Dobla a la derecha en la esquina y luego dobla otra vez junto al banco.

Turn right at the corner and then turn again next to the bank.

Breakdown of Dobla a la derecha en la esquina y luego dobla otra vez junto al banco.

• y: and
• a: to
• en: at
• otra vez: again
• luego: then
• la esquina: the corner
• el banco: the bank
• la derecha: the right
• junto a: next to
• doblar: to turn

Questions & Answers about Dobla a la derecha en la esquina y luego dobla otra vez junto al banco.

What verb form is dobla here, and why not doblas?

Dobla is the tú imperative form of doblar (to turn, to fold). It’s a command:

• Doblas = you turn (present indicative, a statement)
• Dobla = turn! (imperative, a command to tú)

So Dobla a la derecha… means “Turn right…”, giving an instruction.

Why is the subject tú not written? Could I say Tú dobla a la derecha…?

In Spanish, subject pronouns are usually dropped when the form of the verb makes the subject clear. Imperative forms already imply “you”:

• Dobla a la derecha… = (You) turn right…

If you say Tú dobla a la derecha, it sounds emphatic or a bit unnatural in this context, almost like:

• You turn right (as opposed to someone else).

For normal directions, you just use Dobla without tú.

Could I use another verb instead of doblar, like girar or dar vuelta?

Yes, there are other common options, especially in Latin America:

• Gira a la derecha… – very common and standard.
• Da vuelta a la derecha… or Da la vuelta a la derecha… – heard a lot in many Latin American countries.
• Voltea a la derecha… – also common in some regions.

All of these can mean “Turn right…”.
Doblar is also natural and widely understood, especially for driving or walking directions.

Why is it a la derecha and not en la derecha?

With directions (right/left), Spanish normally uses a:

• a la derecha = to the right
• a la izquierda = to the left

The idea is movement or direction toward that side.
En la derecha would usually describe location (“on the right side”), not the direction you should go.

So for giving directions, say dobla a la derecha, not dobla en la derecha.

Why is it a la derecha and not a la derecho? What is derecha grammatically?

Derecha here is a feminine noun meaning “right (side)”, not an adjective:

• la derecha = the right (side)
• la izquierda = the left (side)

Because it’s a feminine noun, the article must match:

• la derecha (not el derecho)
• a la derecha (to the right)

Derecho (masculine) can be an adjective (camino derecho = straight path) or a noun (el derecho = law, a right/claim), but in this sentence we’re talking about the side, so it’s la derecha.

Why is it en la esquina and not a la esquina?

• en la esquina = at/on the corner
• a la esquina = to the corner

In your sentence, you turn when you reach the corner, so Spanish uses en to show location:

• Dobla a la derecha en la esquina…
  Turn right at the corner…

If you said a la esquina, it would emphasize movement up to the corner, not the spot where you should turn. For giving this kind of direction, en la esquina is the natural choice.

What does luego add here? Could I use después or entonces instead?

Luego here means “then / afterwards”, introducing the next step:

• …y luego dobla otra vez…
  …and then turn again…

You could also say:

• …y después dobla otra vez… – Very natural; después and luego are often interchangeable here.
• …y entonces dobla otra vez… – Possible, but entonces can sound a bit more like “so/therefore” in some contexts. For directions, luego or después is more typical.

In everyday directions in Latin America, luego and después are both fine.

What does junto al banco literally mean, and how is it different from al lado del banco or cerca del banco?

• junto a = right next to, beside
• junto al banco = junto a + el banco → junto al banco
  Literally: beside the bank / right next to the bank

Other similar options:

• al lado del banco – also next to the bank, very common.
• cerca del banco – near the bank, a bit less precise than “next to.”

So:

• junto al banco and al lado del banco = more “right next to it”.
• cerca del banco = in the area of the bank, but not necessarily immediately adjacent.

Why is it junto al banco and not junto a el banco?

Spanish has mandatory contractions of certain prepositions + el:

• a + el → al
• de + el → del

So:

• junto a el banco is grammatically wrong.
• You must say junto al banco.

Same pattern with del:

• cerca del banco (not cerca de el banco).

Does banco here mean a bench or a bank (money place)?

Banco can mean both:

1. Bank (financial institution) – the usual meaning in directions, because banks are fixed, obvious landmarks.
2. Bench (for sitting) – also correct, but less common as a landmark in driving/walking directions unless the context makes it clear.

In most real-world direction-giving, banco will be understood as a bank unless you specify otherwise.

Is the word order fixed, or could I say Dobla en la esquina a la derecha?

Spanish word order is somewhat flexible, and Dobla en la esquina a la derecha is grammatically possible and understandable. However:

• Dobla a la derecha en la esquina is more natural and clearer for directions because it presents:
  1. the action and direction (dobla a la derecha),
  2. then the place where it happens (en la esquina).

Changing the order can sound a bit less fluent in this context, though still correct.

When would I use Doble instead of Dobla?

The form changes depending on who you are talking to:

• Dobla – tú command (informal singular).
• Doble – usted command (formal singular).
• Doblen – ustedes command (you all).

So:

• Speaking informally to a friend: Dobla a la derecha…
• Speaking politely to a stranger (Latin America): Doble a la derecha en la esquina y luego doble otra vez junto al banco.
• Speaking to a group: Doblen a la derecha…