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Paso por la ferretería y compro un destornillador y tornillos.

Paso por la ferretería y compro un destornillador y tornillos.
I stop by the hardware store and buy a screwdriver and screws.
FromLesson 41inHardcore Spanish (Latin America)

Questions & Answers about Paso por la ferretería y compro un destornillador y tornillos.

Why is it “paso por la ferretería” and not “voy a la ferretería”?

Because pasar por expresses passing by a place or briefly stopping there (often on the way somewhere else). Ir a means you are going to that place as your destination.

  • Paso por la ferretería = I’ll swing by/stop by the hardware store.
  • Voy a la ferretería = I’m going to the hardware store (that’s where I’m headed).
Does “paso por” mean I actually go inside, or could it mean I just pass by?
By itself, it’s ambiguous: it can mean “pass by” (without entering) or “stop by.” Here it clearly means “stop by,” because the next clause is y compro… (“and I buy…”), which implies going in.
Why is the present tense used (paso, compro) if this is a plan for the near future?

Spanish often uses the simple present for near-future plans or scheduled actions. It can also describe a habitual action, depending on context. Alternatives:

  • Near future with “ir a”: Voy a pasar por la ferretería y voy a comprar...
  • Simple future: Pasaré por la ferretería y compraré... (a bit more formal or distant).
Could I say “pasaré por la ferretería y compraré un destornillador y tornillos”?
Yes. That’s grammatically correct and uses the simple future. It can sound more formal, planned, or less immediate than the present or “ir a” future in everyday speech.
Why is there “la” before “ferretería,” but no article before “tornillos”?
  • la ferretería: Definite article because it refers to a specific store known from context (the hardware store).
  • tornillos: In Spanish, an indefinite plural can appear without an article when it’s nonspecific (“screws” in general). You could add unos tornillos to mean “some screws.”
Can I say “unos tornillos”? Does it change the meaning?
Yes. unos tornillos suggests “some screws” (a certain, limited but unspecified number). Bare plural tornillos is more neutral/generic. In many contexts both are fine.
Is “destornillador” the word everywhere in Latin America?

It’s widely understood everywhere. In Mexico and parts of Central America, desarmador is very common. For types:

  • Flathead: destornillador plano / de pala
  • Phillips (cross): destornillador de cruz / de estrella Both naming systems are understood broadly.
Any regional term for “hardware store” besides “ferretería”?
Yes. In Mexico you’ll also hear tlapalería. Elsewhere ferretería is the standard and will be understood in all of Latin America.
Should “y” change to “e” anywhere here?
No. The conjunction y changes to e only before words starting with the vowel sound i- (written i- or hi-), like: padres e hijos, e inteligente. It does not change before words that start with a “y/hi” glide (diphthong), e.g., y hielo, y hierro. In your sentence there’s no such environment, so y stays y.
Is “me paso por la ferretería” okay?
Yes, especially in Spain, pasarse por is a common colloquial way to say “to drop by.” In much of Latin America, plain paso por is more common/neutral. Both mean “I’ll drop by.”
Would “paso a la ferretería” be correct?
No, not for this meaning. Use paso por la ferretería. Note that pasar a + infinitive is common with a different meaning (“to go on to…”), e.g., Paso a explicar el plan (“I’ll go on to explain the plan”).
Could I say “paso por la ferretería para comprar…” or “a comprar…”?

Yes. Both express purpose.

  • para comprar is explicit about purpose and slightly more formal.
  • a comprar is very common and colloquial. Example: Paso por la ferretería a comprar un destornillador y tornillos.
Do I need a comma before “y” here?
No. Spanish normally doesn’t use a comma before y when simply linking two clauses: Paso por la ferretería y compro… A comma could appear with a long parenthetical or to avoid ambiguity, but not here.
How do I pronounce the tricky parts?
  • ferretería: stress on the í (fe-rre-te-RÍ-a). The rr is a strong trill.
  • destornillador / tornillos: in most of Latin America, ll sounds like English “y” (yeísmo): de-stor-ni-ya-DOR; tor-NI-yos.
Why isn’t there a personal “a” before “un destornillador y tornillos”?
The personal a precedes direct objects that are specific people (or sometimes pets). Tools and objects don’t take it: compro un destornillador y tornillos (no a).
Can I swap the order of the objects? “compro tornillos y un destornillador”
Yes. The meaning is the same. Order can change for emphasis or rhythm.
How would I say “I’ll pick you up at the hardware store” using “pasar por”?
Use pasar por + alguien + en + lugar: Paso por ti en la ferretería. Another common option: Te recojo en la ferretería.
How would this look in the past tense?
  • Simple past (preterite): Pasé por la ferretería y compré un destornillador y tornillos. Be careful with accents: pasé (I passed), pasó (he/she/it passed), compré (I bought), compró (he/she/it bought).
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