Prepositions in Spanish

Prepositions in Spanish are invariable words that connect words within a sentence, expressing relationships of place, time, cause, purpose, among others. Below, you’ll find explanations of the main prepositions, their uses, and tables and examples to facilitate learning.

---

List of Spanish Prepositions

Here is a list of Spanish prepositions:

Preposition	Meaning / Main Use
a	direction, movement, time, place
ante	relative position (in front of)
bajo	position (below)
cabe*	near, beside (rarely used in modern Spanish)
con	company, instrument
contra	opposition, place of contact
de	possession, origin, material
desde	origin of a movement or action
durante	duration of time
en	place, time
entre	position (between two or more)
hacia	direction without precision
hasta	final limit
mediante	means, manner
para	purpose, destination, future time
por	cause, means, place, price, agent
según	conformity or agreement
sin	lack or absence of something
sobre	position (on top of), subject
tras	place (behind), time (after)

---

Table 1: Prepositions of Place

Preposition	Usage	Example
a	direction	I’m going to the store.
en	location	I’m in the house.
entre	position	The park is between the houses.
hacia	approximation	I walk towards the mountain.
tras	behind	He hid behind the tree.
sobre	on top of	The book is on the table.

---

Table 2: Prepositions of Time

Preposition	Usage	Example
a	specific hour	Class starts at 8:00.
en	months, years, seasons	We’ll see each other in December.
desde	start of a time period	He’s been sick since Monday.
hasta	end of a time period	I’ll work until 5:00.
durante	duration	I rested during the holidays.
tras	after	He comes after the meeting.

---

Table 3: Prepositions of Cause, Means, and Purpose

Preposition	Usage	Example
por	cause	He was punished for his behavior.
mediante	means	It was resolved through negotiation.
para	purpose or destination	This gift is for you.
con	company or instrument	It was written with a pen.

---

Examples in Sentences

1. Direction and Place:
   • We’re going to the party tonight.
   • The café is between the park and the museum.
2. Time:
   • I’ll be at home until five in the afternoon.
   • We’ll meet in summer for the holidays.
3. Cause and Purpose:
   • He did it for love for his family.
   • I’m saving money for a trip.
4. Company and Instrument:
   • I went to the movies with my friends.
   • He cut the bread with a sharp knife.

---

Table 4: Prepositions by Specific Function

Function	Example
Possession	Juan’s house is in the city.
Movement	He walked towards the north.
Destination	This is for you.
Agent	It was created by a famous artist.

---

Tips for Using Prepositions

1. Learn in Context: Memorizing lists is not always effective. It’s better to learn prepositions in specific contexts.
2. Pay Attention to Verb Phrases: Some verbs in Spanish require specific prepositions. For example, pensar en (in English, “think about”), soñar con (in English, “dream about”).
3. Avoid Literal Translation: Some prepositions in Spanish do not directly correspond to prepositions in other languages. It’s important to learn their specific use in Spanish.

---

Practice Exercises

1. Complete the sentences with the correct preposition:
   • I go ___ the park every morning.
   • The house ___ my grandparents is beautiful.
   • She came ___ Colombia to study.
2. Choose the correct option:
   • The book is sobre / bajo the table.
   • We go hasta / desde the beach at sunset.

---

Conclusion

Prepositions in Spanish are fundamental tools that bring clarity and meaning to sentences. While learning to use them correctly takes time and practice, this guide provides a solid foundation. Practice using them in sentences, and you’ll see how your comprehension and expression in Spanish improve.

Exercise

1. Complete sentences with the correct preposition.

2.Drag the correct preposition into a blank space in each sentence.

3. Choose the correct answer