5.3. Use of Prepositions in Spanish: Prepositions of Time

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Prepositions in Spanish are words that connect elements of a sentence and provide additional information about time, place, direction, and more. At the intermediate level of Spanish, it is essential to master the use of prepositions, especially prepositions of time, in order to communicate effectively and accurately. This chapter of our e-book will focus specifically on using prepositions of time in Spanish.

Prepositions of time are used to indicate when an event occurs. The most common prepositions of time in Spanish are: "en", "a", "desde", "hasta", "durando" and "por".

1. In

The preposition "en" is equivalent to "in" in English and is used to indicate a period of time in which an event occurs. For example, "Estudiaré español en la noche" (I will study Spanish at night). It can also be used to indicate months, years and seasons, such as "Nací en 1990" (I was born in 1990).

2. The

The preposition "a" is used to indicate a specific time of day. For example, "La clase empieza a las ocho" (Class starts at eight). It is also used to indicate days of the week, such as "Voy al cine a los viernes" (I go to the movies on Fridays).

3. Since

"Desde" is used to indicate the beginning of a period of time and is equivalent to "since" in English. For example, "Estoy estudiando español de 2018" (I've been studying Spanish since 2018).

4. Until

"Hasta" is used to indicate the end of a period of time. For example, "Estudiaré español hasta las diez" (I will study Spanish until ten). When used with "since", "hasta" can indicate an entire period of time, such as "Estudiaré since las ocho hasta las diez" (I will study from eight to ten).

5. During

"Durante" is used to indicate the duration of an event and is equivalent to "durante" in English. For example, "Voy a estudiar español during two hours" (I will study Spanish for two hours).

6. By

Lastly, "por" is used to indicate a period of time during the day, such as "por la mañana" (in the morning), "por la tarde" (in the afternoon), and "por la noche" (in the evening ). It can also be used to indicate the frequency of an event, such as "Voy al gimnasio five veces per week" (I go to the gym five times a week).

It is important to note that the use of prepositions of time in Spanish may vary depending on context and region. Therefore, it is essential to practice using these prepositions in different contexts to become familiar with their nuances. Also, remember that prepositions are invariant, meaning they don't change form depending on the gender or number of the noun they follow.

In summary, prepositions of time in Spanish are an essential part of Spanish grammar that allow speakers to indicate when an event occurs. Mastering the use of these prepositions will help you communicate more effectively and accurately in Spanish.

We hope that this chapter of our e-book was useful for you. Keep studying and practicing to improve your Spanish skills even more!

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595.4. Use of Prepositions in Spanish: Prepositions of Direction