Common Spanish grammar mistakes and how to avoid them

At Spanishtutor.es our mission is to help you learn Spanish online while immersing you in an enriching culture. We know you are a brave student, and we want to make your journey easier with this post about common Spanish grammar mistakes using prepositions and how to avoid them. Whether you are taking online Spanish classes, exploring Spanish language courses, or delving into Spanish lessons for beginners, these tips are essential. Our Spanish grammar tutorials will guide you through the intricacies of prepositions. Study Spanish at home with the best Spanish tutors and enjoy fun Spanish learning. Grab a pen and paper and don’t miss these great tips.

What are prepositions? Which prepositions are there in Spanish?

Prepositions are invariable words whose primary function is to link two parts of a sentence. This means that prepositions do not change form regardless of the gender, number, or case of the nouns they govern. They serve as a bridge, connecting nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a sentence, thereby establishing relationships between them.

In Spanish you can find the following prepositions that you should memorize to make your Spanish shine:

A, Ante, Bajo, Cabe, Con, Contra, De, Desde, Durante, En, Entre, Hacia, Hasta, Mediante, Para, Por, Según, Sin, So, Sobre, Tras,

Common Mistakes Using Spanish Prepositions

Although prepositions may appear to be simple, but due to the differences between Spanish and English it is easy to make certain mistakes. Below we will see examples of the most common mistakes when using prepositions in Spanish and we will help you avoid them.

1. Incorrect use of "Por" and "Para"

Confusing the propositions by and for is common because both can be translated as "For",

- Por is a preposition that serves to indicate the cause, the reason for an action, the why of the action.

Eng: Thank you for your help. Spa: Gracias por tu ayuda.

Eng: He lost his job for being late.

Spa:Ha perdido el trabajo por llegar tarde.

- Para is used to indicate purpose, it indicates the goal of performing a particular action and also indicates the recipient of an action or object.

Eng: This present is for you. Spa: Este regalo es para ti.

Eng: I already have the tickets for the movie. Spa: Ya tengo las entradas para la película.

2. Incorrect use of "En" and "A"

Many students have great difficulty understanding the difference between these prepositions because they are both related to a specific place or that an action is to be taken

·       -  A is used to indicate going to a particular place. Eng: Let's go to the beach.

Spa: Vamos a la playa. Eng: I'm going to eat.

Spa: Voy a comer.

·       -  En is used to indicate being in a place

Eng: I am at home.

Spa: Estoy en casa. Eng: Pedro is in Madrid.

Spa: Pedro está en Madrid.

3. Incorrect use of "De” and "Desde”

Finally, let's review the difference between "De” and "Desde”. They are commonly mixed because of their similarity.

- De indicates origin in a spatial or temporal sense. Eng: I am from Mexico.

Spa: Soy de México.

Eng: My father comes from buying. Spa: Mi padre viene de comprar.

- Desde is used to indicate a trajectory whether spatial, temporal or event. Eng: I have been working here since 2010.

Spa: Trabajo aquí desde 2010.
Eng: I am going to make a route from the north to the south of Spain.

Spa: Voy a hacer una ruta desde el norte hasta el sur de España.

We have already reviewed some of the most common errors when using prepositions in Spanish. We look forward to seeing you in the next Spanish grammar tutorial so that together we can continue to make progress in your learning of Spanish.

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