Preopsitions

“Prepositions” in Spanish, known as “preposiciones”, are short words that connect and establish relationships between different parts of a sentence. For example, ‘en’ (in), ‘de’ (of, from), ‘a’ (to, at), etc.
Just like English, prepositions in Spanish can show time, place, direction, and location. For example, ‘en’ can refer to location (‘en el parque’ - in the park), or time (‘en mayo’ - in May).
“De” is commonly used to express possession, equivalent to ‘s in English, such as ‘la bicicleta de Juan’ (Juan’s bicycle); it is also used to talk about characteristics or materials things are made of, such as ‘una taza de plástico’ (a plastic cup).
“A” can be used to indicate destination, such as ‘Voy a la escuela’ (I am going to school). Remember, the preposition ‘a’ must be used in Spanish before a direct object that is a person or group of people, a concept known as “personal ‘a’”. For example, ‘Veo a Juan’ (I see Juan).
‘Desde’ and ‘hasta’ are often used together to mean ‘from… until…’ in terms of time or place. For example, ‘Trabajo desde las ocho hasta las cinco’ (I work from eight until five).
‘Sin’ translates to ‘without’ and ‘con’ means ‘with’. For example, ‘Voy a la fiesta sin mi hermana’ (I am going to the party without my sister) and ‘Voy a la fiesta con mi hermana’ (I am going to the party with my sister).
Prepositions can sometimes be combined with verbs to alter the verb’s meaning, similarly to English phrasal verbs. For instance, ‘pensar en’ (to think about) or ‘soñar con’ (to dream about).
Always remember that prepositions don’t always translate directly between English and Spanish. Some prepositional phrases have unique meanings and use, e.g., ‘al lado de’ means ‘next to’ and ‘encima de’ means ‘on top of’.
It is important to make use of flashcards, online quizzes, and practice exercises to master the use of prepositions in Spanish. Remember, practice is key for mastering any language!