officials. Politeness requires appropriate opening formulas, register selection ( tú vs. usted ), and modal softening:
Courteous Inquiries (Usted - Formal Register)
Por favor, disculpe / perdone , ¿podría decirme cómo se va a la estación de tren?
Perdone, ¿sabe si hay una farmacia de guardia por aquí cerca?
Disculpe, señor, ¿para ir al Museo del Prado voy bien por esta calle?
¿Está muy lejos la parada de autobús para ir a pie o es mejor tomar el metro?
Courteous Inquiries (Tú - Informal Register)
Hola, perdona , ¿sabes dónde está el cajero automático más cercano?
Oye, ¿cómo se va a la plaza mayor desde aquí?
¿Hay algún supermercado por este barrio?
Grammar Checklist: Do not confuse formal disculpe / perdone (ending in -e for -ar verbs in the usted imperative) with informal disculpa / perdona (ending in -a for tú). Usted is the safe choice with older strangers and officials; in Spain tú is also common between people of similar age.
4. Giving Directional Instructions: Verbs, Imperatives & Sequencers ( Dar Indicaciones )
When giving directions, speakers use either the Present Indicative (conversational style) or the Affirmative Imperative (instructional style). Both are fully accepted at Level A2:
Navigational Action Present Indicative ( Tú / Usted ) Affirmative Imperative ( Tú / Usted ) Practical Street Application
Keep straight Sigues todo recto / Sigue todo recto Sigue todo recto / Siga todo recto Siga todo recto por esta avenida hasta el semáforo.
Turn right / left Giras / Gira a la derecha / izquierda Gira / Gire a la derecha / izquierda Gire a la derecha en la segunda bocacalle.
Turn (synonym) Tuerces / Tuerce a la derecha Tuerce / Tuerza a la derecha Tuerza a la izquierda después del banco.
Cross the street Cruzas / Cruza la calle / la plaza Cruza / Cruce la calle / el paso de peatones Cruce la plaza por el paso de peatones.
Take the street Tomas / Toma la primera calle Toma / Tome la primera bocacalle a mano derecha Tome la tercera calle a mano izquierda.
Catch / take Coges / Coge la avenida Coge / Coja el metro en la esquina Coge la primera calle que sube hacia el parque.
Walk past Pasas / Pasa por delante de... Pasa / Pase por delante del ayuntamiento Pasa por delante del museo y sigue cien metros.
Discourse Markers for Sequencing Directions
To link your directions clearly in Prueba 3 and Prueba 4, string navigational steps together using chronological sequencers:
Primero: Primero, salga de la estación y camine recto dos manzanas (blocks).
Luego / Después: Luego, gire a la mano derecha en el cruce con semáforo.
A continuación: A continuación, cruce la avenida y pase por delante de la iglesia.
Al final / Finalmente: Finalmente, al final de la calle peatonal verá el centro de salud a mano izquierda.
5. Public Transportation Networks, Ticketing & Timetables ( El Transporte Público )
Listening Tarea 4 includes public-address announcements, such as the station and train announcements in the official model.
Transit Modes and Station Anatomy
El metro: Underground subway network. Cities like Madrid and Barcelona organize metro networks by numbered colored lines ( Línea 1, Línea 5 ).
El tren de cercanías: Commuter rail network connecting metropolitan centers to suburban towns.
El autobús urbano: Municipal city bus / El autobús interurbano: Long-distance coach.
La parada de autobús / de metro: Local curbside bus shelter or metro entrance.
La estación de ferrocarril / de tren: Major rail terminal.
El andén: Station platform where passengers wait for boarding.
La vía: Railway track ( El tren con destino a Valencia saldrá por la vía 4 ).
El transbordo / La correspondencia: Transfer or line interchange ( Hacer transbordo en Tribunal para cambiar a la Línea 10 ).
Fares and Ticketing Options
El billete sencillo: Single one-way ticket for one continuous trip.
El billete de ida y vuelta: Return / round-trip ticket (often offers a price discount).
El abono de transporte / la tarjeta de diez viajes: Multi-trip or monthly transit pass (e.g. tarjeta Multi in Madrid, T-Casual in Barcelona).
La máquina expendedora: Automated self-service ticket vending kiosk.
La taquilla / ventanilla: Staffed ticket booth or counter.
Validar el billete / cancelar: To tap or validate the ticket at automated turnstiles ( los tornos ).
Timetable and Public Address Announcements
El horario de trenes: Timetable / schedule of arrivals and departures.
La salida vs. La llegada: Departure vs. Arrival.
Con retraso / demora: Delayed ( El tren circula con 15 minutos de retraso ).
Puntual / En hora: On time ( El vuelo llega en hora ).
Con destino a...: Bound for / terminating at ( Tren de cercanías con destino a Cercedilla... ).
Procedente de...: Originating from / arriving from ( Tren procedente de Zaragoza... ).
Próxima parada: Next stop ( Próxima parada: Atocha Renfe. Correspondencia con líneas de cercanías ).
- 6. Practical DELE Applications: Public Announcements (Prueba 2) & Street Role-Play (Prueba 4 Tarea 3)
- Station Announcements in Prueba 2 Tarea 4
The official specification says these messages are recorded slowly and clearly, without background noise, but they pack in practical details. Focus your listening on:
The transportation vehicle: Is it a train ( tren ), flight ( vuelo ), or bus ( autobús )?
The key location: Which platform ( andén ), track ( vía ), or gate ( puerta de embarque ) is announced?
The nature of the update: Is it an on-time departure, a gate change ( cambio de vía ), or a delay ( retraso )?
Street Role-Play Simulation in Prueba 4 Tarea 3
If your Tarea 3 situation is set in the street or at a station, the examiner may play a local resident or station clerk. Prepare for exchanges such as:
Candidate: Buenas tardes, disculpe. Necesito ir al Hospital General, pero no conozco este barrio. ¿Cómo puedo llegar?
Examiner: Buenas tardes. Está un poco lejos para ir caminando. Le sugiero tomar el metro.
Candidate: De acuerdo. ¿Dónde está la estación de metro más cercana y qué línea debo coger?
Examiner: La estación está justo al final de esta calle, enfrente de la farmacia. Coja la Línea 3 en dirección Moncloa y haga transbordo en Sol.
Candidate: Muchas gracias por su ayuda. Muy amable. ¡Que tenga un buen día!