You probably didn´t know that Spanish has some contractions. They are not like the English contractions.
In Spanish, you contract articles with prepositions.
Which are the Spanish contractions
Spanish has two contractions. They are necessary when the definite article el (“the” for masculine nouns) follows the prepositions a (to) and de (of / from).
De + el = del
A + el = al
Please, avoid confusing el the article with él, the pronoun. In the case of él, don’t use the contractions. Just use a él, de él.
Use of contractions in Spanish
The use of contractions is not optional, as in English.
It is mandatory to contract the article and the prepositions. You find contractions in sentences with a verb and constructions that need the prepositions a or de.
- Contraction de + el
El juguete es del niño.
It is the boy’s toy.
Está enamorada del hermano de su amigo.
She’s in love with his friend’s brother.
Estoy cansado del trabajo.
I’m tired of the job.
Están hablando del mismo tema otra vez.
They are talking about the same topic again.
- Contraction a + el
Voy al gimnasio.
I’m going to the gym.
Camina al salón.
She walks to the classroom.
Me gusta mirar al cielo.
I like to look at the sky.
The exception to the rule
Do not contract the article when it is capitalized and forms part of a name.
Voy a El Salvador
I’m going to El Salvador
¿De qué libro es autor? Es autor de “El Milagro”.
What book is he the author of? The author of “El Milagro”.
As you see, contractions are easy in Spanish.
But remember you have to practice every topic to improve your Spanish!