- a.
- Signifies direction:
a Madrid – (where?) to Madrid - With verbs of movement signifies purpose:
Voy a la biblioteca a estudiar – I am going to the library to study - Is used with animated object:
Conozco a María – I know Maria - Is used to indicate time of the day:
a las ocho – at eight (o’clock) - con.
- Signifies an accompanying person or object and in this case is translated by the English preposition "with”:
Voy al cine con mi madre – I am going to the cinema (with whom?) with my mum
pollo con patatas – chicken (with what?) with potatoes
¡OJO (Attention)! With the words yo, tú forms the specific forms conmigo, contigo.
- de.
- Signifies belonging:
el coche de la profesora – (whose?) the teacher’s car - Signifies the type or category of an object:
un coche de moda – (what? what kind of?) a fashionable car - Signifies the starting point in the space:
vengo de la reunión – I am going (from where?) from the meeting - Signifies the origins and the nationality:
Mi padre es de Italia – My father is from Italy - Combination of prepositions de… a…
- Signifies an interval in space or time:
de Madrid a Barcelona – from Madrid to Barcelona
de lunes a jueves – from Monday till Thursday - en.
- Signifies position:
en el centro – (where?) in the centre - With no article signifies the type of transport:
voy en coche – I am going (by which kind of transport?) by car - With no article with names of months and seasons means a time interval:
en abril – in April
en primavera – in spring - para.
- Means the purpose of an action:
Trabajamos para vivir – We work (what for?) for a living. - Обозначает адресата действия:
Este disco es para mi prima – This CD is (for whom?) for my cousin - por.
- Means the reason and is translated as «because of»:
Está preocupada por la falta de dinero – She is worried (why?) because of the lack of money - Means a period of time:
Trabajo por la mañana – I work in the morning /in the mornings - Means spatial extension:
Paseo por el parque – I walk (where?) trough the park