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Grammar Basics

Verbs

Vocabulary

Spanish 101A

Spanish 101B

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When verbs follow a preposition, they are not conjugated. These infinitves (unconjugated verbs) are used where, in English, we may use either a present (progresssive) participle or the infinitive.

Preposition    

De is the most frequently used preposition in prepositional phrases which followed by verbs.
Here are some common phrases:

antes de

después de

En vez de

 

Voy a estudiar antes de ver la película.

Normalmente, me ducho después de tomar 2 cafecitos.

Decidí ir de compras con mis amigas en vez de limpiar el baño.

 

I'm going to study before watching the movie.

Normally, I shower after having two espressos.

I decided to go shopping with my girlfriends instead of cleaning the bathroom.

Para

When used with an infinitive, Para means "in order to".

Voy para comprar otro café.

Ella estudia para ser médica.

I'm going out (in order) to buy another coffee.

She is studying to be (in order to be) a doctor.

Sin

Él salió sin despedirse.

Ella cruzó la calle sin mirar.

He left without saying good-bye.

She crossed the street without looking.

a

Me invitó a cenar.

Le ayudé a hacer la tarea.

He asked me out (invited me) to have dinner (to dine).

I helped her to do the homework.

     

Para + Prepositional Pronoun

The expression Para + Prepositional Pronoun can be used to reflect your opinion of something:

Para mí, Medium es un programa muy interesante.

Para mi hermana, el programa House es muy divertido.

Para nosotras, Top Chef es el programa más fantástico del mundo.

Para mí, el deporte más fascinante del mundo es la equitación.

Pero, para el Sr. del Prado, el deporte más importante es el béisbol.

De and Prepositional Pronouns

Do not make the contraction del with de and él. Él has an accent which differentiates it from the word the "el." This accent gives it pronunciation weight in the face of a preposition.

¿Qué piensas de ella? What do you think about her? [your opinion]
¿Qué piensas de él? What do you think of him?
¿Qué piensas del carro nuevo de Eric? What do you think of Eric's new car?

Only de + el (the singular article "the" which does not have an accent) makes the contraction del.