The preposition “a”

This preposition can be used in different cases.

To give the exact time

The preposition “a” must always be used before giving the precise time.

Examples :

• Tengo una cita a las diez de la mañana. (I have an appointment at 10 a.m.).
• Patricia tiene que irse a las 4 de la tarde. (Patricia has to leave at 4pm)

Before a Direct Object Complement

The preposition “a” is also used in front of a person or a personified thing.

Examples :

• Franck quiere a su hermana. (Franck loves his sister).
• Paul invitará a sus amigos para su cumpleaños. (Paul will invite his friends to his birthday party.)

After a verb of movement

The preposition “a” is also placed after a verb of motion.

Examples :

• Voy a la playa. (I’m going to the beach.)
• Fanny regresa a su casa. (Fanny is going home.)

Warning: if the preposition precedes a masculine noun, we do not say “a el” but use the contraction “al”.

Example :

• Vamos al museo. (We are going to the museum.)

The preposition “con”

The preposition “con” means “with” and is generally used in the same way as in English.

Examples :

• Bob está con sus padres. (Bob is with his parents.)
• Fanny maneja con cuidado. (Fanny is driving carefully).
• Quiero venir contigo. (I want to come with you.)

Note :

While in English “with me” and “with you” translate into two words each time, there is really only one word in Spanish.

• Conmigo (with me)
• Contigo (with you)

There are also typical Spanish expressions that should not be translated word for word.

Examples :

• Anteayer soñé contigo. (The day before yesterday I dreamed of you).
• Vincent puede contar con su hermana para ayudarle. (Vincent can count on his sister to help him).

The preposition ‘de’

The preposition ‘de’ is not necessarily used in Spanish. 

– No “de” in Spanish before an infinitive Direct Object Complement

Example :

• Mi sueño es comprar una casa grande con un jardín. (My dream is to buy a big house with a garden).

– No “de” before an infinitive verb that indicates order / advice / prohibition

Example :

• Te aconsejo guardar distancia con los otros. (I advise you to keep your distance from the others).

– No “de” before the verb “be” followed by an adjective, itself followed by an infinitive Direct Object Complement

Example :

• Es increíble ver una persona tan hipócrita. (It’s incredible to see such a hypocritical person).

On the other hand, the preposition “de” can be used to indicate provenance / origin.

Example :

• Soy de Francia. (I am from France.)

It can also be used to indicate belonging / possession.

Examples :

• Carmén es la madre de Paul. (Carmén is Paul’s mother).
• Es el hijo del panadero de la ciudad. (He is the son of the town baker).

“De” can also be used to give an indication of composition or material.

Example :

• Es una mesa de madera. (This is a wooden table).

The preposition “en”

The preposition “en” is used to indicate the place where the action takes place.

Warning: if there is an idea of movement / displacement, the preposition “a” must be used.

Examples :

• Estamos en el museo. (We are in the museum / at the museum).
• Estoy en la tienda. (I am in the store / at the store).
• En 1955, Victor tenia 62 años. (In 1955, Victor was 62 years old.)

Prepositions of place

To express a place, several prepositions can be used. Here are some examples:

Al lado de (next to)
Estoy al lado de un coche. (I am next to a car)

Cerca de (near)
Viven cerca del mar. (They live near the sea)

Lejos de (far from)
No quiero vivir lejor de ti. (I don’t want to live far from you)

A la derecha / a la izquierda (to the right / to the left)
Pablo siempre se sienta a la derecha de su amigo Silvio. (Pablo always sits to the right of his friend Silvio.)

Enfrente de (facing)
Enfrente del parque, hay la escuela. (Facing the park, there is the school.)

Debajo (under)
Debajo de la mesa, encontrarás mi bolsa. (Under the table, you will find my bag.)

Prepositions of time

Prepositions of time are used to place an action in time.

De…a (from…to)
De miércoles a viernes (from Wednesday to Friday)
De 4 a 6 (from 4 to 6)

Después de (after)
Si quieres ver el bebé, hay que regresar después de su siesta. (If you want to see the baby, you have to come back after his nap)

Durante (during)
Durante las vacaciones, Valerie no hace nada, ni siquiera sus deberes. (During the vacations, Valerie doesn’t do anything, not even her homework).

Desde (since / from)
Están casados desde 1990. (They have been married since 1990)

Desde hace (since a period that is not completed)
Trabaja en esa empresa desde hace 5 años. (He or she has been working at this company for 5 years)

Dentro de (after a period of)
Paula puede obtener su diploma dentro de 3 años. (Paula can graduate after a period of 3 years (in 3 years).

Antes de (before)
Antes de Navidad, no hay nieve aqui. (Before Christmas, there is no snow here.)

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