Prepositions: An Introduction

On the one hand, prepositions in Spanish are easy to understand, because they usually function in almost the same way as they do in English. On the other hand, prepositions can be one of the most challenging aspects of using Spanish, because it is not always easy to remember which preposition to use. A simple and very common preposition such as the Spanish en can be translated not only as "in," the most common translation, but also as "to," "by" and "about."

A preposition is a type of word that is used to form a phrase; the phrase in turn functions as an adjective or adverb. In both English and Spanish, a preposition is followed by an object, which is usually a noun. The object also can be a pronoun or verb that functions as a noun. (Sometimes in English a preposition can appear at the end of a sentence, but that isn't done in Spanish.) If all this doesn't make clear to you what a preposition is, a look at the list below should make it clear what types of words we're talking about.

Let's look at a couple sample sentences to see how the preposition relates its object to other parts of a sentence.

I am going to the store.
Yo voy a la tienda.
Subject verb preposition prepositional object

In the above sentence the phrase "to the store" or a la tienda form a phrase that functions as an adverb that complements the verb.

Here is an example of a prepositional phrase that functions as an adjective:

I see the shoe under the table.
Yo veo el zapato bajo la mesa.
Subject verb direct object preposition prepositional object

In this case, "under the table" is a phrase that works as an adjective that describes the shoe.

Like English, Spanish has perhaps a few dozen prepositions. The following list shows the most common ones along with some of the most common meanings. Keep in mind that the translations below aren't exhaustive. Some of the more difficult prepositions and those with a wide range of meanings are discussed in separate lessons.

Common Spanish Prepositions

a to, at, by means of Vamos a la ciudad. We are going to the city. Vengo a las tres. I am coming at 3. Viajamos a pie. We are traveling by foot.
antes de before Leo antes de dormirme. I read before going to sleep.
bajo under El perro está bajo la mesa. The dog is under the table.
cerca de near El perro está cerca de la mesa. The dog is near the table.
con with Voy con él. I am going with him.
contra against Estoy contra la huelga. I am against the strike.
de of, from, indicating possession El sombrero es hecho de papel. The hat is made of paper. Soy de Nueva York. I'm from New York. Prefiero el carro de Juan. I prefer John's car (I prefer the car of John).
delante de in front of Mi carro está delante de la casa. My car is in front of the house.
dentro de inside El perro está dentro de la jaula. The dog is inside the cage.
desde since, from No comí desde ayer. I haven't eaten since yesterday. Tiró el béisbol desde el carro. He threw the baseball from the car.
después de after Comemos después de la clase. We are eating after class.
detrás de behind El perro está detrás de la mesa. The dog is behind the table.
durante during Dormimos durante la clase. We slept during the class.
en in, on Ella está en Nueva York. She is in New York. El perro está en la mesa. The dog is on the table.
encima de on top of El gato está encima de la casa. The cat is on top of the house.
enfrente de in front of El perro está enfrente de la mesa. The dog is in front of the table.
entre beween El perro está entre le mesa y el sofá. The dog is between the table and the sofa.
fuera de outside of El perro está fuera de la casa. The dog is outside of the house.
hacia toward Caminamos hacia la escuela. We are walking toward the school.
hasta until Duermo hasta las seis. I'm sleeping until 6.
para for, in order to El regalo es para usted. The gift is for you. Trabajo para ser rico. I work in order to be rich.
por for, by Damos gracias por la comida. We give thanks for the meal. Fue escrito por Juan. It was written by Juan.
según according to Según el periódico, va a nevar. According to the newspaper, it is going to snow.
sin without Voy sin él. I am going without him.
sobre over, about Se cayó sobre la silla. He fell over the chair. Es un programa sobre el presidente. It's a program about the president.
tras after, behind Caminaban uno tras otro. The walked one after (behind) the other.
Gerald Erichsen
Guide since 1998

Gerald Erichsen
Spanish Language Guide

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