Preposición
From Latin praepositionis, from prae (in front of) and positum from ponere (to place)
Preposiciones (prepositions) are invariable words — they do not change for gender or number — that are used to connect words. The words joined by a preposition can be any kind of word (noun, adjective, verb, etc.).
Unlike in English, Spanish prepositions often do not translate one-to-one — for example en can mean "in", "on", or "at" depending on context, and por vs para both overlap with English "for".
Preposiciones can be classified as:
1. Preposiciones simples (Simple prepositions)
The simple prepositions are: A ("to, at"), ANTE ("before, in front of"), BAJO ("under"), CON ("with"), CONTRA ("against"), DE ("of, from"), DESDE ("from, since"), EN ("in, on, at"), ENTRE ("between, among"), HACIA ("toward"), HASTA ("until, as far as"), PARA ("for, in order to"), POR ("for, by, through"), SEGÚN ("according to"), SIN ("without"), SO ("under" — archaic), SOBRE ("on, about"), TRAS ("after, behind").
Examples
- La culpa cayó sobre mí.
("The blame fell on me.") - Trabaja todos los días por la mañana.
("He works every day in the morning.") - Lo miró desde la ventana.
("She looked at him from the window.") - Corrí tras el premio.
("I ran after the prize.")
Note
The preposition so ("under") has very limited use today and survives only in a few fixed phrases.
- Tuvo que cumplir las órdenes so pena de recibir un castigo.
("He had to follow the orders under threat of punishment.") - Llegó tarde so pretexto de estar enfermo.
("He arrived late under the pretext of being sick.")
2. Frases prepositivas (Prepositional phrases)
These are phrases that do the work of a preposition. They are very common and can be formed in several ways:
a) An adverb plus a preposition. Examples: ANTES DE ("before"), DEBAJO DE ("under"), DENTRO DE ("inside"), ATRÁS DE ("behind"), DESPUÉS DE ("after"), DELANTE DE ("in front of"), CERCA DE ("near"), JUNTO A ("next to"), ENCIMA DE ("on top of"), DETRÁS DE ("behind"), LEJOS DE ("far from"), ALREDEDOR DE ("around").
Examples
- El martes viene después del lunes.
("Tuesday comes after Monday.") - Pon la silla junto a la mesa.
("Put the chair next to the table.") - Había mucha gente alrededor de la torta.
("There were a lot of people around the cake.") - Él vive lejos de la escuela.
("He lives far from the school.")
b) A preposition, a noun, and another preposition. Examples: CON ARREGLO A, CON BASE EN, DE ACUERDO CON, EN RELACIÓN CON, EN NOMBRE DE.
Examples
- De acuerdo con las leyes, no debiste hacerlo.
("According to the law, you shouldn't have done it.") - Él fue a la reunión en nombre de la compañía.
("He went to the meeting on behalf of the company.")
Note
Two or more prepositions can stack together for emphasis — something English generally avoids.
- Se pelea hasta por un café.
("He'll fight even over a coffee.") - Lo ve hasta en la sopa.
("He sees him even in his soup.") - Se asomó por entre las ramas.
("He peeked through the branches.") - David está en contra de las prohibiciones.
("David is against the bans.")