Introduction
Prepositions link a noun or pronoun to the rest of the sentence. Spanish and English prepositions rarely match one to one, so learn them in phrases.
| preposition | common meanings | example |
|---|---|---|
| a | to, at | Voy a Madrid. |
| de | of, from, about | Soy de Chile. |
| en | in, on, at | Está en la mesa. |
| con | with | Café con leche. |
| sin | without | Té sin azúcar. |
| por | through, because of, per | Gracias por todo. |
| para | for, in order to | Es para ti. |
| desde / hasta | from / until | Desde las ocho hasta las diez. |
English for can be por or para. The Por vs Para page explains when to use each.
After a Preposition
A verb after a preposition stays in the infinitive, where English often uses -ing.
- Salió sin decir nada.He left without saying anything.
- Antes de comer, lávate las manos.Before eating, wash your hands.
Practice
Which two words can both mean for in English?
De most commonly means ___.
Salió sin ___ nada.
Antes de ___, lávate las manos.
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