MasterPrepositions_Intro Flashcards
What are the Common Prepositions?
This lesson includes information on: Preposition "a" Preposition "en" Preposition "de" Preposition "con" Preposition "sin" Preposition "por" Preposition "para"
Preposition “a”
The preposition “a” is commonly translated as “to” but it has many more uses in Spanish. “A” is typically used in the following situations:
After a verb and before a(n):
1) Person or a personal pronoun - The "a" indicates a personal relationship 2) A domesticated animal (e.g., my dog) 3) A place - Indicating moving toward something or someplace.
Spanish English
Visito a Juan I visit John
No conozco a nadie I don’t know anybody
Busco a mi perro I am looking for my dog
Viajo a Guatemala I travel to Guatemala
Before a time
Spanish English
Voy a las siete I am going at seven
Tenemos una reunión a las once
We have a meeting at eleven
After verbs indicating “to start an action or motion” and before an infinitive. For example,
1) Empiezo a cocinar la cena (I am beginning to cook dinner).
2) Voy a pagar (I am going to pay).
3) Comienzo a estudiar Español (I begin studying Spanish).
· “A” is typically used with these verbs:
Spanish English
Aprender a To learn how to
Aspirar a To aspire to
Atreverse a To dare to
Ayudar a To help to
Comenzar a To begin to
Contribuir a To contribute to
Correr a To run to
Decidirse a To decide to
Dedicarse a To dedicate oneself to
Echarse a To start to
Empezar a To begin to
Enseñar a To teach how to
“A” is typically used with these verbs:
More verbs
Spanish English
Invitar a To invite to
Ir a To go to
Llegar a To come to
Negarse a To refuse to
Prepararse a To prepare to
Ponerse a To start to
Salir a To go out to
Venir a To come to
Volver a To do something again
- Preposition “en”- The preposition “en” is commonly translated as “in” but it has many more uses in Spanish. “En” is typically used in the following situations:
As “on/in/into” and expresses an exact situation, an exact time, time required to complete an action, method used, and final results.
Spanish English
Ella está en la casa She is in the house.
Como en dos horas. I will eat in two hours.
Leiste en una hora. You read (the book) in
one hour.
After certain verbs and before an infinitive. For example: Juan tardó en comenzar la clase (Juan delayed the start of the class).
“En” is commonly used with these verbs:
Spanish English
Consistir en To consist of
Convenir en To agree to
Insistir en To insist on
Pensar en To think about, to contemplate
Tardar en To delay in
Preposition “de” - The preposition “de” is commonly translated as “of” but it has many more uses in Spanish. “De” is typically used in the following situations:
Expresses possession- For example, El libro de Julio (Julio’s book).
Origin/where one is from- For example, Soy de los Estados Unidos (I am from the United States).
Period of day- For example, A las tres de la tarde (At three in the afternoon).
Construction material- La mesa de madera (The wood table).
After certain verbs and before an infinitive. For example, Trato de estudiar Español (I am trying to study Spanish).
“De” is typically used with these verbs:
Spanish English
Acabar de To have just
Acordarse de To remember
Alegrarse de To be happy to
Arrepentirse de To regret
Apiadarse de To have pity
Cansarse de To tire of
Dejar de To stop
Depender de To depend on
Jactarse de To boast of
Olvidarse de To forget
Parar de To stop
Pensar de To think about (opinion)
Quejarse de To complain of
Terminar de To finish
Tratar de To try to
De” is commonly used in the following idiomatic expressions:
Spanish English
De buen/mal humor In a good/bad mood
De buena/mala gana Willingly/Unwillingly
De esta/esa manera In this/that way
De manera/modo In a manner/way
De memoria By heart
De nada You’re welcome
De nuevo Again
De pie Standing up
De prisa In a hurry
De pronto Suddenly
De repente Suddenly
De todos modos Anyway
De veras Really, truly
De vez en cuando From time to time
Preposition “con” - The preposition “con” is commonly translated as “with” but it has many more uses in Spanish. “Con” is typically used in the following situations:
Expresses company- For example, Yo como arroz con pollo (I eat rice with chicken).
The form or manner used to complete an action(commonly with instruments) - For example, Yo bebo la sopa con una cuchara (I drink the soup with a spoon).
The contents of a container- For example, Una botella con agua (A bottle of water).
After certain verbs- For example, Puedo contar con mis padres (I can count on my parents).
“Con” is typically used with these verbs:
Spanish English
Amenazar con To threaten with
Contar con To count on
Soñar con To dream of or about
“Con” is commonly used in the following idiomatic expressions:
Spanish English
Con paciencia Patiently
Con cortesía Courteously
Con amabilidad (Amicably) With
amicability
Con respeto (Respectfully) With respect
Con cuidado Carefully
Con gusto With pleasure
Con alegria Happily
Preposition “sin”- The preposition “sin” is commonly translated as “without” but it has many more uses in Spanish. “Sin” is typically used in the following idiomatic expressions:
Spanish English
Sin embargo Nevertheless
Sin duda Without doubt
Correr sin To run without
Andar sin To walk without
Hablar sin To talk without
Estar sin To be without
Preposition “por” - The preposition “por” is commonly translated as “for” but it has many more uses in Spanish. “Por” is typically used in the following situations:
Expresses cause or motive- For example, Juan fue a la escuela por el libro (Juan went to the school for the book).
Price or Exchange- Yo pagué $25 por el libro (I paid $25 for the book). Yo cambié el libro por otro (I exchanged the book for another).
Means “along,” “around,” or “through”- For example, Yo miro el volcán por la ventana (I look at the volcano through the window).
Indefinite place and time- For example, Yo viajé por Europa (I traveled to Europe). Ellas fueron a la escuela por la mañana (The women went to the school in the morning).
Mode of transportation/communication- For example, Ellas fueron por avión (The women went by plane). Yo llamé por teléfono (I called by telephone).
Period of time- For example, Ellos estudian por dos horas (The men study for two hours.)
Speed, percentage or quantity used to do something- For example, Yo conduzco mi auto a 80 kilómetros por hora (I drive my car 80 kilometers per hour).
In the passive tense with the verb “ser”-
For example, El pan es cocinado por Juan (The bread is cooked by John).
Means “in place of,” “for cause of” or “in the name of” or “in favor of”-
For example, Estoy por salir ahora (I am in favor of leaving now).
After certain verbs, including:
Spanish English
Ir por To go for
Venir por To come for
Enviar por To send for
Regresar por To return for
Salir por To leave for
Volver por To return for
Luchar por To fight for
Buscar, esperar, pedir don’t use por or para because they translate as: to look for, to wait for, to ask for.
