hi (locatiu preposicional)

Locative Hi

Level 4

Hi can replace an understood location or destination; origin with de commonly uses en.

How It Works

A locative phrase can disappear when the place is already clear: vaig al mercat becomes hi vaig, and treballa a Girona becomes hi treballa. Hi refers back to the place without carrying its noun's gender or number.

Origin is different. Vinc de Girona can become en vinc because de introduces the starting point. Learn that contrast instead of using hi for every English there, from there or to there.

In topical structures the full place may appear again: a Girona, hi treballa la meva germana. That resumed topic is different from needlessly adding hi to every ordinary sentence already containing a location. Lexical constructions such as haver-hi require a separate analysis.

Examples (3)

  1. Vas al mercat? Sí, hi vaig.

    Are you going to the market? Yes, I am going there.

  2. La biblioteca és a prop; hi estudiarem.

    The library is nearby; we will study there.

  3. A Girona, hi treballa la meva germana.

    In Girona, my sister works there.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

hi (locatiu preposicional)Level 4Locative Hi

Learn This First

Recover a location with hi before combining it with another pronoun.

Words in This Pattern