Mastering Spanish Prepositions: Personal a, de, Preposition + Infinitive & Fixed Combinations
Welcome! Prepositions are small linking words like "to", "of", "for", "with", and "without". Even though they are tiny, getting them right is one of the easiest ways to score top marks in your AQA GCSE Spanish (8692) exams. Whether you are translating in Paper 4, speaking in Paper 2, or listening in Paper 1, prepositions hold your sentences together. Don't worry if preposition rules seem a bit unusual at first—we will break down each rule step-by-step with simple patterns and everyday examples!
---1. The Personal a (La 'a' personal)
In English, we say "I see my friend" and "I see the car" using the exact same sentence structure. In Spanish, however, there is a special golden rule: people and beloved pets get VIP treatment!
The Golden Rule
When the direct object of a verb is a specific person, a named pet, or a group of people, you must place the preposition a directly in front of them. In English, we do not translate this a into anything—it is purely a grammar marker.
Look at the difference:
• Person (VIP rule applies): Visito a mi abuela. (I visit my grandmother.)
• Object (No VIP rule): Visito el museo. (I visit the museum.)
• Person (VIP rule applies): Veo a mis amigos. (I see my friends.)
• Object (No VIP rule): Veo la película. (I watch the film.)
The Contraction Alert: a + el = al
Spanish hates awkward sounds. If the personal a meets the masculine word for "the" (el), they must merge together into al.
• Veo al profesor. (I see the teacher. Why? a + el profesor = al profesor).
• Visito a la médica. (No merge needed here because la is feminine: a la médica).
When NOT to Use the Personal a
1. Inanimate objects and things: Never use it for objects or places (e.g., Compro el pan, NOT Compro al pan).
2. After the verb tener (to have): When stating that you have family members or pets in general, drop the a.
• Example: Tengo dos hermanos. (NOT Tengo a dos hermanos).
• Example: Tengo un perro. (NOT Tengo a un perro).
Key Takeaway for Personal a: If you are doing an action directly to a specific person or pet, put a in front. If it's a masculine noun with el, blend them into al!
---2. De for Possession & The Contraction del
Did you know? The apostrophe-s ('s) that we use in English for possession (like "Hugo's house" or "my sister's dog") does not exist in Spanish!
How Spanish Shows Possession
To show that something belongs to someone, Spanish flips the word order and uses the preposition de (of):
[The item] + de + [The owner]
• English: Hugo's house \(\rightarrow\) Spanish: La casa de Hugo (Literally: "The house of Hugo")
• English: My friend's dog \(\rightarrow\) Spanish: El perro de mi amiga
• English: My brother's car \(\rightarrow\) Spanish: El coche de mi hermano
The Contraction Alert: de + el = del
Just like with a + el, whenever de meets the masculine singular article el, they must snap together into del.
• El coche del profesor (The teacher's car \(\rightarrow\) de + el profesor becomes del profesor).
• El libro del estudiante (The student's book \(\rightarrow\) de + el estudiante becomes del estudiante).
• La casa de la profesora (No merge needed with feminine la).
Key Takeaway for Possession: Never write an English apostrophe in Spanish. Always use [item] + de + [owner], and remember that de + el always becomes del.
---3. Preposition + Infinitive Constructions
Here is one of the most important grammar rules for GCSE Spanish: Whenever a verb comes immediately after a preposition, that verb MUST be in the infinitive (-ar, -er, or -ir form).
In English, we usually add "-ing" after prepositions (e.g., "before eating", "without saying"). In Spanish, you must resist the temptation to use an -ando/-iendo ending!
The Four Essential GCSE Structures
1. para + infinitive = "in order to / to (do something)"
Use this to explain your aim or purpose.
• Estudio mucho para sacar buenas notas. (I study hard in order to get good grades.)
• Ahorro dinero para comprar un móvil nuevo. (I save money to buy a new phone.)
2. sin + infinitive = "without (doing something)"
Use this to say an action happened without another taking place.
• Salió sin decir nada. (He left without saying anything.)
• Hizo el examen sin usar el diccionario. (She did the exam without using the dictionary.)
3. antes de + infinitive = "before (doing something)"
Remember to include the de!
• Antes de comer, me lavo las manos. (Before eating, I wash my hands.)
• Antes de salir, apago la luz. (Before going out, I turn off the light.)
4. después de + infinitive = "after (doing something)"
Remember to include the de!
• Después de terminar los deberes, juego a los videojuegos. (After finishing homework, I play video games.)
• Después de cenar, veo la televisión. (After having dinner, I watch television.)
Key Takeaway: After para, sin, antes de, and después de, always keep the verb in its original dictionary form (ending in -ar, -er, or -ir).
---4. Prescribed Verb + Preposition Combinations
Some Spanish verbs are "glued" to a specific preposition when followed by an infinitive or a noun. Translating these word-for-word from English will lead to errors, so think of these as fixed pairs to learn by heart!
A. Verbs taking a + infinitive
• aprender a + infinitive = to learn to do something
Aprendo a conducir. (I am learning to drive.)
• empezar a / comenzar a + infinitive = to start / begin doing something
Empiezo a estudiar a las seis. (I start studying at six o'clock.)
Comienza a llover. (It is starting to rain.)
• ayudar a + person / infinitive = to help to do something
Ayudo a mi madre a limpiar la casa. (I help my mother to clean the house.)
B. Verbs taking de
• dejar de + infinitive = to stop / give up doing something
Mi padre decidió dejar de fumar. (My father decided to stop smoking.)
• tratar de + infinitive = to try to do something
Trato de reciclar más plástico. (I try to recycle more plastic.)
• ir de + noun = to go on / for (activities & trips)
Me encanta ir de compras. (I love to go shopping.)
Vamos a ir de vacaciones a España. (We are going to go on holiday to Spain.)
C. Verbs taking en or con
• pensar en + noun / infinitive = to think about
Siempre pienso en mi futuro. (I always think about my future.)
(Caution: Do NOT use "pensar sobre"!)
• soñar con + noun / infinitive = to dream about / of
Sueño con viajar por todo el mundo. (I dream of travelling all over the world.)
(Caution: Do NOT use "soñar sobre" or "soñar de"!)
• consistir en + noun / infinitive = to consist of
El examen consiste en cuatro partes. (The exam consists of four parts.)
(Caution: Do NOT use "consistir de"!)
D. The Preposition-Free Verb: buscar
In English, we say "I look for my keys". In Spanish, buscar already means "to look for".
• Correct: Busco un trabajo. (I am looking for a job.)
• Incorrect: Busco para un trabajo (Never put para or por after buscar!).
5. Common Pitfalls & Examiner Warnings
Examiners frequently spot these common traps in Foundation and Higher tier papers. Keep these in mind to protect your marks!
Trap 1: The English "-ing" Mistake
• Incorrect: Antes de comiendo...
• Correct: Antes de comer...
Rule check: Spanish prepositions MUST take the infinitive!
Trap 2: The Literal English Preposition Translation (Calques)
• Incorrect: Pienso sobre ti \(\rightarrow\) Correct: Pienso en ti (I think about you)
• Incorrect: Sueño de ganar \(\rightarrow\) Correct: Sueño con ganar (I dream of winning)
• Incorrect: Consiste de pan \(\rightarrow\) Correct: Consiste en pan (It consists of bread)
Trap 3: Forgetting Mandatory Contractions
• Incorrect: Voy a el cine \(\rightarrow\) Correct: Voy al cine (a + el = al)
• Incorrect: La casa de el chico \(\rightarrow\) Correct: La casa del chico (de + el = del)
Trap 4: Missing the Personal a
• Incorrect: Ayer visité mi abuelo.
• Correct: Ayer visité a mi abuelo. (Or al abuelo if using the definite article!)
6. Quick Revision Summary Checklist
Before your exam, test yourself with these rapid review questions:
1. Personal a: Did I include a before specific people/pets? (Visito a mi tío).
2. No personal a with tener: Did I leave it out after tener? (Tengo una hermana).
3. Contractions: Did I write al instead of a el, and del instead of de el?
4. Possession: Did I avoid apostrophes and use la casa de María?
5. Preposition + Verb: Is the verb an infinitive after para, sin, antes de, and después de?
6. Fixed Pairs: Am I using pensar en, soñar con, dejar de, and aprender a?