"In front of"

Question

I copied and pasted this question and answer from an earlier thread. That thread dealt with the same question I have now. That thread was as follows:

How do you say "to speak in front of the class" or "to come to front of the class to speak"? "Hablar enfrente de la clase" o "venir al frente de la clase para hablar"? Or should I use "adelante de" or "delante de"?

Posted Mar 7, 2010 | 971 views | link | flag | edit

"Hablar enfrente de la clase" and "venir al frente de la clase para hablar" both are correct. You can use "delante de" referring to the classmates: "Hablar delante de los compañeros de clase".

Mar 7, 2010 | link | flag edit

Here is another example using "in front of":

"En estos días subío al escenario del Luna Park, uno de los auditorios y centro de espectáculos más famosos y tradicionales de Buenos Aires, y cantó frente a miles de personas."

In that sentence the only translation for "frente a" that makes sense to me is "in front of." So, combining this example with the thread I copied and posted, it would appear that speaking or singing in front of a class would be "frente a," "enfrente de."

I had trouble posting my question and what I was writing got submitted before I finished. argh! - malbecblend, Apr 5, 2015

Answer 1

Podés decir:

Hablar en frente de la clase... is ok... BUT enfrente means oppossite

Hablar frente a la clase ... that's correct

Juan, ¿podés venir al frente de la clase para hablar? is also correct

Hablar delante de los compañeros is also ok

I don't have a "technical" explanation for that... sorry... as a native I can tell you those are all used in Spanish...Remember languages are flexible.. there are many ways to say the same thing... you were right with most of them!!

Hope it helps!!

Hi, Benz. I was just wondering because of the Pimsleur course I've been using. When speaking of an apartment, and saying there's a patio in front, they always say "Hay un patio en frente." Is this a regional thing perhaps? Thanks!!! - Winkfish, Apr 5, 2015

"Hay un patio enfrente" o "hay un patio al frente"... las dos son correctas - Benz, Apr 5, 2015

Gracias!! - Winkfish, Apr 8, 2015

Answer 2

Does it help to think about which direction a person is facing? For example, if you are a student in a classroom and another student is sitting in front of you (you can only see the back of that student's head)

In this case you would say ..... en frente de mí. This refers only to relative position (which is why Benz suggests "Hablar frente a la clase" as the correct way for your original question).

Speaking in front of / to the class, we can also say: Hablar ante la clase.

En Argentina no usamos "de mi"... tal vez en otros lados si... acá diríamos "enfrente mío o tuyo o suyo"... - Benz, Apr 5, 2015

Yo sólo comento sobre el uso mexicano ¿y cómo has estado? Ya hace mucho que no te veo - 005faa61, Apr 5, 2015

Sí, tanto tiempo sin verte, Benz ¿Cómo has estado? - FELIZ77, Apr 5, 2015

Answer 3

Benz, yes, this helps. Thank you. The translation of "front," in front," in front of" etc. is a little bit difficult.

Does it help to think about which direction a person is facing? For example, if you are a student in a classroom and another student is sitting in front of you (you can only see the back of that student's head),¿ is that student sitting a) delante tuyo? b) delante de vos? c) en frente de vos? d) en el frente de vos ? e) enfrente de vos? f)al frente de vos?

está sentado delate mío... la opción a es la correcta... la b no... la c) podría ser "enfrente tuyo/mío" pero ahí me mira... la d no... e no y f no... "de vos" no es correcto... usa mío, tuyo, suyo, nuestro, de ustedes o de ellos :) - Benz, Apr 5, 2015

Answer 4

enfrente de mis companeros

Answer 5

Tengo que hablar frente a mis compañeros de clase.

Tengo que hablar enfrente de mis compañeros de clase.

Tengo que hablar ante mis compañeros de clase.