Mastering Spanish Prepositions: Simple & Complex Forms, the Personal a, and Por vs. Para
Welcome to your complete revision guide for Prepositions in Pearson Edexcel A Level Spanish (9SP0). Prepositions are the essential connective tissue of the Spanish language. Whether you are translating unseen text in Paper 1, writing an essay on a literary text or film in Paper 2, or expressing your ideas fluently in your Paper 3 speaking exam, using prepositions accurately will instantly elevate the quality of your Spanish.
Don't worry if you find prepositions tricky—many students do because English and Spanish rarely translate prepositions word-for-word! In this guide, we will break down simple and complex prepositions, master the personal a, and demystify the famous por versus para debate once and for all.
---1. Simple Prepositions (Single-Word)
A simple preposition consists of just one word. They show relationships between nouns, pronouns, or actions in terms of space, time, direction, or cause.
The Essential A Level List:
• a: to, at
• ante: before, in the presence of, facing (e.g. ante el tribunal - before the court)
• bajo: under (e.g. bajo el régimen - under the regime)
• con: with
• contra: against
• de: of, from, about
• desde: since, from
• durante: during
• en: in, on, at
• entre: between, among
• hacia: towards, around (time)
• hasta: until, up to
• mediante: by means of, through
• para: for, in order to
• por: for, by, because of, through
• según: according to
• sin: without
• sobre: on, over, about
• tras: after, behind (e.g. tras la guerra - after the war)
Common Pitfall: English Preposition Interference (Anglicisms)
Examiners frequently notice literal translations from English into Spanish. Keep these vital verb + preposition combinations in mind:
• To think about someone/something = pensar en (NOT pensar sobre)
• To dream about = soñar con (NOT soñar sobre)
• To consist of = consistir en (NOT consistir de)
• To depend on = depender de (NOT depender en)
Key Takeaway: Never translate prepositions directly from English idioms. Always learn Spanish verbs together with the prepositions they naturally govern.
---2. Complex Prepositions (Prepositional Phrases)
Complex prepositions are multi-word expressions that function together as a single preposition. They are invaluable for adding sophistication, precision, and nuance to your A Level analytical writing.
Spatial and Temporal Prepositions
• al lado de: next to, beside
• antes de: before (time/action)
• después de: after (time/action)
• cerca de: near, close to
• lejos de: far from
• debajo de: underneath, below
• delante de: in front of
• detrás de: behind
• encima de: on top of
• enfrente de: opposite, facing
Logical and Abstract Prepositions
• a pesar de: in spite of, despite
• a través de: through, across
• en lugar de / en vez de: instead of
• en cuanto a: as for, regarding
• frente a: facing, in the face of
• junto a: next to, together with
• gracias a: thanks to
The Golden Structural Rule
Most complex prepositions end in de or a. When followed by an action, they must take an infinitive, never a conjugated verb or a gerund:
• Correct: Antes de comer, me lavo las manos. (Before eating...)
• Incorrect: Antes de comiendo...
• Correct: A pesar de tener dificultades, continuó. (In spite of having...)
Examiner Warning: Truncation Errors
A common error highlighted in Pearson Edexcel examiner reports is leaving off the final preposition in a complex phrase. For example, writing delante la casa instead of delante de la casa. Always ensure the full compound phrase is intact.
Key Takeaway: Complex prepositions finish with a linker (usually de or a) and connect directly to a noun phrase or an infinitive verb.
---3. The Personal a
The personal a has no direct equivalent in English, but it is one of the most rigorously marked grammatical elements at A Level.
What is the Personal a?
In Spanish, when the direct object of a verb is a specific person, an identifiable group of people, or a beloved/personified pet, you must insert the preposition a before that object.
When MUST You Use It?
1. With proper names and specific people:
• Veo a María todos los días. (I see María every day.)
• Busco a mi hermano en la multitud. (I am looking for my brother in the crowd.)
2. With indefinite pronouns referring to people:
• No conozco a nadie aquí. (I don't know anyone here.)
• ¿Ves a alguien? (Do you see someone?)
• El profesor felicitó a todos. (The teacher congratulated everyone.)
3. With personified pets:
• Llamo a mi perro Lucas. (I call my dog Lucas.)
When is the Personal a OMITTED?
1. With non-specific, unidentifiable people:
When you are referring to a category or profession rather than a specific individual, do not use a.
• La empresa necesita contratar camareros. (The company needs to hire [any] waiters.)
• Busco abogado. (I'm looking for a lawyer / any lawyer.)
2. After the verb tener:
The verb tener does not generally take the personal a when stating the existence or possession of family members or acquaintances.
• Tengo dos hermanas. (NOT: Tengo a dos hermanas)
• Tengo muchos amigos en España.
(Note: The personal 'a' is only used after 'tener' in rare cases where it means to hold or keep someone in a particular condition, e.g., 'Tienen al rehén' - They hold the hostage.)
Contraction Alert
Remember that when the personal a meets the masculine singular definite article el, they must contract to form al:
• Visito al (a + el) médico mañana.
Key Takeaway: Ask yourself: Is the direct object a specific human being? If yes, add a (unless the verb is tener).
---4. Discrimination: Por vs. Para
Both por and para often translate to "for" in English, but they represent entirely different logical directions in Spanish. Think of para as looking forward to a goal, recipient, or destination, while por looks backward or around to a cause, means, exchange, or duration.
When to Use PARA (The Forward-Looking Preposition)
• Destination (physical goal):
Salgo para Madrid a las ocho. (I am leaving for/towards Madrid at eight.)
• Purpose / Goal ("in order to" + infinitive):
Estudio mucho para aprobar el examen. (I study hard in order to pass the exam.)
• Recipient:
Este regalo es para ti. (This gift is for you.)
• Deadline / Specific Future Time:
El ensayo es para el lunes. (The essay is due for Monday.)
• Standard / Comparison (considering that...):
Para un niño de diez años, lee increíblemente bien. (For a ten-year-old child, he reads incredibly well.)
When to Use POR (The Cause, Journey, and Exchange Preposition)
• Motive / Reason / Cause ("because of", "on account of"):
Lo hice por amor. (I did it out of / because of love.)
Llegamos tarde por el tráfico. (We arrived late because of the traffic.)
• Duration of Time ("for a period of"):
Viví en Salamanca por dos años. (I lived in Salamanca for two years.)
• Movement through, along, or by:
Paseamos por el parque todos los domingos. (We walk through/around the park every Sunday.)
Entraron por la ventana. (They entered through the window.)
• Exchange / Price / Substitution:
Pagué veinte euros por el libro. (I paid twenty euros for the book.)
Muchas gracias por tu ayuda. (Thank you for your help.)
• Means of transport, communication, or agency:
Hablamos por teléfono. (We spoke by/over the phone.)
Te enviaré el documento por correo electrónico. (I will send you the document by email.)
Side-by-Side Comparison: Spot the Meaning Change!
• Time Context:
- Trabajo para las cinco. = The work must be done by/for 5:00 PM (Deadline).
- Trabajo por cinco horas. = I work for the span of 5 hours (Duration).
• Action Context:
- Lucho para ganar. = I fight in order to win (Goal / Objective).
- Lucho por mis derechos. = I fight on behalf of / because of my rights (Motive / Cause).
Key Takeaway: Use para for destinations, deadlines, recipients, and "in order to" goals. Use por for reasons/causes, durations, exchanges, means, and movement through an area.
---5. Quick Summary & Exam Checklist
Before submitting your Paper 2 essay or finalizing your Paper 1 translation, run through this quick preposition checklist:
1. Personal a Check: Did I include a before specific people, names, and pronouns like alguien or nadie? (Did I correctly leave it out after tener?)
2. Complex Preposition Completeness: Did I remember the trailing de or a (e.g. a pesar de, delante de, gracias a)?
3. Verb Follower Rule: Did I use an infinitive after prepositions like después de, antes de, para, and sin?
4. Por vs. Para Accuracy: Did I use para for deadlines and goals, and por for durations, causes, and exchanges?
5. Anglicism Check: Did I write pensar en (think about) and soñar con (dream about) instead of literal translations with sobre?