Spanish basic prepositions are essential for expressing spatial and temporal relationships. Here’s a concise overview of the most common ones, now with additional examples:
Prepositions of Place:
- En (in/on):
- Meaning: Indicates location within or on something.
- Examples: Estoy en casa (I’m at home), El libro está en la mesa (The book is on the table).
- A (to):
- Meaning: Indicates direction or destination.
- Examples: Voy a la tienda (I’m going to the store), Llegué a tiempo (I arrived on time).
- De (from):
- Meaning: Indicates origin or source.
- Examples: Soy de España (I’m from Spain), El tren viene de Barcelona (The train comes from Barcelona).
- Entre (between):
- Meaning: Indicates location between two things.
- Examples: El parque está entre la escuela y la biblioteca (The park is between the school and the library), Elige entre rojo y azul (Choose between red and blue).
- Sobre (on/above):
- Meaning: Indicates location on top of something.
- Examples: El cuadro está sobre la chimenea (The painting is above the fireplace), El avión vuela sobre las nubes (The plane flies above the clouds).
- Bajo (under):
- Meaning: Indicates location beneath something.
- Examples: El gato está bajo la mesa (The cat is under the table), Las llaves están bajo el cojín (The keys are under the cushion).
Prepositions of Time:
- A (at):
- Meaning: Indicates a specific time.
- Examples: La reunión es a las 3 (The meeting is at 3 o’clock), Llego a mediodía (I arrive at noon).
- En (in):
- Meaning: Indicates a specific month, year, or season.
- Examples: Nací en 1990 (I was born in 1990), Lo terminaré en una semana (I’ll finish it in a week).
- Durante (during):
- Meaning: Indicates a period of time.
- Examples: Estudié durante el semestre (I studied during the semester), Llueve durante la noche (It rains during the night).
- Desde (since/from):
- Meaning: Indicates the starting point of a time period.
- Examples: Vivo aquí desde 2010 (I’ve lived here since 2010), Trabajo desde casa (I work from home).
- Hasta (until):
- Meaning: Indicates the ending point of a time period.
- Examples: Trabajo hasta las 6 (I work until 6), Esperaré hasta mañana (I’ll wait until tomorrow).
Additional Useful Prepositions:
- Por (for, by, through):
- Meaning: Indicates reason, means, or direction.
- Examples: Camino por el parque (I walk through the park), Lo hice por ti (I did it for you).
- Para (for, to):
- Meaning: Indicates purpose or destination.
- Examples: Este regalo es para ti (This gift is for you), Estudio para aprobar (I study to pass).
- Con (with):
- Meaning: Indicates accompaniment.
- Examples: Voy con mis amigos (I’m going with my friends), Café con leche, por favor (Coffee with milk, please).
- Sin (without):
- Meaning: Indicates absence.
- Examples: Café sin azúcar, por favor (Coffee without sugar, please), Salí sin paraguas (I went out without an umbrella).
Remember, while some prepositions have direct English equivalents, others may be used differently in Spanish. Pay attention to how native speakers use these prepositions to refine your understanding and usage.