B1 Spanish GrammarAdvanced Prepositions
Master tricky Spanish prepositions: por vs para, a personal, compound prepositions, and verbs with specific preposition requirements. Understand the nuances that distinguish intermediate from advanced speakers.
1Por vs Para
Both mean 'for' but have distinct uses. Por expresses cause, exchange, duration, 'through', and 'by'. Para expresses purpose, destination, deadlines, and recipient. This is one of the trickiest distinctions in Spanish.
Por vs Para
| Por (reason, exchange, through) | Para (purpose, destination, deadline) |
|---|---|
| cause: por el frío | purpose: para estudiar |
| exchange: por 20 euros | recipient: para ti |
| duration: por dos horas | deadline: para el lunes |
| through: por el parque | destination: para Madrid |
| by means: por avión | comparison: para ser niño |
Examples
Lo hice por ti. / Lo hice para ti.
I did it because of you. / I did it for you.
por = cause, para = benefit
Pagué veinte euros por el libro.
I paid twenty euros for the book.
por = exchange
Esto es para mañana.
This is for tomorrow.
para = deadline
Caminamos por el centro para llegar al museo.
We walked through downtown to get to the museum.
por = through, para = purpose
2Personal A
The 'personal a' is required before direct objects that are specific people or personified things. It has no English translation. It's not used with tener (except for emphasis) or with indefinite people.
Personal A Rules
| Use A | No A |
|---|---|
| specific person: Veo a María | thing: Veo la casa |
| personified: Amo a mi perro | indefinite: Busco un médico |
| who/whom questions: ¿A quién ves? | tener: Tengo dos hijos |
| pronouns: Te quiero a ti | groups: Necesito empleados |
Examples
Conozco a tu hermano.
I know your brother.
specific person - a required
Busco a alguien que hable inglés.
I'm looking for someone who speaks English.
alguien - a required
Tengo tres hermanas. (No a)
I have three sisters.
tener - no personal a
¿A quién llamaste?
Whom did you call?
a quién for people
3Compound Prepositions
Compound prepositions combine a preposition with de: antes de (before), después de (after), cerca de (near), lejos de (far from), encima de (on top of), debajo de (under), delante de (in front of).
Common Compound Prepositions
| Spanish | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| antes de | before | antes de comer |
| después de | after | después de trabajar |
| cerca de | near | cerca de aquí |
| lejos de | far from | lejos de casa |
| encima de | on top of | encima de la mesa |
| debajo de | under | debajo de la cama |
| delante de | in front of | delante del cine |
| detrás de | behind | detrás del edificio |
Examples
Llegué antes de las ocho.
I arrived before eight.
antes de + time
El restaurante está cerca del centro.
The restaurant is near downtown.
de + el = del
Después de cenar, vemos una película.
After dinner, we watch a movie.
después de + infinitive
Las llaves están encima de la mesa.
The keys are on top of the table.
location preposition
4Verbs with Prepositions
Many Spanish verbs require specific prepositions that don't match English. Memorize verb + preposition combinations. Common patterns: verb + a, verb + de, verb + en, verb + con.
Common Verb + Preposition
| Spanish | English | Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| pensar en | to think about | Pienso en ti |
| soñar con | to dream about | Sueño con viajar |
| depender de | to depend on | Depende de ti |
| insistir en | to insist on | Insiste en pagar |
| acordarse de | to remember | Me acuerdo de todo |
| enamorarse de | to fall in love with | Se enamoró de ella |
Examples
¿En qué piensas?
What are you thinking about?
pensar en (not sobre)
Me olvidé de llamarte.
I forgot to call you.
olvidarse de
Ella se parece a su madre.
She looks like her mother.
parecerse a
No confío en él.
I don't trust him.
confiar en