Common Prepositions
Spanish: KS3, topic 20.5.1
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.
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.
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.
- Corrí hacia mi casa.
- Nuestra responsabilidad hacia el medio ambiente.
- Our responsibility towards the environment.
- Hacia medianoche.
- At about midnight.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Test yourself on Common Prepositions
How do you say 'towards' in Spanish?