PREPOSICIONES/ PREPOSITIONS

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XIV. POR/ for

a. POR is used to express a cause or motive of an action; it means because of, on behalf of or on account for:

EXAMPLE

• Los niños no fueron a la escuela por la nieve./ The children did not go to school because of the snow.

 

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b. POR is used to express a period of time in which an action happens; it means during, in, for:

EXAMPLES

• ¿(Por) Cuántos años viviste en Paraguay?/ (For) how long did you live in Paraguay?
• Viví por 2 años./ I lived for 2 years.

 

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c. POR is used to indicate means of transportation or unit of measurement. It means by, for, or per:

EXAMPLES

• Voy por avión./ I go by plane.
• El límite de velocidad es de 80 kilómetros por hora./ The speed limit is 80 kilometers per hour.

 

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d. POR is used in exchanges of goods and services:

EXAMPLES

• ¿Cuánto pagas por metro cuadrado?/ How much do you pay per square meter?
• Pagamos $2 por metro cuadrado./ We pay $2 per square meter.

 

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e. POR is used to express motion; it means through, along, or by:

EXAMPLES

• ¿Por dónde salió el ratón? / Where did the mouse go to?
• ¿A qué hora pasaron por la oficina?/ At what time did you come by my office?

 

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f. POR is used to express modes or manners:

EXAMPLES

• Estas remeras tienen que ser separadas por tallas./ These T-shirts need to be sorted by size.
• Niños, formen una fila por estatura./ Children, line up by height.

 

LESSONS: Manufacturing IV & Manufacturing IVa.

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XV. SEGÚN/ according to

a. SEGÚN is equivalent to according to:

EXAMPLE

• Según nuestros abogados, tendremos que pagar las multas./ According to our attorneys, we will have to pay the penalties.

 

LESSONS: Manufacturing V & Manufacturing Va.

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XVI. SIN/ without

a. SIN is equivalent to without:

EXAMPLE

• Quiero un café sin azúcar./ I want some coffee without sugar.

 

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b. SIN + Infinitive: In Spanish, a verb that follows sin must be an infinitive; however, in English, it must be a gerund (-ing form):

EXAMPLES

• Lo rompí sin querer./ I broke it without wanting to.
• Sería bueno viajar sin pagar./ It would be nice to travel without paying.

 

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c. SIN + QUE + OBJECT: SIN can be followed by que and a direct object.

EXAMPLES

• No podemos ir sin que nos inviten./ We cannot go without being invited.
• Sin que me dé cuenta, me comí toda la torta./ Without even noticing, I ate all of the cake.

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XVII. SO is rarely used (archaic-used in literary classics). It means on, under.

LESSONS: Money I & Money Ia.

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XVIII. SOBRE / over, on, about

a. SOBRE is used to indicate position when there is contact; it means on:

EXAMPLE

• Los reportes están sobre la mesa./ The reports are on the table.

 

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b. SOBRE is used to express a position when there is NO contact; it means over:

EXAMPLE

• El globo aerostático volará sobre la China./ The hot air balloon will fly over China.

 

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c. SOBRE is used to express relationship of hierarchy:

EXAMPLE

• La victoria de los Bulls sobre los visitantes fue excelente./ The victory of the Bulls over the visiting team was excellent.

 

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d. SOBRE is used to express an effect; it means on:

EXAMPLE

• Los maestros tienen mucha influencia sobre los estudiantes./ Teachers have a great deal of influence on students.

 

LESSONS: Money II & Money IIa.

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XIX. TRAS / after

a. TRAS is equivalent to detrás de or después de/ after; and it indicates a repetition:

EXAMPLE

• Los aviones salieron uno tras otro./ The airplanes left one after another.

 

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b. TRAS is also equivalent to además de/ besides:

EXAMPLE

• Las computadoras, tras ser baratas, son eficientes./ Besides being inexpensive, computers are efficient.

 

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c. TRAS means behind or after:

EXAMPLES

• El sargento anda tras el ladrón./ The sergeant is after the thief.
• Están tras la recompensa./ They are after the reward.

 

LESSONS: Money III & Money IIIa.

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