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See all lessonsWhat is Prepositions?
Prepositions connect nouns to the rest of the sentence and show place, time and direction. The most common are in, on, at, to, from, for, with and by. They do not map one-to-one onto Spanish: the same preposition can be translated in several ways.
When to use it
Place: in Mexico, on the table, at the door. Time: in July, on Monday, at 5 pm. Direction: go to school, come from Peru. There are also fixed pairs with certain verbs and adjectives: good at, interested in, depend on.
Common mistakes and tips for Spanish speakers
- Time rule: in for months and years, on for days and dates, at for hours and moments ("at night").
- After a preposition the verb takes -ing: "She is good at drawing", not "good at draw".
- Many combinations must be memorized: "married to", "afraid of", "listen to". Write them down in blocks.
Examples
The keys are on the table.
Las llaves están sobre la mesa.
I was born in May.
Nací en mayo.
We meet at seven.
Nos vemos a las siete.
She is afraid of dogs.
Ella le tiene miedo a los perros.