Common Prepositional Phrases and Fixed Expressions
Quick Answer: Spanish has many compound prepositions (multi-word prepositions) that function as a unit: antes de (before), después de (after), cerca de (near), lejos de (far from), encima de...
Essential multi-word prepositions every learner must know
Category: Prepositions
The Rule
Spanish has many compound prepositions (multi-word prepositions) that function as a unit: antes de (before), después de (after), cerca de (near), lejos de (far from), encima de (on top of), debajo de (under), delante de (in front of), detrás de (behind), en vez de (instead of), a pesar de (in spite of).
Why This Matters
These compound prepositions almost always end in 'de' and are followed by a noun or infinitive. English speakers often forget the 'de' part because English just says 'near the park' (not 'near OF the park'). In Spanish, you must say 'cerca de(l) parque.'
Examples
• Antes de comer, me lavo las manos. — "Before eating, I wash my hands." [Antes de + infinitive] • Vive cerca del centro. — "She lives near downtown." [Cerca de + el = cerca del] • En vez de estudiar, jugó videojuegos. — "Instead of studying, he played video games." [En vez de + infinitive] • A pesar de la lluvia, salimos. — "In spite of the rain, we went out." [A pesar de + noun]
Common Mistakes
❌ Antes comer, me lavo. ✅ Antes de comer, me lavo. → Don't drop the 'de.' 'Antes' alone is an adverb (before/earlier). 'Antes de' is the preposition (before something). ❌ Cerca el parque. ✅ Cerca del parque. → 'Cerca' needs 'de' to function as a preposition. And de + el = del.
Quick Tip
Almost all spatial compound prepositions follow the pattern [location word] + de: encima de (on top of), debajo de (under), dentro de (inside), fuera de (outside), al lado de (beside), alrededor de (around). Never drop the 'de'!
Almost all spatial compound prepositions follow the pattern [location word] + de: encima de (on top of), debajo de (under), dentro de (inside), fuera de (outside), al lado de (beside), alrededor de (around). Never drop the 'de'!
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: Antes comer, me lavo. → Correct: Antes de comer, me lavo.. Don't drop the 'de.' 'Antes' alone is an adverb (before/earlier). 'Antes de' is the preposition (before something).
Incorrect: Cerca el parque. → Correct: Cerca del parque.. 'Cerca' needs 'de' to function as a preposition. And de + el = del.
Quiz
'In front of the house' — which is correct?