Preposiciones

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Marianopolita

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What is a preposition? - A preposition links nouns, pronouns and phrases to other words in a sentence.

Por and Para are two prepositions that get a lot of attention because its correct usage is problematic for some. However, how about other prepositions in Spanish. Prepositions are not transferable from one language to another. Some grammar rules do apply and the best way to learn correct usage is by reading and practice. Also, some verbs are followed by a preposition. For example 'pensar en' (to think about), 'olvidarse de' (to forget to/ to forget about), 'so?ar con' (to dream about).

Here is a list of common prepositions in Spanish:

a- at, to
ante- before
bajo- under
con- with
contra- against
de- from, of
desde- from, since
durante- during
en- in, on
entre- between, among
hacia- towards
hasta- until, as far as
por- for, by
para- for, in order to
salvo- except
sin- without
sobre- on, upon, above, about, over

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Fill in the missing preposition in each phrase: a, con, de, en, entre, para, por, sin

1) Medell?n es una de las ciudades m?s bellas ---- Colombia.
2) Me preocupo mucho ---- ti.
3) Vengo ---- decirte algo muy importante.
4) ---- decir verdad no s? la diferencia ---- los dos.
5) Contigo o ---- ti lo har?.
6) Tienes que entregar tus tareas ---- tiempo.
7) ---- repente empez? a llover.
8) Fumar es perjudicial ---- la salud.
9) Ayer vi algo muy interesante ---- la televisi?n.
10) ---- estas calles bravas es un libro escrito ---- Piri Tomas.
11)Vamos ----- la playa. Hace mucho calor.
12) Se me quedaron las llaves ---- casa.
13) Siempre est? hablando ---- tel?fono.
14) Me equivoqu? ---- ?l. Me trata muy mal.
15) No quiero pensar ---- eso. Voy a dejar ---- pensarlo.
16) ---- la RD y ---- Cuba hay playas ---- arena blanca.
17) ---- nivel mundial hay mucha pobreza.
18) Despu?s ----- lo que pas? me vengu? ----- ella.
19) El festival tendr? lugar ---- el Parque Central.
20) Me olvid? ----- traer mis libros.
21) Se levant? muy temprano ----- ir ---- trabajar.
22) De acuerdo ---- la polic?a la balacera occuri? ---- la madrugada.
23) La semana que viene estar? ---- vacaciones.
24) Tienes que prestar atenci?n ---- clase.
25) Mira la televisi?n y estudia ---- la vez.

* Again I tried to create simple phrases.
* I will review these later on today.
 
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xamaicano

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1) Medell?n es una de las ciudades m?s bellas en Colombia.
2) Me preocupo mucho de ti.
3) Vengo a decirte algo muy importante.
4) a decir verdad no s? la diferencia entre los dos.
5) Contigo o sin ti lo har?.
6) Tienes que entregar tus tareas a tiempo.
7) de repente empez? a llover.
8) Fumar es perjudicial para la salud.
9) Ayer vi algo muy interesante en la televisi?n.
10) Por estas calles bravas es un libro escrito por Piri Tomas.
11)Vamos a la playa. Hace mucho calor.
12) Se me quedaron las llaves en casa.
13) Siempre est? hablando por tel?fono.
14) Me equivoqu? de ?l. Me trata muy mal.
15) No quiero pensar en eso. Voy a dejar de pensarlo.
16) En la RD y en Cuba hay playas con arena blanca.
17) A nivel mundial hay mucha pobreza.
18) Despu?s de lo que pas? me vengu? de ella.
19) El festival tendr? lugar en el Parque Central.
20) Me olvid? de traer mis libros.
21) Se levant? muy temprano para ir a trabajar.
22) De acuerdo con la polic?a la balacera occuri? en la madrugada.
23) La semana que viene estar? de vacaciones.
24) Tienes que prestar atenci?n en clase.
25) Mira la televisi?n y estudia a la vez.

Had to guess some of these. BTW Lesley, I really appreciate your exercises.
 

Marianopolita

Former Spanish forum Mod 2010-2021
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Great work as usual!

Corrections:

1) Medell?n es una de las ciudades m?s bellas en Colombia.

Correction: Medell?n es una de las ciudades m?s bellas DE Colombia.
Reason: In 'superlative' constructions in Spanish 'de' is used as opposed to 'en' in English. Key word: 'm?s'.

2) Me preocupo mucho de ti.

Correction: Me preocupo mucho POR ti.
Reason: the intended meaning of this phrase is 'to worry about someone' as in 'inquietarse'.

'Preocuparse de' has a slightly different meaning which is 'ocuparse' which means to ensure that.... 'Me preocupo de que tenga todo'.... 'I make sure that he has everything'.

14) Me equivoqu? de ?l. Me trata muy mal.

Correction: Me equivoqu? CON ?l. Me trata muy mal.
Reason: The intended meaning of this phrase is 'I was wrong about him'. However, I understand why you used 'de' which would be correct if it were a phrase like 'Me equivoqu? de n?mero' (I dialed the wrong number). My suggestion is look at the word after the preposition which usually eliminates certain choices.

16) En la RD y en Cuba hay playas con arena blanca.

Correction: En la RD y en Cuba hay playas DE arena blanca.
Reason: This is idiomatic usage when describing 'a type of xxx'. It may help to put a phrase afterwards such as 'las playas de arena blanca de Cuba son xxx' . Also changing the phrase around sometimes helps to choose the correct preposition.


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Your quote: BTW Lesley, I really appreciate your exercises.

No problem! As long as they are helpful it gives me great pleasure.

-------------

LDG.
 

Marianopolita

Former Spanish forum Mod 2010-2021
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Mainegirl,

I am glad that you found the practice exercise helpful. Out of curiosity may I ask what in particular you found enlightening or what was/were the useful point/s that you learned?


LDG.


MaineGirl said:
Leslie, thank you. I learned something useful and I will be sharing this post with my students.
 

MaineGirl

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Lesley D said:
What is a preposition? - A preposition links nouns, pronouns and phrases to other words in a sentence.
Prepositions are not transferable from one language to another. Some grammar rules do apply and the best way to learn correct usage is by reading and practice.

Just reading this made me feel like all the reading and writing I have my students do is worthwhile. Thanks.

I am very unhappy with my textbook series (Paso a Paso). I wish to teach grammar, reading and writing, and a certain amount of oral fluency. ANy text suggestions? I have mostly 14-17 year olds. The state learning requirements are something of a joke.
 

Marianopolita

Former Spanish forum Mod 2010-2021
Dec 26, 2003
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MaineGirl,

Well, I am glad you like my summary/ definition of prepositions because it's true they are not transferable instead 'son muy traicioneras'. Chances are if you try to translate literally from Eng/Span or Span/Eng it will be wrong. As well, some verbs take a preposition in English and not in Spanish. For example 'buscar' which means 'to look for'. The 'for' is not required in Spanish. I say this all the time 'no tienes que decir estoy buscando por xxxx' but it's because in English one says 'I am looking for xxx".

The textbook you referenced 'Paso a Paso' I am not familiar with although I have good references. However, two that I think are very good for Intermediate students are: Con mucho gusto and Conexiones. Conexiones is available on-line.

LDG.



MaineGirl said:
Just reading this made me feel like all the reading and writing I have my students do is worthwhile. Thanks.

I am very unhappy with my textbook series (Paso a Paso). I wish to teach grammar, reading and writing, and a certain amount of oral fluency. ANy text suggestions? I have mostly 14-17 year olds. The state learning requirements are something of a joke.
 
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