Basic prepositions
A, de, en, con, sin, para, por, the contractions al/del, and prepositions of place.
The basic prepositions: a, de, en, con, sin
- a = to, at (direction, movement, time): Voy a Madrid, a las tres.
- de = of, from (ownership, origin, material): el libro de María, soy de Bélgica.
- en = in, on (location), or 'by' with transport: vivo en Barcelona, voy en coche.
- con = with: como con mis amigos.
- sin = without: un café sin azúcar.
Examples
Voy a la escuela a las ocho.I go to school at eight o'clock.
Este bolso es de mi madre.This bag is my mother's.
Trabajo en un hospital.I work in a hospital.
Quiero un té sin azúcar.I want a tea without sugar.
Contractions: al and del
When a or de is directly followed by the article el (masculine singular), they must contract:
- a + el → al
- de + el → del
This doesn't happen with la, los, las — there a and de stay separate.
| el | la | los | las | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a | al | a la | a los | a las |
| de | del | de la | de los | de las |
Examples
Vamos al cine.We're going to the movies.
El libro es del profesor.The book is the teacher's.
Vamos a la playa.We're going to the beach.
Para versus por (basics)
This is a classic stumbling block. At A1 level, this distinction is enough:
- para = purpose, destination or recipient: what something is for or who it's for: Estudio para el examen (with a view to), Este regalo es para ti (intended for you).
- por = reason or cause, or 'through/via' a place: Gracias por tu ayuda (because of), Caminamos por el parque (through).
Examples
Este café es para ti.This coffee is for you.
Estudio español para viajar a España.I study Spanish to travel to Spain.
Gracias por tu mensaje.Thanks for your message.
Caminamos por la ciudad toda la tarde.We walked through the city all afternoon.
Prepositions of place
Many prepositions of place end in de when followed by a noun: encima de la mesa (on top of the table), al lado del banco (next to the bank — note the contraction del!).
| es | nl | en |
|---|---|---|
| encima de | boven op | on top of |
| debajo de | onder | under, below |
| al lado de | naast | next to |
| entre | tussen | between |
| delante de | voor | in front of |
| detrás de | achter | behind |
Examples
El libro está encima de la mesa.The book is on top of the table.
El gato duerme debajo de la cama.The cat sleeps under the bed.
La farmacia está entre el banco y la panadería.The pharmacy is between the bank and the bakery.
El coche está detrás de la casa.The car is behind the house.
💡 Tips
💡
Al and del are mandatory — you can't say 'a el cine' or 'de el trabajo'.
💡
Think of 'para' as an arrow → (destination/purpose); think of 'por' as a reason or a path through.
💡
Almost all place prepositions end in 'de' before a noun, except 'entre'.
🎯 Practise this topic with 10 interactive exercises (10)
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