"home" vs "my house"

Question

I find myself regularly confused about how to talk about being at home or in someone's home (for example saying "en casa" vs "en mi casa"). So far, i understand that:

1. "en casa" = at home
2. "en mi casa" = at my house

can anyone verify for me that #1 & #2 are accurate?

Hello, welcome to the forum! - rac1, Nov 1, 2012

You're doing great...see my comments below. - --Mariana--, Nov 1, 2012

Answer 1

"en casa" = at home

Yes.

"en mi casa" = at my house

Yes.

"Ayer en la noche, estuvimos en casa de Oliver"

Generally, no, because you need "la."

"Mañana, vamos a ir a la casa de Oliver"

Better to say, "Mañana vamos a la casa de Oliver."

Buena! - francobollo, Nov 1, 2012

Mariana, your translations are perfect - 005faa61, Nov 1, 2012

Answer 2

And then building on this, I am confused about adding in definite articles.

1. "Ayer en la noche, estuvimos en casa de Oliver"
2. "Mañana, vamos a ir a la casa de Oliver"

Can anyone explain why #1 says only "casa" without the "la" while #2 uses "la casa"?

Lee nuestras respuestas (la de Mariana y la mía) - francobollo, Nov 1, 2012

Answer 3

I really don't like "vamos a ir" and like Marian would simplify it to "vamos". "Vamos a ir" is a word by word translation of "we're going to go" but the "going to" = "we will" or "we expect to" is just not used by Spanish speakers.

I understand. But we do use it. Vamos a ir al parque. Vamos a ir de compras. It is an immediate future vs. Vamos de compras or Vamos al parque (which can be habitual or happening right now) - francobollo, Nov 1, 2012

I agree with fransobollo. Vamos a ir is used...vamos a ir a la playa mañana. - gringojrf, Nov 1, 2012

Gringo, you can say it this way if you want to emphasize the journey to the beach, but it is very wordy construction. To my "Spanish of Mex DF ear" it is not very natural - 005faa61, Nov 2, 2012

Ir conjugated + a + infinitive of the action is very much used in Spain to express future plans immediate or otherwise. - kenwilliams, Nov 2, 2012

Answer 4

Ayer en la noche doesn't sound right to me rather I would say por la noche or just: Anoche estuvemos en la casa de Oliver. Last night we were at Oliver's house.

Nice catch. - diagonx, Nov 1, 2012

Answer 5

Agregando a la excelente explicación de Mariana, también puedes decir:

"Mañana, vamos a ir a casa de Oliver". La connotación de esta frase es que a Oliver lo conoces tan bien, que siempre te sientes "en casa" cuando visitas su domicilio (o residencia).

Otros ejemplos que denotan familiaridad y acercamiento:

Vamos a casa de los Rodríguez.

Nos reuniremos en casa de los Martínez.