{"id":95,"date":"2026-09-30T17:09:07","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T16:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leweb2ks.dev\/vitrine-vocadial\/en\/resources\/prepositions-in-spanish\/"},"modified":"2026-09-30T17:09:07","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T16:09:07","slug":"prepositions-in-spanish","status":"publish","type":"vd_ressource","link":"https:\/\/vocadial.com\/en\/resources\/prepositions-in-spanish\/","title":{"rendered":"Prepositions in Spanish: place, time, and por or para"},"content":{"rendered":"

Prepositions of place<\/h2>\n\n
Spanish<\/th>English<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
en<\/td>in, on, at<\/td><\/tr>
sobre, encima de<\/td>on, on top of<\/td><\/tr>
debajo de<\/td>under<\/td><\/tr>
delante de<\/td>in front of<\/td><\/tr>
detr\u00e1s de<\/td>behind<\/td><\/tr>
al lado de<\/td>next to<\/td><\/tr>
entre<\/td>between, among<\/td><\/tr>
cerca de<\/td>near<\/td><\/tr>
lejos de<\/td>far from<\/td><\/tr>
enfrente de<\/td>opposite<\/td><\/tr>
dentro de<\/td>inside<\/td><\/tr>
fuera de<\/td>outside<\/td><\/tr>
a la derecha de<\/td>to the right of<\/td><\/tr>
a la izquierda de<\/td>to the left of<\/td><\/tr>
alrededor de<\/td>around<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n
  1. En<\/span> covers in, on and at.<\/strong> en la caja<\/span> (in the box), en la mesa<\/span> (on the table), en casa<\/span> (at home), en el colegio<\/span> (at school). Use encima de<\/span> or sobre<\/span> only to insist on “on top of”.<\/li>
  2. De<\/span> + el<\/span> = del<\/span>.<\/strong> al lado del colegio<\/span>, cerca del parque<\/span>. De la<\/span>, de los<\/span> and de las<\/span> do not contract.<\/li>
  3. Delante de<\/span> or enfrente de<\/span>?<\/strong> Delante de<\/span> is “in front of”, on the same side; enfrente de<\/span> is “opposite”, facing: El banco est\u00e1 enfrente del cine.<\/span><\/li><\/ol>\n\n

    El gato est\u00e1 debajo de la mesa.<\/span>The cat is under the table.<\/small><\/p>\n\n

    Mi casa est\u00e1 cerca del instituto.<\/span>My house is near the school.<\/small><\/p>\n\n

    Madrid est\u00e1 en el centro de Espa\u00f1a.<\/span>Madrid is in the centre of Spain.<\/small><\/p>\n\n

    Regional note: in Latin America you will often hear adelante de<\/span> and atr\u00e1s de<\/span> for delante de<\/span> and detr\u00e1s de<\/span>. They are standard there; teach delante<\/span> and detr\u00e1s<\/span> if your course follows Spain.<\/p>\n\n

    Movement: a, de, desde, hasta, hacia<\/h2>\n\n
    1. Location takes en<\/span>, direction takes a<\/span>.<\/strong> Estoy en Madrid<\/span> (I’m in Madrid), Voy a Madrid<\/span> (I’m going to Madrid). A<\/span> + el<\/span> = al<\/span>: Voy al cine.<\/span><\/li>
    2. Origin: de<\/span> or desde<\/span>.<\/strong> Soy de Leeds.<\/span> Vengo desde Londres<\/span> insists on the starting point.<\/li>
    3. Hasta<\/span>: as far as, until.<\/strong> de Londres hasta Madrid<\/span>, hasta ma\u00f1ana<\/span>.<\/li>
    4. Hacia<\/span>: towards.<\/strong> Caminamos hacia el r\u00edo.<\/span><\/li><\/ol>\n\n

      Prepositions of time<\/h2>\n\n
      English<\/th>Spanish<\/th>Example<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
      at eight o’clock<\/td>a las ocho<\/td>La clase empieza a las ocho.<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
      in January, in summer, in 2026<\/td>en<\/td>en enero<\/span>, en verano<\/span>, en 2026<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
      on Monday<\/td>el lunes (no preposition)<\/td>El lunes tengo ingl\u00e9s.<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
      on Mondays<\/td>los lunes<\/td>Los lunes juego al f\u00fatbol.<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
      on 3 May<\/td>el 3 de mayo<\/td>Mi cumplea\u00f1os es el 3 de mayo.<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
      in the morning<\/td>por la ma\u00f1ana<\/td>Estudio por la ma\u00f1ana.<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
      at the weekend<\/td>el fin de semana<\/td>El fin de semana salgo.<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
      at night<\/td>por la noche, de noche<\/td>De noche hace fr\u00edo.<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
      from \u2026 to \u2026<\/td>de \u2026 a \u2026<\/td>de lunes a viernes<\/span>, de nueve a tres<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
      two years ago<\/td>hace dos a\u00f1os<\/td>Fui a M\u00e1laga hace dos a\u00f1os.<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
      for (and still)<\/td>desde hace<\/td>Estudio espa\u00f1ol desde hace tres a\u00f1os.<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
      in two days’ time<\/td>dentro de dos d\u00edas<\/td>Nos vemos dentro de dos d\u00edas.<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
      by (deadline)<\/td>para<\/td>Los deberes son para el lunes.<\/span><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

      Regional note: por la ma\u00f1ana<\/span> is the norm in Spain; en la ma\u00f1ana<\/span> is common in much of Latin America, and a la ma\u00f1ana<\/span> in Argentina and Uruguay. None of them is a mistake.<\/p>\n\n

      Note desde hace<\/span> with the present tense: Vivo aqu\u00ed desde hace cinco a\u00f1os<\/span> is “I have lived here for five years”. English speakers want a perfect tense; Spanish uses the present because the action is still going on.<\/p>\n\n

      Por or para?<\/h2>\n\n

      Both can translate “for”. The core idea: para<\/span> looks ahead to a goal; por<\/span> looks back to a cause or passes through.<\/p>\n\n

      Para<\/th>Por<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
      purpose: Estudio para aprobar.<\/span> (to pass)<\/td>cause: Llegu\u00e9 tarde por la lluvia.<\/span> (because of)<\/td><\/tr>
      recipient: Es para ti.<\/span> (for you)<\/td>on someone’s behalf or sake: Lo hago por ti.<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
      destination: Salgo para Madrid.<\/span><\/td>through, along: Paseamos por el parque.<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
      deadline: para el viernes<\/span><\/td>exchange, price: Lo compr\u00e9 por diez euros.<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
      opinion: Para m\u00ed, es f\u00e1cil.<\/span><\/td>means: por tel\u00e9fono<\/span>, por correo<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
      comparison: Es alto para su edad.<\/span><\/td>rate: dos veces por semana<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
      <\/td>thanks: Gracias por la ayuda.<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
      <\/td>passive agent: escrito por Cervantes<\/span><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

      A useful pair for class: Este regalo es para mi madre<\/span> (it is for her: she will receive it) and Lo hago por mi madre<\/span> (I do it because of her, for her sake).<\/p>\n\n

      Verbs with a different preposition from English<\/h2>\n\n
      • pensar en<\/span>: to think about (\u00bfQu\u00e9 piensas de\u2026?<\/span> asks for an opinion)<\/li>
      • so\u00f1ar con<\/span>: to dream of<\/li>
      • casarse con<\/span>: to marry<\/li>
      • enamorarse de<\/span>: to fall in love with<\/li>
      • depender de<\/span>: to depend on<\/li>
      • llegar a<\/span>: to arrive in or at (llegar a Madrid<\/span>)<\/li>
      • jugar a<\/span>: to play a sport or game (jugar al f\u00fatbol<\/span>; in much of Latin America, jugar f\u00fatbol<\/span>)<\/li>
      • entrar en<\/span> (Spain) or entrar a<\/span> (Latin America): to go into<\/li><\/ul>\n\n

        And some with no preposition where English has one: buscar<\/span> (look for), escuchar<\/span> (listen to), esperar<\/span> (wait for), mirar<\/span> (look at), pagar<\/span> (pay for).<\/p>\n\n

        The “personal a”: when the direct object is a specific person, Spanish adds a<\/span>: Veo a mi hermano.<\/span> Visito a mi abuela.<\/span> It has no translation, and English speakers leave it out.<\/p>\n\n

        Typical mistakes of English-speaking learners<\/h2>\n\n
        • “En el lunes”:<\/strong> days take no preposition: el lunes<\/span>.<\/li>
        • “Voy en Madrid”:<\/strong> direction needs a<\/span>.<\/li>
        • “Estoy a casa”:<\/strong> location needs en<\/span>: Estoy en casa.<\/span> (Voy a casa<\/span> is correct.)<\/li>
        • “A el”, “de el”:<\/strong> always al<\/span>, del<\/span>.<\/li>
        • “Busco para mis llaves”:<\/strong> Busco mis llaves.<\/span><\/li>
        • Por and para swapped:<\/strong> “Gracias para”, “Estudio por aprobar”.<\/li>
        • Missing personal a:<\/strong> “Veo mi madre” for Veo a mi madre<\/span>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n

          In class: prepositions in a daily routine<\/h2>\n\n

          Prepositions stick when pupils use them every day, briefly, with something they can see.<\/p>\n\n

          1. Put an object somewhere unusual in the classroom: a toy cat on the shelf, under the desk, behind the door.<\/li>
          2. Ask \u00bfD\u00f3nde est\u00e1 el gato?<\/span> The class answers together: Est\u00e1 debajo de la mesa.<\/span><\/li>
          3. Move it and ask again, once or twice.<\/li>
          4. Link to time with today’s date: Hoy es lunes. \u00bfQu\u00e9 haces el lunes por la tarde?<\/span><\/li>
          5. One pupil hides the object for tomorrow and prepares the question.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n

            This is exactly what a short daily routine offers: one structure, a real object, and a new answer every day.<\/p>\n\n

            Other activities: a Spanish “Where’s Wally?” picture, drawing a room from a spoken description, or a treasure hunt with clues (La pista est\u00e1 detr\u00e1s de la puerta<\/span>).<\/p>\n\n

            Adapting to your class<\/h3>\n\n
            • A1<\/b>Place with en<\/span>, debajo de<\/span>, encima de<\/span>: Est\u00e1 en la mesa.<\/span><\/li>
            • A2<\/b>All place prepositions and time: El s\u00e1bado por la ma\u00f1ana voy al centro.<\/span><\/li>
            • B1<\/b>Por and para, desde hace<\/span>: Estudio espa\u00f1ol desde hace tres a\u00f1os para trabajar en M\u00e9xico.<\/span><\/li>
            • B2<\/b>Verb + preposition and nuance: Depende de ti. Me enamor\u00e9 de Sevilla.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n

              At KS2, place prepositions work well with toys and songs. At KS3, time prepositions come with the routine. At GCSE, por<\/span> and para<\/span> and desde hace<\/span> make a clear difference to accuracy in speaking and writing.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              En, a, de, debajo de, por or para: the Spanish prepositions of place and time, and the traps English speakers fall into.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"menu_order":26,"template":"","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"Prepositions in Spanish: Place, Time, Por\/Para | VocaDial","_seopress_titles_desc":"Spanish prepositions of place and time with examples: en, a, de, sobre, debajo de, delante de, por and para, plus the traps for English speakers.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"_vd_topic":"prepositions","_vd_target":"es","_vd_module":"","_vd_level":"A1\u2013B1","_vd_minutes":"8","_vd_card_word":"por \/ para","_vd_answer":"The most common Spanish prepositions are en<\/span> (in, on, at), a<\/span> (to, at), de<\/span> (of, from), con<\/span> (with), por<\/span> and para<\/span> (for, through, by). For place, Spanish uses en<\/span> where English uses in, on or at (en casa<\/span>, en la mesa<\/span>), and compounds with de<\/span>: debajo de<\/span>, delante de<\/span>, al lado de<\/span>. Days need no preposition: \"on Monday\" is el lunes<\/span>.","_vd_faq":"[{\"q\":\"What are the most common prepositions in Spanish?\",\"a\":\"a<\\\/span>, de<\\\/span>, en<\\\/span>, con<\\\/span>, por<\\\/span>, para<\\\/span>, sin<\\\/span>, sobre<\\\/span>, entre<\\\/span>, hasta<\\\/span>, desde<\\\/span> and hacia<\\\/span>, plus compound ones such as debajo de<\\\/span> and al lado de<\\\/span>.\"},{\"q\":\"What is the difference between por and para?\",\"a\":\"Para<\\\/span> points to a goal: purpose, recipient, destination, deadline. Por<\\\/span> expresses cause, movement through, exchange, means and duration: Es para ti<\\\/span> (for you to have), Lo hago por ti<\\\/span> (for your sake).\"},{\"q\":\"How do you say \\\"on Monday\\\" in Spanish?\",\"a\":\"El lunes<\\\/span>, with no preposition. \\\"On Mondays\\\" is los lunes<\\\/span>.\"},{\"q\":\"Is it en or a for places?\",\"a\":\"En<\\\/span> for where you are (Estoy en Madrid<\\\/span>), a<\\\/span> for where you go (Voy a Madrid<\\\/span>).\"},{\"q\":\"How do you say \\\"in the morning\\\" in Spanish?\",\"a\":\"Por la ma\u00f1ana<\\\/span> in Spain; en la ma\u00f1ana<\\\/span> is common in Latin America, and a la ma\u00f1ana<\\\/span> in Argentina and Uruguay.\"},{\"q\":\"What is the personal a in Spanish?\",\"a\":\"The a<\\\/span> placed before a direct object that is a specific person: Veo a mi hermano.<\\\/span> It is not translated.\"}]","_vd_key":"prepositions-es","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-95","vd_ressource","type-vd_ressource","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vocadial.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vd_ressource\/95","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vocadial.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vd_ressource"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vocadial.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/vd_ressource"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vocadial.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vd_ressource\/95\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vocadial.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=95"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}