Prepositions

Prepositions

General Overview

• Prepositions are small words that link elements of a sentence together.
• They indicate the relationships between various parts of a sentence.
• Essence of prepositions in Spanish is similar to that in English, though there are some differences in usage.

Common Prepositions

• Some commonly used prepositions in Spanish include a (to), de (of, from), en (in, on, at), con (with), sin (without), sobre (over, about), por (for, by, through), and para (for).

Positioning Prepositions

• Prepositions usually come before a noun or a pronoun to provide information about place, time, direction, or manner.
• Example: Vamos a la biblioteca (We’re going to the library).

Contractions with Prepositions

• In some cases, a preposition combines with the definite article to form a contraction.
• When a and de are followed by the masculine singular definite article el, they form the contractions al and del.
• Example: Voy al cine (I’m going to the cinema).

Differences between ‘Por’ and ‘Para’

• Both por and para can translate to ‘for’ in English, but they have different applications.
• Use para to indicate purpose, destination, or recipient.
• Use por to express cause, means, time or duration.
• Example of para: Este regalo es para ti (This gift is for you).
• Example of por: Por la mañana, leo el periódico (In the morning, I read the newspaper).

Avoid Confusion

• Keep track of which prepositions pair with certain verbs or adjectives, as the combinations and meanings can differ from those in English.
• Example: Soñar con (To dream about) Vs “Pensar en” (To think about).

Avoiding Preposition at the End

• In Spanish, it’s uncommon to leave a preposition at the end of a sentence, unlike in English.
• Example: ¿De quién es este libro? (Whose is this book?), not ¿Quién es este libro de? (Who is this book of?).