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"De" is a form of "de", a preposition which is often translated as "from". "Tener miedo" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "to be afraid". Learn more about the difference between "tener miedo" and "de" below.
tener miedo(
teh
-
nehr
 
myeh
-
doh
)
An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
intransitive verb phrase
a. to be afraid
Eugenio les tiene miedo a los payasos.Eugenio is afraid of clowns.
b. to be scared
Tenía demasiado miedo para ver los resultados de su prueba.She was too scared to look at her test results.
c. to be frightened
¿Por qué tiemblas? ¿Tienes miedo?Why are you shaking? Are you frightened?
d. to fear
No tengo miedo al futuro.I don't fear the future.
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de(
deh
)
A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g., He ran through the door.).
preposition
a. from
Mis padres vienen de Nicaragua.My parents are from Nicaragua.
a. of
Esta mesa está hecha de plástico.This table is made of plastic.
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Te recojo en el coche de mi padre.I'll come get you in my father's car.
¿Esa no es la casa de Susana?Isn't that Susana's house?
a. of
La comida era de gran calidad.The food was of great quality.
a. of
Andrés siempre llevaba una bolsa de canicas.Andres always carried around a bag of marbles.
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Voy a comprar otro traje de baño para el verano.I'm going to buy another bathing suit for the summer.
Se usa la palanca de cambios para cambiar las marchas.You use the gear shift to change the gears.
a. in
Es mejor trabajar de mañana.It is better to work in the morning.
a. with
Me sorprendí llorando de pena al pensar en él.I caught myself crying with sorrow when I thought of him.
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
feminine noun
a. d
¿Dijiste la letra de o te?Did you say the letter d or t?
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