17.1.1

By, With, From, Of

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By, With, From, To

Prepositions are words that come directly before another word to express the relationship between the words that come before or after it.

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En - in

  • 'En' is used to show location, time or how something is done.
    • E.g. Estoy en mi casa.
      • I am in my house.
    • E.g. Tengo una reunión en una hora.
      • I have a meeting in an hour.
    • E.g. Vamos en avión.
      • We are going by plane.
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Hacia - towards, about

  • 'Hacia' is used to show movement or opinion towards something and the rough time.
    • Corrí hacia mi casa.
      • I ran towards my house.
    • Nuestra responsabilidad hacia el medio ambiente.
      • Our responsibility towards the environment.
    • Hacia medianoche.
      • At about midnight.
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Hasta - until, as far as

  • 'Hasta' is used in a lot of idiomatic expressions, mostly to do with saying goodbye.
    • Hasta luego, hasta mañana
      • Until later (goodbye), until tomorrow.
  • It is also used to show a time limit.
    • La tienda está abierta hasta las tres.
      • The shop is open until 3.
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Según - according to

  • 'Según' means according to, it is normally followed by a noun.
    • E.g. Según el autor.
      • According to the author.
    • E.g. Según la encuesta.
      • According to the survey.
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Sin - without

  • 'Sin' means without, it can be followed by a noun or a verb.
    • E.g. Sin saberlo.
      • Without knowing it.
    • E.g. Sin perjuicio.
      • Without prejudice.
  • It is also used in certain phrases:
    • E.g. Sin embargo - however.
    • E.g. Sin duda - certainly (without a doubt).
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Cerca - Near

  • 'Cerca' means near, it can be followed by a noun or a verb.
    • E.g. Cerca de mi casa hay una tienda.
      • Near my house there is a shop.
    • Puedo caminar hasta la escuela porque está cerca.
      • I can walk to school because it is close.

'A' and 'De'

Here are the uses of the prepositions 'a' and 'de':

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'A'

  • When the action of the sentence is happening to a person, you need a personal 'a'.
    • Yo llamo a mi madre.
      • I call my mum.
    • No veo a nadie
      • I cannot see anyone.
    • Mi hermana quiere ayudar a mucha gente.
      • My sister wants to help a lot of people.
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'A'

  • 'A' is used when you want to talk about the idea of travelling.
  • When 'el' is used right after 'a' it becomes 'al'.
    • Voy a el cine → voy al cine.
      • I am going to the cinema.
    • Iremos a la playa.
      • We will go to the beach.
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Specific verbs

  • There are specific verbs that use 'a' after them.
    • Ayudar a (to help to).
    • Empezar a (to start to).
    • Ir a (to go to).
    • Llegar a (to arrive at).
    • Volver a (to return to).
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'De'

  • 'De' is used as a preposition to show who something belongs to.
    • Es la camisa de mi hermana.
      • It is the shirt of my sister.
  • 'De' is also used to show where something is from or started.
    • Soy de Colombia.
      • I am from Colombia.
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'De' after some verbs

  • There are specific verbs that use de.
    • Tratarse de (to be about).
    • Acabar de (to have just).
    • Tratar de (to try to).

Jump to other topics

1Los valores tradicionales y modernos

2El ciberespacio

3La igualdad de los sexos

4La inmigración

5El racismo

6La convivencia

7La influencia de los ídolos

8La identidad regional en España

9El patrimonio cultural

10El Laberinto del Fauno

11Nouns

12Articles

12.1Definite & Indefinite

12.2El with Feminine Nouns

12.3Lo + Adjective

13Adjectives

13.1Agreement

13.2Position

13.3Apocopation

13.4Comparative & Superlative

13.5Use of Adjectives as Nouns

13.6Demonstrative

13.7Indefinite

13.8Possessive

13.9Interrogative & Exclamative

13.10Relative

14Numerals & Quantifiers

15Pronouns

15.1Subject

15.2Object: Direct & Indirect

15.3Reflexive

15.4Unstressed & Stressed Forms

15.5Position & Order

15.6Relative

15.7Demonstrative

15.8Indefinite

15.9Possessive

15.10Interrogative

16Verbs

16.1Regular Conjugations

16.2Regular & Irregular Verbs

16.3Agreement of Verb & Subject

16.4Use of Hay Que in All Tenses

16.5Present Tense

16.6Preterite Tense

16.7Imperfect Tense

16.8Future Tense

16.9Conditional Tense

16.10Perfect Tense

16.11Future Perfect Tense

16.12Conditional Perfect Tense

16.13Pluperfect Tense

16.14Infinitive, Gerund & Past Participle

16.15Verbal Paraphrases

16.16Use of the Subjunctive

16.17Commands

16.18Conditional Sentences

16.19After Conjunctions of Time

16.20After Para Que, Sin Que

16.21In Relative Clauses

16.22After Other Subordinating Conjunctions

16.23With Verbs of Wishing & Commanding

16.24Sequence of Tense in Indirect Speech

16.25Voice

16.26Use of the Reflexives as a Passive

16.27Use of the Reflexive to Express an Impersonal

16.28Use of Ser + Past Participle

16.29Use of Estar + Past Participle

16.30'Nuance' Reflexive Verbs

16.31Modes of Address

16.32Constructions with Verbs

16.33Verbs Followed by an Infinitive

17Prepositions & Conjunctions

17.1All Prepositions

17.2'Personal' a

17.3Discrimination of Por and Para

17.4Coordinating Conjunctions

17.5Subordinating Conjunctions

17.6Use of Que to Introduce a Clause

18Negation, Questions & Commands

18.1Negation

19Word Order, Other Constructions & Discourse Marker

19.1Subject Following Verb

19.2Focalisation

19.3Time Expressions with Hace/Hacía

19.4Cleft Sentences

19.5Comparative Constructions

19.6Indirect Speech

19.7Discourse Markers

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