El libro está sobre la mesa.
English: The book is on the table.
- Language
- Spanish
- Level
- A2
- Unit
- Preposiciones y conjunciones
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
Prepositions of place in Spanish are words that show where something or someone is located. They help you describe the position or location of objects and people.
When to use it
Use these prepositions in Spanish to say where something is, to give directions, or to explain the position of people and objects in space.
Key forms
- en (in, on, at)
- sobre (on, over)
- debajo de (under, below)
- encima de (on top of, above)
- detrás de (behind)
- delante de (in front of)
- al lado de (next to, beside)
- entre (between, among)
- cerca de (near)
- lejos de (far from)
Examples
El gato está debajo de la silla.
English: The cat is under the chair.
La escuela está cerca de mi casa.
English: The school is near my house.
El coche está delante del supermercado.
English: The car is in front of the supermarket.
La lámpara está entre la cama y la ventana.
English: The lamp is between the bed and the window.
Tips
- Remember to use 'de' after some prepositions (for example: 'al lado de', 'debajo de').
- Pay attention to the difference between 'en' (in, on, at) and 'sobre' (on, over).
- Some prepositions change form if followed by 'el': 'de el' becomes 'del'.
Exceptions and edge cases
- When 'de' is followed by 'el', it contracts to 'del': 'detrás del coche' instead of 'detrás de el coche'.