Does hasta = to?

Graeme R.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Does hasta = to?

Kwiziq question:

Los niños iban juntos ________ la playa.

a and para are correct

hasta is incorrect

I've seen hasta used with desde to mean 'from/to' (trains etc). And I'm sure I've seen hasta used on its own to mean 'to'. Can someone explain why it's incorrect in this case?

Saludos

Asked 4 years ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hola Graeme,

hasta is literally "to", but with the nuance of a "limit", so "up to there [not further away]". When we use "a", also meaning "to" what we mean is "in that direction". 

Here for example I would use "hasta":

Vamos a hacer una carrera; tenemos que ir hasta aquel árbol. 

We are doing a race; we have to go to [up to] that tree.

I hope this clarified it.

Saludos

Graeme R. asked:

Does hasta = to?

Kwiziq question:

Los niños iban juntos ________ la playa.

a and para are correct

hasta is incorrect

I've seen hasta used with desde to mean 'from/to' (trains etc). And I'm sure I've seen hasta used on its own to mean 'to'. Can someone explain why it's incorrect in this case?

Saludos

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your Spanish level for FREE

Test your Spanish to the CEFR standard

Find your Spanish level
Thinking...