Section 4.3 · Prepositions connect a noun to a location — they never change for gender or number, and they always pair with ESTAR to describe where things are
Prepositions help you connect a noun to a location. In Spanish, these words stay the same regardless of the gender or number of the noun they follow. This makes them simpler than adjectives — there is no agreement to worry about. Simply learn the word and use it.
In Chapter 4 you learned that ESTAR is the verb for location. Now you will learn the prepositions that tell you exactly where — on a desk, under a chair, between two buildings, near a park. These six prepositions, paired with ESTAR, give you the tools to describe any position in space.
| Preposition | English | Usage Context | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| en | In / On / At | General location or placement — most versatile preposition | Tú estás en la oficina. |
| sobre | On / On top of | Specific placement on a surface — more precise than en | El documento está sobre el escritorio. |
| bajo | Under / Beneath | Position beneath another object | El gato está bajo la silla. |
| cerca de | Near / Close to | Short distance between two points — de + el = del | La plaza está cerca de la iglesia. |
| lejos de | Far from | Large distance between two points — de + el = del | El hospital está lejos del centro. |
| entre | Between / Among | Object in the middle of two or more things | Tú estás entre el banco y la tienda. |
The word en is the most versatile preposition in Spanish. It can mean "in," "on," or "at" depending on the situation. English speakers often use three different prepositions where Spanish uses just one: en la oficina (at the office), en la mesa (on the table), en el país (in the country). When in doubt about which location preposition to use, en is almost always a safe and natural choice. It is the default location preposition in Spanish and the one students should master first.
When you want to be more specific than "en" to show that something is physically on top of a surface, use sobre. It is a more formal and precise way to describe placement. While en la mesa can mean "on the table" or "at the table," sobre la mesa clearly means "on top of the table." In professional writing and formal speech, sobre is preferred when you want to indicate exact surface placement. It can also convey "over" in a figurative or spatial sense: el mapa está sobre la pared (the map is on/over the wall).
To describe something located beneath another object, use bajo. In daily conversation, you might also hear debajo de, but bajo is a direct and clear way to express this position. Bajo is the more concise, formal choice. Both are correct and widely understood. Note that unlike cerca de and lejos de, bajo does not require de after it — it directly precedes the noun: bajo la silla, not bajo de la silla.
These phrases are used to describe the distance between two points. Cerca de means "near" or "close to" and lejos de means "far from." Both require the preposition de after them — this is part of the phrase and cannot be dropped. Remember that when de is followed by the masculine article el, they combine to form the required contraction del: lejos del centro (not lejos de el centro). With feminine articles (la) or plural articles (los/las), no contraction is needed: cerca de la iglesia, lejos de los niños.
Use entre to describe an object located in the middle of two or more things. It is very useful for giving directions or describing a layout. Unlike cerca de and lejos de, entre does not require de — it is followed directly by the noun or nouns. When two locations are mentioned, they are joined with y (and): entre el banco y la tienda (between the bank and the store). Entre can also express "among" when describing membership in a group: estamos entre amigos (we are among friends).
These six prepositions are the foundation for describing any location in Spanish. Each pairs directly with ESTAR to form complete location sentences.
| Preposition | English | Usage Context |
|---|---|---|
| En | In / On / At | General location — most versatile. Use when the exact surface position is not the focus. |
| Sobre | On / On top of | Specific placement on a surface. More precise and formal than en. |
| Bajo | Under / Beneath | Position beneath an object. No de needed after it — directly precedes the noun. |
| Cerca de | Near / Close to | Short distance. De is part of the phrase. De + el = del. |
| Lejos de | Far from | Large distance. De is part of the phrase. De + el = del. |
| Entre | Between / Among | Position in the middle of two or more points. No de needed — directly precedes the noun. |
Listen to each sentence in Spanish, then repeat it aloud during the countdown pause.
Each sentence below uses a location preposition with ESTAR in a natural, everyday context. As you listen, identify which preposition is used and visualize the physical position it describes. Pay attention to sentences using cerca del / lejos del — notice the required contraction of de + el.
Step 1 — Listen: The Spanish sentence plays automatically. Focus on the preposition — visualize the spatial relationship it describes as you hear it.
Step 2 — Repeat: During the 4-second countdown, say the sentence aloud — pay attention to the natural flow of ESTAR + preposition + noun.
Step 3 — Adjust: Use the Speed and Volume sliders to find your ideal practice pace.
Visualize each sentence: As you repeat each sentence, mentally picture the spatial relationship. The document on the desk. The cat under the chair. The building between two streets. Spatial visualization builds faster recall.
Watch for del: In sentences 11–15 (cerca de / lejos de), listen carefully whenever a masculine noun follows — you will hear del instead of de el. This contraction is required and will be tested.
Compare en vs. sobre: In sentences 1–10, notice how en is used for general location and sobre signals something specifically on a surface. Both are common and both are correct in their context.
Choose the correct answer to complete each question. 20 questions drawn randomly from a pool of 30.