Volumen 2 · Capítulo 06
Prepositions That Carry Daily Life
A, de, en, con, por, para: small words, big payoff.
Prepositions are tiny words that connect everything: to, from, in, with, by, for. Spanish prepositions do not map perfectly to English, so learn them in phrases.
a: to, at
- I am going to the pharmacy.
- I arrive at ten.
- I write to my landlady.
a + el becomes .
- I am going to the bank.
- I am going to the consulate.
de: from, of
- I am from California.
- The immigration office.
- The proof of address.
de + el becomes .
en: in, on, at
- I live in Mexico.
- I am at the hotel.
- The key is on the table.
con: with
- I pay with card.
- I am coming with my wife.
- Coffee with milk.
por and para
This pair is deep, but you can start with a practical split.
Use for purpose or destination:
- It is for the procedure.
- I need this for tomorrow.
Use for reason, route, exchange, or rough time:
- I am here because of my appointment.
- I walk through downtown.
- Thanks for your help.
Drill: learn the phrase, not the dictionary meaning
- a + el = al
- de + el = del
- with card
- for my procedure