Spanish Prepositions of Place, Time, and More: Practice Quiz and Worksheets
Get ready to master prepositions in Spanish with this detailed guide!
In this guide, I go over exactly what prepositions are and how to use them in Spanish. With its helpful Spanish preposition charts and real-world examples, this blog will have you using prepositions like a pro in no time! At the end of the guide, be sure to take the free interactive quiz and download the printable worksheets for even more preposition practice.
It’s time to get one step closer to fluency!
What are Prepositions?
You use prepositions every day without even thinking about it! Anytime you use words like “a,” “to,” or “of” you’re unknowingly using a preposition.
A preposition is a word or group of words used before a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun to show direction, time, spatial relationships, place, location, or to introduce an object.
Basically, prepositions are words that connect or establish a relationship between different elements of a sentence. They are often used to give listening information about the place, time, or reason. Let’s go over some examples of prepositions and see if you can tell if it is a preposition of time or place.
Examples of Prepositions
Pedro has gone to the bakery.
I will leave at 6 pm.
In the first example, the preposition “to” is used as a preposition of place. It’s used to indicate where Pedro is headed. However, in the second example, the preposition “at” is used as a preposition of time. It’s indicating when I will leave.
Free Spanish Prepositions Worksheet PDFs
Download our Free Spanish Prepositions Quiz!
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Gain hands-on practice with this free and downloadable Spanish preposition worksheet! Cement what you learned in the blog by filling in the fun exercises and practice questions.
For even more preposition practice, take a look at our video guide:
Spanish Prepositions Improve Fluency!
Prepositions are a language tool that you use every day without thinking! Learning how to use prepositions in Spanish drastically improves your Spanish language fluency.
Just like in English, prepositions in Spanish are in nearly every sentence! They’re a mandatory part of the language learning experience. Luckily, this helpful guide goes over the different types of Spanish prepositions and shows you exactly how to use them!
Prepositions in Spanish
A great thing to note about Spanish prepositions is that they never change! No need to worry about masculine, feminine, or plural attributes, the preposition always stays the same.
Another wonderful thing about Spanish prepositions is that there aren’t too many you need to learn. According to the Spanish Royal Academy, there are only 23 official Spanish prepositions! The language uses different combinations and phrases with these 23 prepositions to create more versatile ways to use them.
Prepositions and Pronouns and Nouns
Prepositions are placed in front of nouns and pronouns. Pronouns are words like “him,” “her,” and “them” while nouns can be people, places, or things.
Prepositions are used to show the relationship between the pronoun or noun and the rest of the sentence. Take a look at some examples of nouns and pronouns after prepositions!
Formula
preposition + noun/pronoun
Examples
Me fui con ella.
I went with her.
Ayudamos a la gente.
We help people.
Este regalo es para ti.
This gift is for you.
Esta es la casa de Pedro.
This is Pedro’s house.
Cuido a mis primos.
I take care of my cousins.
Prepositions with Verbs
Let’s go over how to use verbs with prepositions in Spanish!
When a verb follows a preposition in Spanish, it always goes in the infinitive form. This is the form of the verb with endings like ar, er, or ir.
This is just slightly different from English. In English, when a verb follows a preposition, you use the “-ing” ending.
Take a look at this formula!
Formula
preposition + infinitive
Examples
Voy a ir a la tienda.
I’m going to the store.
Ellos van a nadar.
They are going to swim.
Me alegro de recibir la buena noticia.
I am happy about getting the good news.
Insistimos en ir a la fiesta.
We insist on going to the party.
Se disculpa por llegar tarde.
He apologizes for arriving late.
Prepositions of Place
Prepositions of location are some of the most common prepositions! They come in handy anytime you need to talk about where you’re headed or where you’re from. Check out this list with meanings to learn the prepositions of place.
Example Sentences
Estoy en la casa de mi abuela.
I’m at my grandmother’s house.
¿Eres de Tokio?
Are you from Tokyo?
Hay una mosca sobre la mesa.
There is a fly on the table.
Estamos sentados alrededor de la hoguera.
We’re sitting around the campfire.
Time Prepositions
Conversing in Spanish often leads you to discuss topics of time. Whether you need to say when you’re arriving, when you need to leave, or just asking what time it is, this Spanish preposition chart will come in handy!
| Spanish | English |
| a | at |
| antes de | before |
| de | of, about, from |
| dentro de | within, inside, in |
| desde | since, from |
| después de | after |
| durante | during, for |
| en | in, into, by, inside, within, at |
| hasta | up to, until |
| por | for |
| sobre | about, around, approximately |
| tras | after |
Example Sentences
Siempre me despierto a las 7 de la mañana.
I always wake up at 7am.
La conferencia es el 10 de marzo.
The conference is on 10 March.
Se jubiló en mayo.
She retired in May.
Vivo en Brighton desde enero.
I’ve been living in Brighton since January.
Other Prepositions
Sometimes prepositions don’t relate to time or place, but have a different purpose instead. These Spanish preposition translations will prepare you for just about any type of situation!
| Spanish | English |
| a | to, at |
| a favor de | in favor of |
| a pesar de | despite |
| con | with |
| de | of, from |
| en | in, on, at |
| en contra de | against, in opposition to |
| gracias a | thanks to |
| por | for, by |
| para | for, in order to |
| según | according to |
| sin | without |
| sobre | about, on, upon, above, over, around |
Example Sentences
El libro pertenece a Anthony.
The book belongs to Anthony.
Ha hecho el dibujo con un crayón.
She drew the picture with a crayon.
Recibí un paquete de un amigo.
I got a package from a friend.
Nunca sale sin su teléfono.
She never leaves without her phone.
Prepositions and Articles
It’s important to take note of prepositions like a and de. These two short prepositions are the only prepositions that are combined with the masculine singular definite article el to form a single word. Take a look at the formula below!
Formula
preposition + article
a + el = al
de + el = del
Examples
Yo voy al cine.
I’m going to the movies.
Al perro del vecino le gusta ladrar.
The neighbor’s dog likes to bark.
Prepositions with Estar
The Spanish verb estar is frequently followed by a preposition. Estar has no single English definition but is usually related with the verb “to be.”
Let’s check out the most common estar and preposition combinations!
Estar con
Estar con can be used to indicate illnesses, what a person is wearing, who they are with, and other characteristics:
Tengo una amiga que está con la influenza porcina.
I have a friend who has swine flu.
Estar a
Estar a is used in a variety of contexts. It can convey the idea of being in a situation.
Estamos a 30 grados.
It is 30 degrees. (Literally means “we are at 30 degrees.)
Estar de
Estar de is used to express temporary situations including roles, employment, and emotions.
Estoy de acuerdo contigo.
I agree with you.
Estar en
Estar en is the Spanish equivalent of “to be in.”
Está en buena condición la carretera.
The road is in good condition.
Estar por
When estar por is followed by the infinitive, it means that the infinitive’s action has yet to occur or that it will occur soon.
Estoy por salir de viaje desde Buenos Aires a Asunción.
I am about to leave on a trip from Buenos Aires to Asunción.
Estar sin
Estar sin is the opposite of estar con! It means “to be without.”
Estoy sin dinero.
I am out of money.
Spanish Prepositions Quiz
Test your Spanish preposition knowledge with this fun interactive quiz!
1. Se sentó __ la silla. (He sat on the chair.)
2. El sol está por __ las nubes. (The sun is above the clouds.)
3. Volveré __ 3 semanas. (I'll be back in 3 weeks.)
4. Nadó __ el lago. (He swam at the lake.)
5. Me gusta esa canción __ 1999. (I have liked that song since 1999.)
6. No saldremos __ las 3 de la tarde. (We will not leave before 3pm.)
7. ¿__ dónde eres? (Where are you from?)
8. Mi cartera está __ mi bolígrafo. (My wallet is next to my pen.)
9. Vivo __ el mar. (I live near the sea.)
10. No puedo vivir __ mi teléfono. (I can’t live without my phone.)
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Learning Spanish opens up a whole new set of doors in your life! With over 50 million Spanish speakers in the United States alone, there are plenty of people to converse with. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hispanics make up the nation’s largest ethnic minority. Clearly, your Spanish skills enable you to learn from and talk to more people!
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