- Use 5 core prepositions - Master en, de, a, con, sin in daily situations
- Master al/del contractions - Automatically combine a+el and de+el correctly
- Ask and answer location questions - Where people/things are and where they're going
- Express time relationships - Use desde/hasta for schedules and routines
- Describe spatial relationships - Position objects using en, sobre, debajo de
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Common Prepositions & Contractions (en, de, a, con, sin, al/del)
What You'll Learn
Overview / Usage
Prepositions are the small words that connect everything in Spanish! They tell us where things are, when things happen, and how things relate to each other. At A1 level, you only need a handful of essential prepositions to communicate effectively.
🎯 The Magic Contractions
Spanish has two special contractions you MUST know from day one:
a + el = al
Voy al parque
Voy al parque
de + el = del
Vengo del banco
Vengo del banco
This page teaches you the essential prepositions every A1 learner needs, plus the two mandatory contractions that will make you sound natural from the start!
Structure & Formation
🎯 Part 1: The Essential Five
1. EN - In, On, At (Location)
Use en to say where something or someone IS located.
Location Examples
Estoy en casa
I am at home
El libro está en la mesa
The book is on the table
Places
Trabajo en Madrid
I work in Madrid
Vivo en España
I live in Spain
2. A - To, At (Direction/Time)
Use a for movement TO a place or for telling time.
⚠️ CONTRACTION ALERT!
a + el = AL (ALWAYS!)
❌ Voy a el parque
✅ Voy al parque
✅ Voy al parque
Movement (with contractions)
Voy a la escuela
I go to school (no contraction - la)
Voy al parque
I go to the park (a + el = al)
Time
Como a las dos
I eat at two o'clock
Llego a las ocho
I arrive at eight
⚠️ Special Case: "CASA"
✅ Estoy EN casa (I'm at home) - location
✅ Voy A casa (I'm going home) - movement
❌ Estoy a casa - NEVER! This doesn't exist!
✅ Voy A casa (I'm going home) - movement
❌ Estoy a casa - NEVER! This doesn't exist!
3. DE - From, Of (Origin/Possession)
Use de to show where something comes FROM or to show possession (of).
⚠️ CONTRACTION ALERT!
de + el = DEL (ALWAYS!)
❌ Vengo de el banco
✅ Vengo del banco
✅ Vengo del banco
Origin (with contractions)
Vengo de la tienda
I come from the store
Vengo del trabajo
I come from work (de + el = del)
Possession
El libro del profesor
The teacher's book (de + el = del)
La casa de María
María's house
4 & 5. CON / SIN - With / Without
These never change form and are super easy to use!
CON (with)
Vivo con mi familia
I live with my family
Café con leche
Coffee with milk
SIN (without)
Café sin azúcar
Coffee without sugar
Salgo sin paraguas
I go out without an umbrella
⚡ Part 2: The Contractions in Action
Master the Contractions
AL = a + el
| ✅ Voy al cine | (to the cinema) |
| ✅ Llego al mediodía | (at noon) |
| ✅ Voy a la playa | (no contraction with la) |
| ✅ Voy a los parques | (no contraction with los) |
DEL = de + el
| ✅ Vengo del banco | (from the bank) |
| ✅ El coche del profesor | (the teacher's car) |
| ✅ Vengo de la escuela | (no contraction with la) |
| ✅ Los libros de las niñas | (no contraction with las) |
Remember: ONLY with "el" - never with la, los, or las!
🕐 Part 3: Time & Movement
A. Time Essentials (desde/hasta)
🎯 Daily Survival Phrases
Trabajo de lunes a viernes
I work from Monday to Friday
Estudio desde las 9 hasta la 1
I study from 9 until 1
No trabajo los sábados
I don't work on Saturdays
DESDE (from/since)
Desde las ocho
From/since eight o'clock
Desde el lunes
Since Monday
HASTA (until/to)
Hasta las cinco
Until five o'clock
Hasta mañana
Until tomorrow (See you tomorrow)
B. Movement Through Space (POR)
Use por to describe moving THROUGH or ALONG a physical space.
Camino por el parque
I walk through the park
El autobús pasa por mi calle
The bus goes along my street
💡 A1 Tip: For now, only use "por" for physical movement through spaces. Save other uses for A2!
📍 Part 4: Location in Space
Three Essential Position Words
SOBRE (on top)
📦
EN (in/inside)
DEBAJO DE (under)
El libro está sobre la mesa
The book is on (top of) the table
El gato está debajo de la mesa
The cat is under the table
Examples
🎯 Survival Phrase Box
Memorize These A1 Essentials!
Daily Routine
- Trabajo de 9 a 5
- Vivo en Madrid
- Voy al supermercado
- Vengo del trabajo
Time & Schedule
- Estudio desde las 8 hasta las 12
- Como con mi familia
- No trabajo los domingos
- No estudio los sábados
💬 Real-Life Situations
At Home (En casa)
El teléfono está en la mesa
The phone is on the table
Mi hermano está en su habitación
My brother is in his room
Ceno con mi familia a las ocho
I have dinner with my family at eight
Going Places (Ir a lugares)
Voy al centro en autobús
I go to the center by bus
Camino desde mi casa hasta la escuela
I walk from my house to school
Paso por el parque todos los días
I go through the park every day
Gotchas / Common Mistakes
⚠️ Common Preposition Mistakes
❌ The 'casa' confusion
❌ Wrong: Estoy a casa / Voy en casa
✅ Right: Estoy EN casa (location) / Voy A casa (movement)
EN for location (being there), A for movement (going there)
❌ Forgetting contractions
❌ Wrong: Voy a el parque / El libro de el profesor
✅ Right: Voy AL parque / El libro DEL profesor
a + el = al, de + el = del - ALWAYS! No exceptions!
❌ Wrong contraction with feminine
❌ Wrong: Voy a la tienda → 'ala tienda'
✅ Right: Voy a la tienda (stays separate)
Contractions ONLY happen with 'el', never with la, los, las
❌ Using 'en' for time (English interference)
❌ Wrong: Llego en las cinco
✅ Right: Llego A las cinco
Use 'a' for time expressions, not 'en'
Quick Test / Mini Quiz
📝 Test Your Preposition Skills
Can you use prepositions and contractions correctly?
1
How do you say 'I go to the park'?
2
Which is correct: 'I'm at home'?
3
How do you say 'The teacher's book'?
4
Complete: 'Trabajo ___ lunes ___ viernes'
5
Which preposition for 'I walk THROUGH the park'?
6
How do you say 'Coffee without sugar'?
7
Complete: 'Estudio ___ las 9 ___ la 1'
8
Which DOESN'T need a contraction?
Useful Resources
Coming soon...