Spanish language Q&A Forum

The test question and answer does not seem to make sense for this lesson about the al contraction. The question was: Tenemos que ir ________ estación de Atocha en Madrid. We need to go to Atocha station in Madrid.

First, "We need" is necisitamos. Tenemos que is "We have to"

Second, this is a question about the al and del contractions, but the answer to this question is "a la"  so I do not understand the test question.

I am finding the use of the verb Hay in tenses other Present Indicative confusing. Is it because the verb retains its multi purpose use of meaning? I mean, "hay" means both "there is" and "there are" in the Present Indicative, and "hubo" means "there was" and "there were", even though the following noun is plural? Also, after "si" when is "hubo" used in preference to "hubiera"?

I came across a sentence in a book I was reading and it said, 

"ya no se sienten ganas de beber"

I understand "ganas" as a noun meaning that they are stating they do not have the "desire" to drink I think. 

Why is sentirse used instead of sentir when "ganas" is the direct object?

Thank you

My husband is from Costa Rica 

Hola, 

Is there any way I can get help besides taking quizzes here to understand the difference between Estar and Ser uses?

As an extremely well-educated native North American speaker trying to learn Latin American Spanish, I find the semantics in this lesson frustrating. This is punctuated by all the comments seen here. There is insufficient context provided. For example (ignoring the hint since hints aren't given in real life), one of the quiz questions asks to translate: "They are having ice cream." I would immediately think "Están tomando helado." - or perhaps "desfrutando" given some of the loose lesson translations. However, to think: "Van a tomar helado." I need further context. For example: "They are having ice cream this afternoon." - "Van a tomar helado esta tarde." Otherwise in English you are much less ambivalent saying: "They are going to have ice cream." I understand both sides of the arguments and I fall more on the side of "They are going to have," but a better solution is to provide a more complete explanation and context in the lesson, after all, it is more common to say "They are going to have." Concede that we use the exact same literal expression in both Spanish and English but then take it further in the lesson to explain the nuanced differences in English thought compared to Spanish thought.