Prepositions and postpositions
Which word shows the link, and does it come before or after the words it goes with?
Meaning
Some languages use separate words before or after a noun or pronoun to show its relation to the rest of the sentence. These words can express place, time, direction, cause, or links between participants. Prepositions come before the words they go with, postpositions after them; some languages rely on attached endings instead. Unlike Endings, prepositions and postpositions are separate words.
How to spot it
Look for recurring separate words that stand before or after words naming a person, thing, place, or time and link them to the rest of the sentence.
In your native language
English uses prepositions such as in, on, at, to, and with, normally before a noun or pronoun. They express place, time, and other links, and particular verbs or adjectives may require a particular preposition. In many questions, the preposition can stay after the verb rather than moving to the front.
Your glasses are on the shelf.
On comes before the shelf and marks a surface location.
The shop opens at nine.
At marks a clock time.
Who are you waiting for?
For stays with wait even though who comes at the start.
In your learning language
Spanish uses prepositions, separate words placed before a noun or pronoun, to express links such as place, direction, origin, possession, and means. Common choices include en for location, a for a destination, de for origin or possession, and con for a companion or tool. A and de combine with the masculine singular article el as al and del.
Lucía vive en Valencia.
Lucía lives in Valencia.
Mañana vamos al mercado.
Tomorrow we're going to the market.
Al combines a and el.
El autobús sale del centro a las ocho.
The bus leaves the town center at eight.
Del combines de and el and marks the departure point.
Learners whose language uses endings or postpositions may overlook the position of Spanish prepositions or assume that one form always matches one meaning. Learners whose language keeps prepositions and articles separate may write *a el mercado instead of al mercado.