Basic Prepositions
Mastering Basic Spanish Prepositions: En, A, De, and Con Explained
Tabla de Contenidos
Description
Prepositions are short words used to link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a sentence. In Spanish, understanding prepositions is crucial to express location, movement, time, and other relationships clearly. Let's focus on four fundamental Spanish prepositions: en, a, de, and con.
En
The preposition "en" commonly indicates location, time, or the means by which something is done.
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estoy en el parque. | I am in the park. | Location | |
| La clase comienza en diez minutos. | The class starts in ten minutes. | Time | |
| Voy en tren. | I go by train. | "en" is used because it's indicating the means of transportation or the method by which the travel occurs |
A
The preposition "a" is frequently used to indicate direction, destination, or time. It also introduces a direct object, especially when referring to people (the "personal a").
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voy a Madrid. | I am going to Madrid. | Destination | |
| Llegamos a las 5. | We arrived at 5 o'clock. | Time | |
| Amo a mis padres. | I love my parents. |
De
The preposition "de" expresses possession, origin, or material. It can also indicate characteristics or ownership.
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| El coche de María. | Maria's car. | Possession | |
| Ella es de Francia. | She is from France. | Origin | |
| Una taza de café. | A cup of coffee. | "Material" |
Con
The preposition "con" means "with" and is used to indicate accompaniment, manner, or to specify the instrument or method used.
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hablo con mi amigo. | I talk to my friend. | Company | |
| Café con leche. | Coffee with milk. | Company | |
| Escribo con bolígrafo. | I write with a ballpoint pen. | Means or instrument |
Quick Practice
Fill in the blanks with en, a, de, or con: