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Spanish grammar lessons › Level C2 › Prepositions & Conjunctions

Precise prepositions: en/a, de/desde, contra, ante, tras, so

The prepositions that native writers get right without thinking: a la mesa, dudar en, en contra de, ante el juez, so pena de.

Part of the free C2 Spanish course. Press the speaker next to an example to hear it.

At C2 the problem is no longer por or para (Por and para in full) but the precise preposition that a verb, noun or set phrase requires: its regime (régimen preposicional). For the basic verb list, see Verbs with fixed prepositions: acordarse de, pensar en, soñar con.

en and a

En is location, a is direction, but many set phrases with a express position:

  • sentarse a la mesa (to sit down to eat) vs dejar algo en la mesa (on the table);
  • llamar a la puerta (to knock), al sol, a la sombra, a la derecha;
  • distance: a veinte kilómetros de; age and time: a los veinte años, a las tres.
  • Nos sentamos a la mesa a las nueve en punto.We sat down to dinner at nine o'clock sharp.
  • Dejé las llaves en la mesa.I left the keys on the table.
  • El pueblo está a veinte kilómetros de la costa.The village is twenty kilometres from the coast.

Verb pairs where the preposition changes the meaning

WithMeaningWithMeaning
dudar deto doubtdudar ento hesitate to
pensar ento think aboutpensar deto think of, opinion
consistir ento consist of—never consistir de
acabar conto put an end toacabar deto have just
  • Ella no dudó en aceptar la oferta.She didn't hesitate to accept the offer.
  • Nunca he dudado de tu palabra.I've never doubted your word.
  • El plan consiste en reducir los gastos un diez por ciento.The plan consists of cutting costs by ten percent.

de and desde

De marks origin and pairs with a (de nueve a cinco); desde stresses the starting point and pairs with hasta. Write desde el punto de vista, not bajo el punto de vista.

  • Desde mi punto de vista, la propuesta es injusta.From my point of view, the proposal is unfair.

contra and en contra de

Contra is physical impact or direct opposition; en contra de is being opposed to an idea or decision.

  • La mayoría votó en contra de la reforma.The majority voted against the reform.
  • El coche se estrelló contra un muro.The car crashed into a wall.

ante, tras and so

  • ante = before, in the presence of, faced with (formal): ante el juez, ante la crisis, ante todo. Not to be confused with antes de (time) or delante de (physical position).
  • tras = after, behind (formal and journalistic): tras la reunión, día tras día.
  • so survives only in fixed phrases: so pena de (on pain of), so pretexto de (on the pretext of).
  • Declaró ante el juez durante tres horas.He testified before the judge for three hours.
  • Tras la reunión, nadie quiso hacer declaraciones.After the meeting, nobody wanted to make a statement.
  • Los vecinos deben retirar los coches so pena de multa.Residents must move their cars or face a fine.

de que after nouns and adjectives

Verbs and adjectives that take de keep it before que: me alegro de que, estoy seguro de que, me di cuenta de que. Dropping it (queísmo) or adding a de where the verb takes none (dequeísmo, pienso de que) is non-standard.

Latin America

Entrar a is normal in Latin America (Spain prefers entrar en, though both are accepted). Spain's colloquial ir a por (voy a por pan) is ir por in Latin America. Queísmo and dequeísmo are frequent in speech on both sides of the Atlantic, but the written norm is the same everywhere.

Common mistakes

  • consistir de: an English calque; it is always consistir en.
  • contra de la propuesta: say en contra de la propuesta, or contra la propuesta.
  • No dudó de llamar for didn't hesitate: hesitate is dudar en.
  • antes el juez: in the presence of is ante; antes is time.
  • Pienso de que and Me di cuenta que: pienso que, me di cuenta de que.

Practice

  1. Llamaron _____ la puerta dos veces.
    Someone knocked at the door twice.
    Options: a · en · con · de
    Show the answer

    a

  2. La tarea consiste _____ clasificar los documentos por fecha.
    Options: en · de · a · con
    Show the answer

    en

  3. Sus padres nunca dudaron _____ su inocencia.
    His parents never doubted his innocence.
    Options: de · en · con · a
    Show the answer

    de — Dudar de = to doubt; dudar en = to hesitate.

  4. No dudó _____ denunciarlo a la policía.
    She didn't hesitate to report him to the police.
    Show the answer

    en

In the app, this lesson is taught one idea at a time with the examples read aloud, followed by questions that explain the rule when you get one wrong. It then comes back for review on later days, until you've answered it correctly on three separate days.
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