Preposiciones y Conectores I

Question 1

Prep. de circunstancia: Acerca de algo, sobre algo (en el sentido de referirse a algo)

• “Ella ha escrito un artículo sobre el divorcio”*
• “Déjame hablarte sobre mi propuesta”*

Answer 1

About /əˈbaʊt/

• “She’s written an article about divorce”*
• “Let me tell about my proposal”*

Question 2

Prep. de tiempo: Alrededor de

• “El doctor vendrá en alrededor de una hora”*
• “Prometieron estar aquí sobre el jueves”*

Answer 2

About /əˈbaʊt/

• “The doctor will come in about one hour”*
• “They promised to be here about Thursday”*

Question 3

Prep. de lugar: Encima de algo, sobre algo (indirectamente)

• “Vi la luna sobre el tejado”*
• “Estamos volando por encima de las nubes”*

Answer 3

Above /əˈbʌv/

• “I saw the moon above the roof”*
• “We’re flying above the clouds”*

Note: above is used in documents (“please, don’t write above the line”)

Question 4

Prep. de lugar: A través, al otro lado de, a lo ancho de

• “Nadamos a través del río con dificultad”*
• “Mi apartamento está cruzando la calle desde el banco”*
• “Viajamos a través de Europa en tren”*

Answer 4

Across /əˈkrɒs/

• “We swam across the river with difficulty”*
• “My apartment is across the streen from the bank”*
• “We travelled across Europa by train”*

Question 5

Prep. de lugar: Por todo, por todas partes

• “He buscado por todas partes”*
• “Este tipo de música se está volviendo popular en todo el mundo”*
• “Organizaron protestas por todo el país”*

Answer 5

All over /ɔːl ˈəʊvəʳ/

• “I’ve looked for all over”*
• “This kind of music is becoming popular all over the world”*
• “They organized protests all over the country”*

Question 6

Prep. de lugar: A lo largo de (todo), por

• “Los coches estaban aparcados a lo largo de todo el camino”*
• “Puedes ver hermosas casas a lo largo de la calle”*
• “Vimos a una chica nadando por el río”*

Answer 6

(all) Along /(ɔːl) əˈlɒŋ/

• “The cars were parked all along the road”*
• “You can see beautiful houses along this street”*
• “We saw a girl swimming along the river”*

Question 7

Prep. de lugar: Junto a, al lado de

• “El perro se quedó al lado de su amo toda la noche”*
• “Hay una mujer junto a tu coche”*
• “Se sentó a mi lado sin hablar”*

Answer 7

Beside /bɪˈsaɪd/, by /baɪ/

• “The dog stayed by/beside its master all the night”*
• “There is a woman by/beside your car”*
• “He sat by/beside me without speaking”*

Question 8

Prep. de circunstancia: Pero, salvo, menos, sino

• “Él trabaja todos los días menos el lunes”*
• “Comenos cualquier tipo de comida salvo carne”*
• “Yo quiero ir, pero no tengo bastante dinero”*
• “Esto no pertenece a ti sino a él”*

Answer 8

But /bʌt/

“He works every day but Monday”

“We eat any kind of food but meal”

“I want to go, but I don’t have anough money”

“It doesn’t belong to you but him”

Question 9

Prep. de circunstancia: Contrario a, contrariamente a

• “Contrariamente a lo que pensábamos, el ganó”*
• “Sus ideas sobre el capitalismo son contrarias a las mías”*

Nota: por el contrario. “Ella podrá venir. Por el contrario, él no podrá venir”

Answer 9

Contrary to /kənˈtrɛərɪ tʊ|tuː/

• “Contrary to we thought, he won”*
• “His ideas about capitalism are contrary to my own”*

Note: “on the contrary”. “She will be able to come. On the contrary, he won’t”

Question 10

Prep. de tiempo: Durante

• “Muchas personas inocentes murieron durante la guerra”*
• “Estos árboles florecen durante la primavera”*
• “Ellos estarán allí durante dos días”*

Answer 10

During /ˈdjʊərɪŋ/, for /fɔːʳ/

• “Many innocent people died during the war”*
• “These trees blossom during the spring”*
• “They’ll be there for two days”*

Note: “during” shows a particular event against the background of a period of time (example 1 and 2)

Note: “for” shows the time somethig lasts (example 3)

Question 11

Prep. de circunstancia: Excepto, excepto por

• “Todos entendieron la explicación, excepto Bill”*
• “La tienda está abierta todos los días excepto el domingo”*
• “No tengo noticias de ella, excepto por la postal que me envió”*

Answer 11

Except /ɪkˈsept/

• “Everyone understood the explication, except Bill”*
• “The store is open every day except Sunday”*
• “I’ve no news from her, except for the postcard she sent me”*

Question 12

Prep. de lugar: Dentro de, adentro de, al interior de, en, interior

• “Los turistas entraron en el castillo siguiendo al guía”*
• “Ella tenía hambre por lo que miró dentro de la nevera”*
• “Hay un regalo para ti en la caja”*

Answer 12

Inside /ˈɪnˈsaɪd/

• “The tourists went inside the castle following the guide”*
• “She was hungry so she looked at inside the refrigerator”*
• “There is a present for you inside the box”*

Question 13

Prep. de lugar: Delante de, al frente de, enfrente de

• “Siéntate frente a la tele y no te muevas”*
• “Había un hombre alto parado enfrente de mí”*
• “No se te permite aparcar tu coche justo enfrente del hospital”*

Answer 13

In front of /ɪn frʌnt ɒv/

• “Sit in front of TV and don’t move”*
• “There was a tall man standing in front of me”*
• “You are not allowed to park your car just in front of the hospital”*

Question 14

Prep. de circunstancia: En lugar de, en vez de

• “Yo daré el discurso en lugar de ella”*
• “La botella estaba llena de agua en vez de whisky”*

Answer 14

Instead of /ɪnˈsted ɒv/

• “I’ll give the speech instead of her”*
• “The bottle was full of water instead of whisky”*

Question 15

Prep. de circunstancia: Como

• “No quiero que seas como yo”*
• “Él actuaba como un niño cuando se enfadaba”*
• “Nadie te ama como él”*

Answer 15

Like /laɪk/

• “I don’t want you to be like me”*
• “He acted like a child when he was angry”*
• “Nobody loves you like he does”*

Question 16

Prep. de lugar: Al lado de, junto a

• “El banco está al lado de una comisaría”*
• “¿Quién está sentado junto a John?”*
• “¿Me puedo sentar junto a la ventana?”*

Answer 16

Next to /nekst tʊ|tuː/

• “The bank is next to a police station”*
• “Who is sitting next to John?”*
• “Can I sit next to the window?”*

Question 17

Prep. de circunstancia: De

• “La casa está hecha de madera”*
• “Era una mujer de extraordinaria inteligencia”*
• “¿Le gustaría otra copa de vino?”*

Answer 17

Of /ɒv, əv/

• “The house is made of wood”*
• “She was a woman of extraordinary intelligence”*
• “Would you like another cup of wine?”*

Question 18

Prep. de lugar: Fuera de, afuera de (expresión más común)

• “Los manifestantes estaban gritando fuera del edificio”*
• “Te encontraré fuera del teatro a las 8”*
• “Mi familia vive a las afueras de Roma”*

Answer 18

Outside /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/

• “The demonstrators were shouting outside the building”*
• “I’ll meet you outside the theater at 8 o’clock”*
• “Mi family lives outside Roma”*

Question 19

Prep. de lugar: arriba y abajo (indicando movimiento de una posición inferior a una superior y viceversa)

• “Bajaremos a Florida este verano”*
• “Subimos a la montaña esta mañana”*

Answer 19

Up /ʌp/, down /daʊn/

• “We are going down to Florida this summer*”
• “We climbed up the mountain this morning”*

Question 20

Prep. de tiempo: A partir de

• “Estarán viviendo aquí a partir del sábado”*
• “A partir del lunes, seguiré una nueva dieta”*
• “El supermercado estará cerrado cinco días a partir de mañana”*

Answer 20

As of /æz ɒv/, as from /æz frɒm/

• “They’ will be living here as of Saturday”*
• “As from Monday, I’ll follow a new diet”*
• “The supermarket will be closed for 5 days as from tomorrow”*

Question 21

Prep. de circunstancia: A pesar de, sin importar

• “El envío es gratis sin importar el destino”*
• “Decidieron terminar el proyecto, sin importar el costo”*
• “Todos pueden participar, sin importar la edad”*

Answer 21

Regardless of /rɪˈgɑːdlɪs/

• “Shipping is free regardless of the destination”*
• “They decided to finish the project, regardless of the cost”*
• “Everyone can participate, regardless of the age”*

Question 22

Prep. de circunstancia: Via, a través de, mediante, por

• “Envíame ese informe por e-mail”*
• “El virus no se transmite mediante contacto físico”*

Answer 22

Via /ˈvaɪə/

• “Send me that report via e-mail”*
• “The virus is not transmitted via physical contact”*

Note: to talk about how you can communicate with somebody you can use “by” too (“by mail”, “by phone”, “by post”, …)

Question 23

Prep. de circunstancia: A diferencia de

• “A diferencia de la mayoría de los niños, a él no le gusta jugar fuera”*
• “A diferencia de la mayoría de los argentinos, no me gusta el fútbol”*

Answer 23

Unlike /ˈʌnˈlaɪk/

• “Unlike most children, he doesn’t like to play out”*
• “Unlike most Argentines, I don’t like soccer”*

Question 24

Prep. de circunstancia: Con

• “Él rompió la ventana con un martillo”*
• “Me gusta estar contigo”*
• “Ella era una chica con perlo rubio”*

Answer 24

With /wɪð|wɪθ/

“He broke the window with a hammer”

“I like to be with you”

“She was a girl with blond hair”

Question 25

Prep. de lugar: en (in)

Answer 25

In /ɪn/

• *In**: with countries and cities
• In: inside a closed place such as buildings and rooms (*“in** the bedroom”, “in my office”, “in your pocket”, “in hospital”, “in prison”, …)
• In: inside an object (*“in** the wallet”, “in bed”, “in a book”, “in a letter”, …)
• In: related to water (*“in** the river”, “in the sea”, …) meaning inside the water
• In: inside and open space but with borders (*“in** the park”, “in the garden”, “in the queue”, …)
• In: related to the climate (*“in** the rain”, “in the sun”, “in the wind”, “in the fog”, …)
• In**: related to addresses if we just talk about the name of the street (“He lives in Baker Street”*)

With arrive:
In: is used when you talk about arrive in a city (“When I arrived in New York …“)

In: related to circunstances (“in love”, “in public”, “in secret”, “in private”, …) except “at peace” and “at war”.

Question 26

Prep. de tiempo: en (in)

Answer 26

In /ɪn/

• In: parts of the day (*“in** the morning”, “in the afternoon”, “in the evening”)
• In: months and years (*“in** January”, “in February”, “in May”, “in 1983”, “in the 1960s”, …)
• In: seasons (*“in** spring”, “in summer”, “in autumn”, “in winter”, “in the early summer”, …)
• In: long periods (*“in** the 19th century”, “in the past”, “in the future”, “in the Middle Age”, “in the Stone Age”, …)
• In: to refer to the future (*“I’ll be there in two days/in nine months/in** a few minutes/in three years/in seven hours/in a week”, …)

Note: “to be in time” means to arrive before the event, with enough time before the event, not just in time (“We arrive in time to get good seats”)

Question 27

Prep. de lugar: en (on)

Answer 27

On /ɒn/

• On**: related to surfaces (“on the floor”, “on the wall”, “on the ceiling”, “on the table”, “on the map”, “on page 103”, …*)
• On**: directions (“on the left”, “on the right”, “on the way”*)
• On**: related to public transportation (“on a ship”, “on a train”, “on a plane”, “on a bus”, …,* except “in a car”, “in a taxi”). To talk about the way of travelling it is used “by” (“by plane”, “by air”, “by road”, “by car”, “by bus”, “by train”, …) except with the expression “on foot”.
• On**: parts of the body (“on my leg”, “on my arm”, “on my shoulder”, …*)
• On**: with certain things and places (“on the radio”, “on TV”, “on the internet”, “on a farm”, “on the coast”, …*)

Question 28

Prep. de tiempo: en (on)

Answer 28

On /ɒn/

• On**: days of the week (“on Monday”, “on Tuesday”, “on Wednesday”, …*)
• On**: parts of the day with a day (“on Friday morning”, “on Saturday afternoon”, “on Sunday evening”, …*)
• On**: with dates (“on July 4th”, “on December 31st 1966”, …*)
• On**: with special or holiday days indicating “day” (“on Christmas day”, “on my birthday”, …)*
• On**: vacaciones (“(to be) on holiday”*)

Note: “to be on time” means to arrive just in time at the event. It means to be punctual (“He wasn’t on time”)

Question 29

Prep. de lugar: en (at)

Answer 29

At /æt/

• At**: with usual places, where people meet usually (“at the cinema”, “at home”, “at work”, “at the university”, “at school”, “at the airport”, …*)
• At**: with events (“at the party”, “at the meeting”, “at the conference”, “at the match”, …*)
• At**: related to water (“at the river”, “at the sea”, …*) meaning just in the shore, but not inside the water.
• At**: with buildings, but not meaning the same that “In”. “In” implies inside, but “at” can be inside or just in the entrance (“at the museum”*).
• At**: with specific places where an event happened (“at Madison Square Garden”, “at Kennedy Airport”, “at Buckingham Palace”, …*)
• At**: with full addresses (“at 2354 Rivadavia Avenue”, …*)

With arrive:
At: is used when you talk about arrive at a building or a delimited place (“When I arrived at Chinatown …“)

Question 30

Prep. de tiempo: en (at)

Answer 30

At /æt/

• At: time of the day (*“at** 6:30”, “at seven o’clock”, …). It must be considered expressions of time: “at dawn” (al amanecer), “at lunchtime” (hora del almuerzo), “at midnight” (a media noche) and “at midday” (a medio día)
• At: holiday day without indicating “day” (*“at** Christmas”, “at Easter” (Pascuas), “at New Year”, “at Lent” (Cuaresma), “at Holy Week”, …)
• At: with certain expressions (*“at** the moment”, “at the weekend”, “at that time”, “at night”, “at noon” (mediodía), “at present”, …)

Question 31

Prep. de circunstancia: Teniendo en cuenta, en vista de, considerando

• “Merecemos mejores sevicios, teniendo en cuenta los impuestos que pagamos”*
• “Teniendo en cuenta su humilde origen, creo que ha hecho un gran progreso”*
• “Mi abuela es una mujer muy activa, teniendo en cuenta su edad”*

Answer 31

Considering /kənˈsɪdərɪŋ/

• “We deserve better services, considering the taxes we pay”*
• “Considering his humble origin, I think he has made a great progress”*
• “My grandmother is a very active woman, considering her age”*

Question 32

Prep. de circunstancia: Complemento agente en oraciones pasivas

“Él fue multado por la policía”

Nota: otro uso. “Él entró rompiendo la ventana”

Answer 32

By /baɪ/

“He was fined by the police”

Note: in English is not as common as in Spanish to use “by” in pasive voice if there is no doubt about who do the action. For example, the previous example should be write without “by the police”.

Note: you can use “by” + v-ing to describe how something has happened (“He got in by breaking the window””

Note: you can use “by” to talk about something that can happen (“by accident”, “by chance”, “by mistake”, …) except “on purpose”

Question 33

Prep. de circunstancia: En relación a/con, respecto a, acerca de

“Le escribo con respecto a/en relación a/acerca de/en relación con el comportamiento de su hijo en clase”

Answer 33

In relation to /ɪn rɪˈleɪʃən tʊ|tuː/, regarding /rɪˈgɑːdɪŋ/, with regard to /wɪθ rɪˈgɑːd tʊ|tuː/, in regard to /ɪn rɪˈgɑːd tʊ|tuː/, concerning /kənˈs3ːnɪŋ/

“I’m writing in regard to your son’s behaviour in class”