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Common Prepositions: a, en, de, sin, por and para - Preposiciones Comunes: a, en, de, con, sin, por y para

Common Prepositions: a, en, de, sin, por and para (Preposiciones Comunes: a, en, de, con, sin, por y para) Common Prepositions: a, en, de, sin, por and para (Preposiciones Comunes: a, en, de, con, sin, por y para)

This lesson includes information on:
  1. Preposition "a"
  2. Preposition "en"
  3. Preposition "de"
  4. Preposition "con"
  5. Preposition "sin"
  6. Preposition "por"
  7. Preposition "para"
  8. Related Vocabulary
1. Preposition "a" - The preposition "a"  is commonly translated as "to" but it has many more uses in Spanish.  "A" is typically used in the following situations:
  1. After a verb and before a(n):
    • Person or a personal pronoun - The "a" indicates a personal relationship
    • A domesticated animal (e.g., my dog)
    • A place - Indicating moving toward something or someplace.

      Spanish English
      Visito a Juan I visit John
      No conozco a nadie 
      		 I don't know anybody
      Busco a mi perro
      		I am looking for my dog
      Viajo a Guatemala
      		 I travel to Guatemala

  2. Before a time

    Spanish English
    Voy a las siete 
    		 I am going at seven
    Tenemos una reunión a las once 
    		We have a meeting at eleven

  3. After verbs indicating "to start an action or motion" and before an infinitive.  For example,
    • Empiezo a cocinar la cena (I am beginning to cook dinner).
    • Voy a pagar (I am going to pay).
    • Comienzo a estudiar Español (I begin studying Spanish).

      Typically with these verbs:
      Spanish English
      Aprender a To learn how to
      Aspirar a To aspire to
      Atreverse a To dare to
      Ayudar a To help to
      Comenzar a To begin to
      Contribuir a To contribute to
      Correr a To run to
      Decidirse a To decide to
      Dedicarse a To dedicate oneself to
      Echarse a To start to
      Empezar a To begin to
      Enseñar a To teach how to
      Invitar a To invite to
      Ir a To go to
      Llegar a To come to
      Negarse a To refuse to
      Prepararse a To prepare to
      Ponerse a To start to
      Salir a To go out to
      Venir a To come to
      Volver a To do something again

2. Preposition "en" -   The preposition "en" is commonly translated as "in" but it has many more uses in Spanish.  "En" is typically used in the following situations:
  1. As on/in/into" and expresses an exact situation, an exact time, time required to complete an action, method used, and final results.

    Spanish English
    Ella está en la casa 
    		 She is in the house.
    Como en dos horas.
    		I will eat in two hours.
    Lejiste en una hora.
    		He read the book in one hour.

  2. After certain verbs and before an infinitive.  For example,
    • Pienso en estudiar Español (I am thinking about studying Spanish).
    • Juan tardó en comenzar la clase (Juan delayed the start of the class).
                Commonly with these verbs:
Spanish English
Consistir en To consist of
Convenir en To agree to
Insistir en To insist on
Pensar en To think about, to contemplate
Tarder en To delay in




3. Preposition "de" - The preposition "de" is commonly translated as "of" but it has many more uses in Spanish.  "De" is typically used in the following situations:
  1. Expresses possession - For example, El libro de Julio (Julio's book).
  2. Origin/where one is from - For example, Soy de los Estados Unidos (I am from the United States).
  3. Period of day - For example, A las tres de la tarde (At three in the afternoon).
  4. Construction material - La mesa de madera (The wood table).
  5. After certain verbs and before an infinitive.  For example, Trato de estudiar Español (I am trying to study Spanish).

    Typically with these verbs:

    Spanish English
    Acabar de To have just
    Acordarse de To remember
    Alegrarse de To be happy to
    Arrepentirse de To regret
    Apiadarse de To have pity
    Cansarse de To tire of
    Dejar de To stop
    Depender de To depend on
    Jactarse de To boast of
    Olvidarse de To forget
    Parar de To stop
    Pensar de To think about (opinion)
    Quejarse de To complain of
    Terminar de To finish
    Tratar de To try to


  6. Commonly used in the following idiomatic expressions:
              
Spanish English
De buen/mal humor In a good/bad mood
De buena/mala gana Willingly/Unwillingly
De esta/esa manera In this/that way
De manera/modo In a manner/way
De memoria By heart
De nada You're welcome
De nuevo Again
De pie Standing up
De prisa In a hurry
De pronto Suddenly
De repente Suddenly
De todos modos Anyway
De veras Really, truly
De vez en cuando From time to time


4. Preposition "con" - The preposition "con" is commonly translated as "with" but it has many more uses in Spanish.  "Con" is typically used in the following situations:
  1. Expresses company - For example, Yo como arroz con pollo (I eat rice with chicken).
  2. The form or manner used to complete an action (commonly with instruments) - For example, Yo bebo la sopa con una cuchara (I drink the soup with a spoon).
  3. The contents of a container - For example, Una botella con agua (A bottle of water).
  4. After certain verbs - For example, Puedo contar con mis padres (I can count on my parents).

    Typically with these verbs:
    Spanish English
    Amenazar con  To threaten with
    Contar con  To count on
    Soñar con  To dream of or about 

  5. Commonly used in the following idiomatic expressions:
Spanish English
Con paciencia Patiently
Con cortesía Courteously
Con amabilidad (Amicably) With amicability
Con respeto (Respectfully) With respect
Con cuidado Carefully
Con gusto With pleasure
Con alegria Happily

5. Preposition "sin" - The preposition "sin" is commonly translated as "without" but it has many more uses in Spanish.  "Sin" is typically used in the following idiomatic expressions:

Spanish English
Sin embargo
Nevertheless
Sin duda
 Without doubt
Correr sin To run without
Andar sin To walk without
Hablar sin  To talk without
Estar sin To be without

6. Preposition "por" - The preposition "por" is commonly translated as "for" but it has many more uses in Spanish.  "Por" is typically used in the following situations:
  1. Expresses cause or motive - For example, Juan fue a la escuela por el libro (Juan went to the school for the book).
  2. Price or Exchange - Yo  pagué $25 por el libro (I paid $25 for the book).  Yo cambie el libro por otro (I exchanged the book for another).
  3. Means "along," "around," or "through" - For example, Yo miro el volcan por la ventana (I look at the volcano through the window).
  4. Indefinite place and time - For example, Yo viajé por Europa (I traveled to Europe).  Ellas fueron a la escuela por la mañana (The women went to the school in the morning).
  5. Mode of transportation/communication - For example, Ellas fueron por avion (The women went by plane). Yo  llagué por el teléfono (I called by telephone).
  6. Period of time - For example, Ellos estudian por dos horas (The men study for two hours.)
  7. Speed, percentage or quantity used to do something - For example, Yo conduzco mi automovil a 80 kilómetros por hora (I drive my car 80 kilometers per hour). 
  8. In the passive tense with the verb "ser" - For example, El pan es cocinado por Juan (The bread is cooked by John).
  9. Means "in place of," "for cause of" or "in the name of" or "in favor of" - For example, Estoy por salir ahora (I am in favor of leaving now).
  10. Buscar, esperar, pedir don’t use por or para because they translate as: to look for, to wait for, to ask for.
  11. After certain verbs, including:
    Spanish English
    Ir por To go for
    Venir por To come for
    Enviar por To send for
    Regresar por To return for
    Salir por To leave for
    Volver por To return for
    Luchar por To fight for

  12. Commonly used in the following idiomatic expressions:
Spanish English
Por ahora For the time being
Por cierto Of course
Por consiguiente Consequently
Por ejemplo For example
Por eso Therefore/That's why
Por favor Please
Por fin Finally
Por lo menos At least
Por lo tanto Therefore
Por mas o mucho que However much
Por otra parte On the other hand
Por poco Almost
Por supuesto Of course
Por desgracia Unfortunately
Por último Finally

7. Preposition "para" - The preposition "para" is commonly translated as "for" but it has many more uses in Spanish.  "Para" is typically used in the following situations:
  1. Expresses purpose or finality - For example, Yo estudio español para mi trabajo (I study Spanish for my job).
  2. Used with directions, an address or a destination - Voy para la oficina (I am going to the office).
  3. Special use of an object - El lápiz es para escribir (The pencil is for writing).
  4. Future time - Yo necesito la tarea para la próxima semana (I need the homework for next week).
  5. Buscar, esperar, pedir don’t use por or para because they translate as: to look for, to wait for, to ask for.
  6. To say, "Just about to..." use "Estar para..." - For example, Estoy para comer (I am about to eat).
8. Related Vocabulary

Spanish English
A To
A quien To whom
A alguien To someone
A nadie To nobody
A ninguno To none
A mi hermano/a My brother
A mi primo/a My cousin
A Juan John
A Pedro Peter
A Rosa Rose
Padre Father
Madre Mother
Tía Aunt
Tío Uncle
Suegra/o Mother-in-law/Father-in-law
Cuñada Sister-in-law
Sobrino/a Nephew/Niece
Esposo/a Husband/Wife
Hijo/a Son/Daughter
Abuelo/a Grandfather/Grandmother
Novio/a Boyfriend/Girlfriend
Prometido/a Fiance
Madrastra Step-Mother
Padrastro Step-Father
Hijastro Step-Brother
Medio-hermano Half-Brother
Acostumbrarse a To become accustomed to
Aprender a To learn how to
Aspirar a To aspire to
Atreverse a To dare to
Ayudar a To help to
Comenzar a To begin to
Contribuir a To contribute to
Correr a To run to
Decidirse a To decide to
Dedicarse a To dedicate oneself to
Echarse a To start to
Empezar a To begin to
Enseñar a To teach how to
Invitar a To invite to
Ir a To go to
Llegar a To come to
Negarse a To refuse to
Prepararse a To prepare to
Ponerse a To start to
Salir a To go out to
Venir a To come to
Volver a To do something again
Consistir en To consist of
Convenir en To agree to
Insistir en To insist on
Pensar en To think about, to contemplate
Tarder en To delay in
De buen/mal humor In a good/bad mood
De Buena/mala gana Willingly/Unwillingly
De esta/esa manera In this/that way
De manera/modo In a manner/way
De memoria By heart
De nada You're welcome
De nuevo Again
De pie Standing up
De prisa In a hurry
De pronto Suddenly
De repente Suddenly
De todos modos Anyway
De veras Really, truly
De vez en cuando From time to time
Acabar de To have just
Acordarse de To remember
Alegrarse de To be happy to
Arrepentirse de To regret
Apiadarse de To have pity
Cansarse de To tire of
Dejar de To stop
Depender de To depend on
Jactarse de To boast of
Olvidarse de To forget
Parar de To stop
Pensar de To think about (opinion)
Quejarse de To complain of
Terminar de To finish
Tratar de To try to
Amenazar con To threaten with
Contar con To count on
Soñar con To dream of or about
Con paciencia Patiently
Con cortesía Courteously
Con amabilidad (Amicably) With amicability
Con respeto (Respectfully) With respect
Con cuidado Carefully
Con gusto With pleasure
Con alegria Happily
Correr sin To run without
Andar sin To walk without
Hablar sin To talk without
Estar sin To be without
Ir por To go for
Venir por To come for
Enviar por To send for
Regresar por To return for
Salir por To leave for
Volver por To return for
Luchar por To fight for
Por ahora For the time being
Por cierto Of course
Por consiguiente Consequently
Por ejemplo For example
Por eso Therefore/That's why
Por favor Please
Por fin Finally
Por lo menos At least
Por lo tanto Therefore
Por mas o mucho que However much
Por otra parte On the other hand
Por poco Almost
Por supuesto Of course
Por desgracia Unfortunately
Por último Finally
Estar para Just about to….


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