PREPOSICIONES/ PREPOSITIONS

AUDIO: Click on an underlined word for audio; to hear the word again, click on the PLAY button of the audio player to maximize the use of your computer's resources. More info.

II. ANTE/ before

a. ANTE is equivalent to before:

EXAMPLES

• El lunes tenemos que comparesernos ante un juez./ On Monday we need to appear before a judge.
• Miles de Peronistas desfilaron ante el cadáver de Evita./ Thousands of Peronists filed past the body of Evita. (Peronistas are followers of Peron in Argentina)

 

---

b. ANTE is used to present a situation or problem:

EXAMPLES

• Ante la gravedad de la situación política, el gobierno de Indonesia fue derrocado./ Given the seriousness of the political situation, the Indonesian government was overthrown.
• Todos somos iguales ante la ley./ We are all equal in the eyes of the law.
• Ante la duda es mejor abstenerse./ When in doubt, it's better to abstain.

 

---

c. ANTE TODO is equivalent to first and foremost or above all:

EXAMPLES

• Yo me considero, ante todo, madre./ I think of myself as a mother above all else.
• El FBI considera, ante todo, la seguridad del rehén./ The FBI considers the safety of the hostage first and foremost.

(Return)

LESSONS: Growth III and Growth IIIa.

---

III. BAJO/ under, below

a. BAJO is equivalent to under or below:

EXAMPLES

• Treinta grados bajo cero./ Thirty degrees below zero.
• Bajo el cielito estrellado, besé a Romeo./ Beneath the starry little sky, I kissed Romeo.
• Cuando estés bajo tierra, será el día más triste./ When you are dead and buried, it will be the saddest day.

 

---

b. BAJO is used to express subjection or dependence:

EXAMPLES

• Estar bajo juramento./ To be under oath.
• Bajo el mando de Napoleón, las tropas fueron derrotadas en Waterloo./ Under his command, Napoleon's troops were defeated in Waterloo.
• Manejar bajo la influencia del alcohol es un crimen./ To drive under the influence of alcohol is a crime.

(Return)

LESSONS: Contracts I and Contracts Ia.

---

IV. CABE/ beside, next to

CABE is equivalent to beside, next to. It is hardly ever used. The expression al lado is used instead.

EXAMPLE

• Me siento al lado de Juanita./ I sit next to Juanita.

  (Return)