Prepositions of place in Spanish describe the location or position of people, objects, or places in relation to one another. They are essential for expressing where things are situated and for giving clear, precise directions.
- Connect nouns, pronouns, or phrases to show spatial relationships
- Are often simple one-word prepositions, but can also be phrases
- Similar in function to English prepositions like "in," "on," "under," "between," etc.
They express spatial relationships—where things are located relative to each other.
Common Spanish prepositions of place include: en, sobre, debajo de, entre, al lado de, delante de, detrás de.
Basic Prepositions of Place
| Spanish | English | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|
| en | in/on | El libro está en la mesa. (on/in) |
| sobre | on/above | La lámpara está sobre la mesa. (above/on) |
| bajo/debajo de | under/below | El gato está bajo la silla. (under) |
| delante de | in front of | El coche está delante de la casa. |
| detrás de | behind | El perro está detrás de la puerta. |
| al lado de | next to/beside | La tienda está al lado de la farmacia. |
| entre | between | El banco está entre la farmacia y la escuela. |
- Use en for both "in" and "on" depending on context.
- Prepositions like debajo de, delante de, detrás de, and al lado de are always followed by de + noun/pronoun when showing possession or relationship.
Only sentences using correct prepositions and forms are valid.
'Sobre' (or 'en') is used for 'on' when referring to the wall.
Usage Notes
- Spanish prepositions of place always match the logic of spatial relationships; direct translations from English sometimes mislead.
- For composite prepositions like debajo de, delante de, etc., never drop the de before a noun.
- When starting a sentence with a preposition, a capital letter is used: "Detrás de la escuela, hay un parque."
Conclusion
Spanish prepositions of place are crucial for expressing where things are and how they relate spatially.
- They include simple words like en, entre, and more complex forms like debajo de.
- Correct usage often depends on understanding the relationship between objects, not just direct translation.
Prepositions like 'debajo de', 'delante de', 'detrás de', and 'al lado de' require 'de' before the noun.
'Entre' is the correct preposition for 'between'.