Demystifying Spanish Prepositions (Part 1)

Question

This is an informative post meant to help the intermediate students to get a handle around one of the most dreaded language concept "Prepositions" ...

Ever wondered why we say : Jugar al football (to most English speakers it would sound eccentric and outlandish to use the preposition a after jugar because in English we would say play football and not play to football or play at football).. Unable to figure it out on your own .. Read the following and Hope by the end of it you may understand this concept of Spanish Grammar So Keep Reading

The Concept of Characteristic Prepositions This is the answer to the dilemma we discussed above with reference to the verb jugar .. Now many verbs in Spanish have what we call as a "characteristic preposition" the term characteristic preposition literally means that the preposition is the inherent characteristic of the verb and thus always goes along with the verb...

Having read the above ,, you all might be thinking that we can just memorize or commit the list of all such verbs with characteristic prepositions to memory and then always use them with there respective prepositions .. Well No.. It is not as simple .. Because these verbs with characteristic prepositions are further classified into three groups or categories ..

1. The verbs with Characteristic prepositions only when followed by a noun (example Jugar al footbal).
2. The verbs with Characteristic prepositions only when followed by another verb (example apresiruarse a subir el tren)
3. The verbs with Characteristic prepositions either followed by a verb or a noun.

This is just a brief introduction to the concept and I can't mention all the numerous prepositions that fall into the aforementioned categories but I would certainly lay down a few examples for better understanding (and If you people may wish to know more, please comment and/or like the post and if I get sufficient requests I will certainly follow it up with Part 2 soon hereafter).

Examples : 1. Acercarse a (prep. "a" needed if followed by a noun or verb : Example : acercate a verlo (come here and see it), another ex : acercaste a la pared y diste un golpe como un loco (you went towards the wall and gave a blow like a crazy person).

1. Acertar a (prep "a" is mandatory to be used when it is followed by a verb.) Ex1. Used with another verb.. A ver si aciertas a responder correctamente (let see if you manage to get answer correctly). Ex2 . A ver si aciertas este rompecabeza (let's see if you get this pullze/riddle correct). Now in the second example it acertar was followed by a noun so we did not use the characteristic preposition.

If any one wishes to know more please comment so or send me a PM, If enough people like the post or send me a request, I will soon publish the second part with more examples and more of such verbs

Answer 1

In English, Jimmy:'' To play at'' is used but it has it 's own meaning:

'What are you playing at?'

I lay badminton badly, I'm only playing at it , really.

well - 00b055e0, Mar 22, 2014

Hi Annie, Thanks for your comment, well the one you have stated is a different kind of use of the preposition ,, we will discuss this later when I will come out with the subsequent parts.. - 00b055e0, Mar 22, 2014

Answer 2

I hope it helps some.

Look at it like this:

Jugar al football. = Play (to the game of) football

:-D

play a game of football = jugar un juego de football.

Does it help any?

Answer 3

Thank you Jimmy. This was a very informative post and very helpful. I will be referring back to it, and I hope that you will bring out part 2 soon.

Speaking/Writing in Spanish is difficult for me because a lot of times I tend to try to write word for word what I would say in English, which I know is not what I am supposed to do, but I can't help it. Especially since I have to look up a lot of words that I am going to use, so I tend to look up/or use every single word that I would in English, except when I conjugate verbs. I usually do okay with that.

Thanks again Jimmy!

Do that the other way around. In other words: you now do it from English to Spanish, I recommend you do it from Spanish to English. Read in Spanish and translate to English. See where it takes you! - chileno, Mar 21, 2014

But what about for writing? - actorgirl, Mar 21, 2014

you are always welcome dear (actorgirl).. don't worry ,, this indeed is the problem for all of us :) - 00b055e0, Mar 21, 2014

But is there any hope for me? I also feel horrible when I have to fill in the blanks for my school, I am just guessing half the time (or most of the time) because I have so much trouble reading. And writing. And speaking. It is so discouraging. :( - actorgirl, Mar 21, 2014

In Spanish...I can talk and read and write in English just fine. (well some people may beg to differ with my writing, :P but they all know I can speak just fine. :p) - actorgirl, Mar 21, 2014

Obviously you are ought to be good in English dear .. English is your native language after all :) .. As far as Spanish is concerned our biggest and the gravest challenge is that we can't unlearn our English concepts while trying to assimilate Spanish .. - 00b055e0, Mar 21, 2014

And don't be so pessimistic about your endeavor .. Just take up a logical approach .. I will give you an example .. Most people get confused between para and por almost all the time (talking about the students only) but if you understand the true essence - 00b055e0, Mar 21, 2014

but if you understand the true essence that lies beneath their usages .. with a logical approach you would almost 99 percent of the times use them correctly .. I understand it now :) - 00b055e0, Mar 21, 2014

That's funny that you mention that because that is what I am working on right now...and one of the things I was talking about when I said I was guessing. :) - actorgirl, Mar 21, 2014

Spanish Level 3 Lesson 6 here at Spanish Dict concerns when to us "por" and "para". I found it very helpful. - Esteban3304, Mar 21, 2014

Thanks. I will look into it! - actorgirl, Mar 21, 2014

Talk to about para and por in the PMs .. I will explain you ,, it is a very simple concept :) - 00b055e0, Mar 21, 2014