Words w/ Prepositions

acordarse de + infinitive/object

Acordarse de is often used with the infinitive haber (to have) in order to recall past events, but you can also use it with objects. Both of the examples below have roughly the same translation, but are said in two different ways. Me acuerdo de haberte visto una vez. (I remember having seen you once before.)Infinitive: to have (having) Me acuerdo de ti. (I remember you.)Object: you

oler a + object

If something smells 'of' or smells 'like' something else, then oddly you'll need the Spanish verb oler with the preposition a. English: My grandmother's garden always smells of lavender.Español: El jardín de mi abuela siempre huele a lavanda. English: After the festival, my clothes smell like smoke.Español: Después del festival, mi ropa huele a humo.

quedar en + infinitive/object

Quedar en is special because its meaning changes significantly when used with an infinitive "to agree on" or an object "to fall in"/"to remain" (figurative - emotional state), as you'll see below. Quedamos en vernos este viernes. (We agree on seeing each this Friday.)Infinitive: to see (seeing) La casa quedó en ruinas. (The house remained in ruins.)Object: ruins

resistirse a + infinitive/object

Resistir a with an infinitive is directly translates to "to resist in." However, with an object it can also mean "to not be able to take her/his hands off something." Me resisto a creer en las mentiras de la sociedad. (I resist in believing societal myths/lies.)Infinitive: to believe (believing) Él no se puede resistir a ella. (He can't take his hands off her./He can't resist her allure.)Object: her

volver de, volver a + object

Similar to venir, we can also use volver with de and a for returning 'from' or returning 'to'. Note that we sometimes don't use a preposition with return in English. English: I returned home last night at 9 pm.Español: Anoche volví a casa a las 9. English: We returned from the jungle after being lost for 3 days.Español: Volvimos de la selva después de estar perdidos durante 3 días.

optar por + infinitive/object

The verb optar por means "to opt for" in both instances Opto por ir al cine. (I opt for going to the movies.)Infinitive: to go (going) Optamos por otra forma de pago. (We opt for a different payment method.)Object: payment method

preocuparse de + infinitive/object

This prepositional verb always implies worry with both infinitives and objects. No me preocupo de llegar con retraso. (I am not worried about arriving late.)Infinitive: to arrive (arriving) Tú puedes viajar sin preocuparte de nada. (You can travel and worry about a thing.)Object: thing

confiar en + infinitive/object

When followed by an infinitive, confiar en means "to be confident in" and with an object it means "to trust in/to rely on." Confío en hacer un buen trabajo. (I am confident I will do a good job.)Infinitive: to do Confío en el sistema educativo. (I trust in the education system.)Object: the education system

hacer bien en + infinitive/object

When linked with an infinitive, hacer bien en translates to "you're doing the right thing." When followed by an object, it means "you are doing good in/for." Haces bien en contarme la verdad. (You're doing the right thing by telling me the truth.)Infinitive: to tell (telling) Haces bien en el mundo. (You are doing some good in/for the world.)Object: world

alegrarse de + infinitive/object

When linked with infinitives, alegrarse means "to be happy about." With an object it means "to appreciate something." Me alegro de recibir la buena noticia. (I am happy about getting the good news.)Infinitive: to get (getting) Te alegrarás de la nueva ley. (You'll appreciate the new law.)Object: law

reirse de + object

When you want to laugh 'at' something in Spanish, you should use reírse with the preposition de. English: Everyone laughed at me. Español: Todo el mundo se rió de mí. English: We laughed at his strange costume for the party.Español: Nos reímos de su extraño disfraz para la fiesta.

insistir en + infinitive/object

With an infinitive insistir en means "to insist" (easy to remember), but with an object the meaning changes to "put emphasis on." Insistimos en ir a la fiesta. (We insist on going to the party.)Infinitive: to go (going) Debo insistir en mis creencias. (I must put emphasis on my beliefs.)Object: beliefs

estar por + infinitive/object

With an inifinitive, estar por means "to consider doing something," whereas with an object, it expresses preference or stance on a subject or cause. Estamos por hacer una reserva en ese restaurante. (We're considering making a reservation at that restaurant.)Infinitive: to make (making) Estoy por el derecho al voto. (I am for the right to vote.)Object: right to vote

comenzar con + object

With an object, comenzar con means initiating an action, or to begin by/with. Comienzo con una pregunta. (I begin with a question.)Object: question

disculparse por + infinitive/object

With both infinitives and objects, disculparse por means to apologize for or excuse oneself for . Se disculpa por llegar tarde. (He apologizes for arriving late.)Infinitive: to arrive (arriving) Me disculpo por mi comportamiento. (I apologize/Excuse myself (for) my behavior.)Object: behavior

soñar con + infinitive/object

With both infinitives and objects, soñar con translates to "dream of" or "dream about," although it could also be translated as "to hope to" with the infinitive, as you can see in the first example below. Sueño con cambiar el mundo. (I dream of/I hope to change the world.)Infinitive: to change Soñamos con hadas. (We dream about fairies.)Object: fairies

amenazar con + infinitive/object

With both infinitives or objects, amenazar con keeps the same definition, to threaten someone with something, as in the examples below. Amenazo con culparte. (I am threatening to blame you.)Infinitive: to threaten (threatening) Amenazan con tácticas ofensivas. (They threaten with offensive tactics.)Object: offensive tactics

acercarse a + object

to approach Se acerca a mí. (He/she approaches me.)Object: me; requires personal a

estar en + object

to be in, at, to English: I have only been to Mexico twice. Español: Solo he estado en México dos veces. English: I'm going to be at the train station at 7 pm. Español: Voy a estar en la estación a las 7.

comenzar por + infinitive/object

to begin with Comenzar por is similar to #9 above, where we initiate an action. Comenzamos por rellenar el formulario. (We begin by filling out the sheet/form.)Infinitive: to fill (filling) Comienzo por la primera pregunta. (Let me begin with the first question.)Object: question

llamar a + object

to call María llama a John. (Maria calls John.)Object: John; requires personal a

venir de, venir a + object

to come from, to come to The verb venir can refer to a place that you came 'from' or a place that you came 'to'. You can even combine the two prepositions in one sentence. English: The message could have come from anywhere.Español: El mensaje pudo venir de cualquier parte. English: We came from the mountains to the beach on foot.Español: Vinimos de las montañas a la playa a pie.

tener que ver con + object

to concern/ to have to do with Tiene que ver con la discusión. (It has to do with the argument.)Object: the argument

entrar en + object

to enter into English: I'm not ready to enter another competition this weekend.Español: No estoy listo para entrar en otra competencia este fin de semana. English: When I entered the room, everyone looked at me.Español: Cuando entré en la habitación, todos me miraron.

terminar de + infinitive

to finish English: I haven't finished eating yet.Español: Todavía no he terminado de comer. English: I will finish reading the newspaper on the train.Español: Voy a terminar de leer el periódico en el tren.

olvidarse de + infinitive

to forget When you want to talk about forgetting something you can choose between olvidar and olvidarse. Again, similar to remembering something, if you choose to use the reflexive form, you need to be careful with the preposition de. English: I think he forgot to give her the keys.Español: Creo que se olvidó de darle las llaves. English: I forgot to speak to my boss about our vacation plan.Español: Me olvidé de hablar con mi jefe de nuestro plan de vacaciones.

casarse con + object

to get married to When you get married 'to' someone in Spanish, you need to use the reflexive verb casarse with the preposition con. English: This week, I'm getting married to my high school sweetheart.Español: Esta semana, me caso con mi novia del instituto. English: My father married my mother in 1972.Español: Mi padre se casó con mi madre en 1972.

ayudar a + object/infinitive

to help Ayudamos a la gente. (We help people.)Object: people; requires personal a Moreover, if you want to help 'to do' something, then you'll need to fit in the preposition 'a' between ayudar and the other verb. English: I can help you move into the new apartment.Español: Te puedo ayudar a mudarte al nuevo apartamento. English: The medication helped reduce my headache.Español: El medicamento me ayudó a reducir el dolor de cabeza.

dudar en + infinitive

to hesitate to Dudo en decirte lo que pienso. (I hesitate to tell you what I think.)Infinitive: to say (tell)

aprender a + infinitive

to learn to do something if you want to learn 'to do' something, then you'll need the preposition 'a' between aprender and the other verb. English: I'm afraid of water because I never learned to swim.Español: Me da miedo el agua porque nunca aprendí a nadar. English: Next week we're going to Thailand to learn how to scuba dive.Español: La semana que viene vamos a Tailandia para aprender a bucear.

salir de + object

to leave from, to get out of We can use salir to leave 'from' a destination or to get out 'of' a situation. English: I have to get out of this interview.Español: Tengo que salir de esta entrevista. English: The boat left the dock on time.Español: El barco salió del muelle a tiempo.

parecerse a + object

to look like When two things or people seem alike or look alike, then you'll want to use the reflexive form of parecer with the preposition a. English: He looks a lot like his brother.Español: Se parece mucho a su hermano. English: Australia rules football does not look like European football.Español: El fútbol australiano no se parece al fútbol europeo.

contar con + object

to rely on Cuento con ello. (I count on it.)Object: it

hablar de + object

to speak about something English: I want to talk about something else. Español: Quiero hablar de otra cosa.

hablar con + object

to speak with someone English: I have to speak to him today. Español: Hoy tengo que hablar con él.

dejar de + infinitive

to stop, to quit Deja de gritarme (Stop yelling at me)Infinitive: to yell (yelling) English: My phone has stopped working. Español: Mi teléfono ha dejado de funcionar. English: I'm never going to stop playing the guitar.Español: Nunca voy a dejar de tocar la guitarra.

esforzarse por + infinitive

to struggle to / to do your best Me esfuerzo por ser una persona mejor. (I do my best to be a better person.)Infinitive: to be

cuidar a + object

to take care of Cuido a mis primos. (I take care of my cousins.)Object: my cousins; requires personal a

pensar en + object

to think about English: I didn't think about it. Español: No pensé en ello. English: It's your mothers birthday today. Have you thought about a present for her? Español: Hoy es el cumpleaños de tu madre. ¿Has pensado en un regalo para ella?

tratar de + infinitive

to try Trato de ser feliz (I try to be happy)Infinitive: to be