Questions and Answers
What type of preposition is 'across' an example of?
Which of the following prepositions is NOT a preposition of place?
What is the correct usage of 'on' in the following sentence: 'I have a meeting __ Friday.'?
Which preposition is used to show movement from one place to another?
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What type of preposition phrase is 'get on the bus' an example of?
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When should you use the preposition 'at'?
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What does the compound preposition 'a causa de' translate to in English?
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Which compound preposition is used to show that something is next to something else?
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What does the compound preposition 'a favor de' translate to in English?
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Which compound preposition is used to show that something is happening at the end of a period of time?
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What does the compound preposition 'además de' translate to in English?
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What is the correct translation of 'a la derecha de' in English?
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Which preposition is used to describe a location around something?
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What is the correct translation of 'al sur de' in English?
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Which preposition is used to describe a location in the middle of a period of time?
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What is the correct translation of 'a lo largo de' in English?
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What is the correct translation of 'a tiempo' in English?
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What is the correct usage of 'debajo de' in the following sentence: 'There is a hat __ the table'?
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What is the correct translation of 'cerca de' in English?
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What is the correct usage of 'dentro de' in the following sentence: 'My keys are __ my bag'?
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What is the correct translation of 'desde luego' in English?
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What is the correct translation of 'encima de' in English?
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In which direction is someone moving if they are going 'hacia adelante'?
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What does 'lejos de' indicate in terms of location?
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What is the correct translation of 'enfrente de' in English?
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What direction is implied when looking 'hacia abajo'?
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What does the verb 'agradecer' mean?
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What is the opposite of the verb 'subir'?
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What does the verb 'encender' mean?
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What does the verb 'esperar' mean?
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What does the verb 'quitar' mean?
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What does the verb 'acostumbrarse' mean?
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Which preposition is used with the verb 'casarse'?
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What does the verb 'preocuparse' mean?
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Which preposition is used with the verb 'darse cuenta'?
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What does the verb 'confiar' mean?
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Study Notes
Types of Prepositions
-
Words that show location:
- In
- On
- At
- By
- With
-
Words that show direction:
- To
- From
- Up
- Down
- In
-
Words that show time:
- At
- On
- During
- Before
- After
-
Words that show movement:
- Across
- Through
- Over
- Under
- Around
Common Prepositions
-
Most frequently used prepositions:
- Of
- In
- To
- For
- With
- On
- At
- By
- From
- About
-
Prepositions of place:
- In the room
- On the table
- At the door
- By the window
-
Prepositions of movement:
- To the store
- From the park
- Up the stairs
- Down the street
Preposition Phrases
-
Preposition + noun:
- In the morning
- On the corner
- At the beach
-
Preposition + verb:
- Get on the bus
- Look at the picture
- Walk across the street
-
Idiomatic expressions:
- In a hurry
- On the go
- At ease
Preposition Usage Tips
-
Use 'in' for cities, countries, and large areas:
- I'm going to Paris.
- She lives in New York.
-
Use 'on' for streets, dates, and surfaces:
- Meet me on Main Street.
- The party is on Friday.
-
Use 'at' for addresses, events, and activities:
- I'm meeting her at the coffee shop.
- He's good at tennis.
Types of Prepositions
- Prepositions that show location include in, on, at, by, and with
- Prepositions that show direction include to, from, up, down, and in
- Prepositions that show time include at, on, during, before, and after
- Prepositions that show movement include across, through, over, under, and around
Common Prepositions
- The top 10 most frequently used prepositions are of, in, to, for, with, on, at, by, from, and about
- Examples of prepositions of place include in the room, on the table, at the door, and by the window
- Examples of prepositions of movement include to the store, from the park, up the stairs, and down the street
Preposition Phrases
- Examples of preposition + noun phrases include in the morning, on the corner, and at the beach
- Examples of preposition + verb phrases include get on the bus, look at the picture, and walk across the street
- Idiomatic expressions using prepositions include in a hurry, on the go, and at ease
Preposition Usage Tips
- Use in for cities, countries, and large areas (e.g. I'm going to Paris, She lives in New York)
- Use on for streets, dates, and surfaces (e.g. Meet me on Main Street, The party is on Friday)
- Use at for addresses, events, and activities (e.g. I'm meeting her at the coffee shop, He's good at tennis)
Compound Prepositions in Spanish
- A causa de means "because of" and is used to indicate the reason for something, e.g. "No jugamos el partido a causa de la lluvia." (We didn't play the game because of the rain.)
- Acerca de means "about" and is used to introduce a topic, e.g. "Yo no sé mucho acerca del ejército." (I don't know much about the army.)
- Además de means "as well as" and is used to add something to a list, e.g. "Además de español, estudio el francés." (In addition to Spanish, I study French.)
- A favor de means "in favour of" and is used to show support for something, e.g. "Mucha gente va a votar a favor de la nueva ley." (Many people are going to vote in favour of the new law.)
- A fines de means "at the end of" and is used to indicate a time or period, e.g. "La navidad es a fines de Diciembre." (Christmas is at the end of December.)
- Al lado de means "beside" and is used to indicate proximity, e.g. "El baño está al lado de mi habitación." (The bathroom is beside my room.)
Directions and Locations
- To the right of something is expressed as "a la derecha de" in Spanish, e.g. "La mesita de noche está a la derecha de la cama" (The nightstand is to the right of the bed).
- To the left of something is expressed as "a la izquierda de" in Spanish, e.g. "La carnicería está a la izquierda de la peluquería" (The butcher shop is to the left of the hair salon).
Movement and Position
- "Alrededor de" means around, e.g. "Comimos alrededor de la mesa" (We ate around the table).
- "A lo largo de" means along, e.g. "Corrió a lo largo del río" (He ran along the river).
Geographic Directions
- "Al norte de" means to the north of, e.g. "Las montañas están al norte del país" (The mountains are to the north of the country).
- "Al sur de" means to the south of, e.g. "Granada está al sur de España" (Granada is to the south of Spain).
Time and Periods
- "A mediados de" means in the middle of, e.g. "La familia fue a España a mediados de los setenta" (The family went to Spain in the mid-seventies).
Prepositions in Spanish
Time Expressions
- Fuimos antes de las diez: We went before 10 o'clock, indicating an action that happened prior to a specific time.
- A partir de ahora tengo que escuchar en clase: From now on, I have to listen in class, indicating a starting point for an action.
Movement and Location
- A tiempo: The flight left on time, emphasizing punctuality.
- Miré a través de esta ventana: I looked through this window, showing the ability to see or pass through something.
- Cerca de: The school is near the museum, indicating proximity.
- Debajo de: There's a hat under the table, showing something is located beneath another object.
- Delante de: The car is parked in front of the house, indicating a position or location.
- Dentro de: My glasses are inside my backpack, showing something is contained within another object.
Emphasis and Agreement
- ¡Desde luego que voy a ir a la fiesta!: Of course, I'm going to the party!, expressing strong agreement or confirmation.
Spanish Prepositions
Expressing Location
- Después de is used to indicate something happens after an event (e.g. "Después del concierto me voy al restaurante" - After the concert, I'm going to the restaurant)
- Detrás de indicates something is behind something else (e.g. "El perro corrió detrás del coche" - The dog ran behind the car)
- Encima de is used to show something is above or on top of something else (e.g. "El zumo estaba encima de la mesa" - The juice was on top of the table)
- Lejos de indicates something is far from something else (e.g. "Barcelona está muy lejos de Granada" - Barcelona is very far from Granada)
Expressing Direction
- Hacia atrás is used to indicate movement backwards (e.g. "Salí y no miré hacia atrás" - I left and didn't look back)
- Hacia adelante indicates movement forwards (e.g. "Es importante que miremos hacia adelante" - It's important that we look forward)
- Hacia abajo is used to show movement down or downwards (e.g. "Cuando miramos hacia abajo vemos el suelo" - When we look down, we see the floor)
- Hacia arriba indicates movement up or upwards (e.g. "Cuando miramos hacia arriba vemos el techo" - When we look up, we see the ceiling)
Expressing Position and Alternatives
- Enfrente de indicates something is in front of or opposite something else (e.g. "La comisaría está enfrente del albergue" - The police station is opposite the hostel)
- En vez de is used to show something is instead of something else (e.g. "Voy a jugar al baloncesto en vez del tenis" - I'm going to play basketball instead of tennis)
- Frente a indicates something is in front of or facing something else (e.g. "La tele está situada frente al sofá" - The TV is situated in front of the sofa)
- Fuera de is used to show something is outside of something else (e.g. "El autobús está esperando fuera de la escuela" - The bus is waiting outside the school)
Important Verbs with Prepositions
- Agradecer: to express gratitude or thanks for something
- Apagar: to switch off or extinguish something, such as a light or a fire
- Aprobar: to give approval or consent to an idea, plan, or action
- Bajar: to move downwards, either physically or in value (e.g., prices going down)
- Buscar: to search or look for something or someone
- Encender: to switch on or ignite something, such as a light or a fire
- Escuchar: to pay attention to and perceive sound, often in the form of spoken words
- Esperar: to wait for someone or something to arrive or happen
- Mirar: to direct one's gaze at something, often with attention or focus
- Pagar: to give money in exchange for goods or services
- Pedir: to request or ask for something, often in the form of a favor or service
- Poder: to have the ability, strength, or capacity to do something
- Quitar: to remove or take something away, often physically
- Saber: to have knowledge or awareness of something, often through experience or learning
- Subir: to move upward, either physically or in value (e.g., prices going up)
Important Verbs with Prepositions
A
- Acostumbrarse a: to get used to something
- Asistir a: to attend an event or meeting
- Dar a: to give something to someone
- Empezar a: to start doing something
- Resolverse a: to resolve to do something
Con
- Casarse con: to marry someone
- Contar con: to have someone's support or help
De
- Acabar de: to finish doing something or to have just done something
- Acordarse de: to remember to do something
- Asombrarse de: to be amazed at something
- Avergonzarse de: to be ashamed of something
- Darse cuenta de: to realize something
- Dejar de: to stop or quit doing something
- Olvidarse de: to forget something
- Quejarse de: to complain about something
- Salir de: to go out of a place
En
- Confirar en: to trust in someone or something
- Consistir en: to consist of something
- Convertirse en: to turn into something
- Influir en: to influence someone or something
- Insistir en: to insist on something
- Pensar en: to think about someone or something
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Description
Learn about different types of prepositions, including words that show location, direction, time, and movement, as well as commonly used prepositions in English language.
