Verbs, adjectives and nouns call for a fixed preposition before their complement: contar con, capaz de, la idea de. The verb's preposition stays before que, and none is added if the verb takes none: Me alegro de que vengas. Creo que vienes.
No information at the current level. This view starts at B2: choose B2 or a higher level.
No information at the current level. This view starts at B2: choose B2 or a higher level.
CheatsheetB2–C2
| Point | Rule | Example | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| verb + a + infinitive | the verb takes the preposition before the infinitive | Se negó a responder. | He refused to answer. | B2 |
| verb + preposition + que + clause | the preposition stays; the meaning decides the mood | Cuento con que vengas. | I'm counting on you to come. | B2 |
| With and without a preposition | the preposition changes the meaning of the verb | Cuento un chiste. / Cuento con mi hermano. | I tell a joke. / I count on my brother. | B2 |
| Fixed construction | the preposition is part of the verb | Me di cuenta de mi error. | I realised my mistake. | B2 |
| difícil + de + infinitive | the subject receives the action of the infinitive | Este texto es difícil de leer. | This text is hard to read. | B2 |
| Two constructions | some verbs take a direct object or a prepositional object | Cuida a Ana. / Cuida de Ana. | He looks after Ana. / He takes care of Ana. | C1 |
| noun + preposition + infinitive | the noun takes de or a before the infinitive | Siento el deseo de volver. | I feel the desire to return. | C1 |
| adjective + preposition + infinitive | before an infinitive or an indirect question | Estoy deseoso de verte. | I'm eager to see you. | C1 |
| adjective + de + noun | the adjective agrees with the subject or, after de, with the noun | Luisa es corta de entendimiento. / Luisa es de entendimiento corto. | Luisa is slow-witted. / Luisa is slow of understanding. | C2 |
| Thing as object | contestar a allows la; referirse a does not | La contestó. / Se refirió a ella. | He answered it. / He referred to it. | C2 |
| Trap | before que, the verb keeps its preposition | Me alegro de que hayas ido. | I'm glad you went. | C1 |
| Trap | if the verb takes no preposition, none is added before que | Pienso que tienes razón. | I think you're right. | C1 |
Verbs with a preposition before an infinitive or queB2
| Verb | Preposition | Example | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| decidirse | a + infinitive | Al final me decidí a ir. | In the end I decided to go. | B2 |
| negarse | a + infinitive | Se negó a responder. | He refused to answer. | B2 |
| atreverse | a + infinitive | No me atrevo a decir la verdad. | I don't dare tell the truth. | B2 |
| animar | a + infinitive | Mis amigos me animaron a viajar. | My friends encouraged me to travel. | B2 |
| ayudar | a + infinitive | Mi tío me ayudó a mudarme. | My uncle helped me move house. | B2 |
| aprender | a + infinitive | Aprendí a nadar de niño. | I learnt to swim as a child. | B2 |
| empezar | a + infinitive | De repente empezó a llover. | Suddenly it began to rain. | B2 |
| contar | con que + clause | Cuento con que vengas. | I'm counting on you to come. | B2 |
| depender | de que + clause | La excursión depende de que no llueva. | The trip depends on it not raining. | B2 |
| insistir | en que + clause | Insiste en que nos quedemos. | He insists that we stay. | B2 |
| confiar | en que + clause | Confío en que todo salga bien. | I trust that everything goes well. | B2 |
- Depender de que takes the subjunctive: the clause expresses a condition. Todo depende de que haya plazas.Everything depends on there being places.
- Insistir en que takes the subjunctive if it asks for something, and the indicative if it states something. Insiste en que vengamos. / Insiste en que tiene razón.He insists that we come. / He insists that he is right.
- Contar con que and confiar en que take the indicative for an expected fact, the subjunctive for a wish. Cuento con que vendrás. / Cuento con que vengas.I expect you will come. / I'm counting on you to come.
- On the mood of clauses, see Subjunctive for Wishes, Doubt and Opinions.
The same verb with and without a prepositionB2
| Without a preposition | With a preposition | Example | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| contar: to tell | contar con: to rely on someone or take them into account | Cuento un chiste. / Cuento con mi hermano. | I tell a joke. / I count on my brother. | B2 |
| pensar: to hold an opinion or to intend | pensar en: to have something in mind | Pienso comprar un coche. / Pienso en mi familia. | I plan to buy a car. / I think about my family. | B2 |
| hablar: to use a language | hablar de: to discuss a subject | Hablo inglés. / Hablamos de política. | I speak English. / We talk about politics. | B2 |
| tratar: to treat someone in some way | tratar de: to try; tratar con: to deal with someone | Trata bien a todos. / Trato de llegar temprano. / Trato con muchos clientes. | He treats everyone well. / I try to arrive early. / I deal with many customers. | B2 |
| dejar: to put something in a place | dejar de: to stop doing something | Dejé las llaves en la mesa. / Dejé de fumar. | I left the keys on the table. / I stopped smoking. | B2 |
| quedar: to stay or to be left | quedar en: to agree on something | Quedan dos días. / Quedamos en vernos a las ocho. | Two days are left. / We agreed to meet at eight. | B2 |
| acabar: to finish something | acabar con: to put an end to something or use it up | Acabó el informe a las seis. / Acabaron con las galletas. | He finished the report at six. / They finished off the biscuits. | B2 |
| salir: to go out | salir con: to be in a relationship with someone | Salgo a las ocho. / Salgo con Marta desde hace dos años. | I leave at eight. / I've been going out with Marta for two years. | B2 |
Fixed constructionsB2
| Verb | Preposition | Example | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| darse cuenta | de | Me di cuenta de mi error. | I realised my mistake. | B2 |
| reparar | en | No reparé en su presencia. | I did not notice his presence. | B2 |
| fijarse | en | Fíjate en la fecha. | Look at the date. | B2 |
| consistir | en | El trabajo consiste en revisar textos. | The job consists of checking texts. | B2 |
| depender | de | El precio depende del tamaño. | The price depends on the size. | B2 |
| enamorarse | de | Se enamoró de una vecina. | He fell in love with a neighbour. | B2 |
| soñar | con | Anoche soñé con el mar. | Last night I dreamt about the sea. | B2 |
| tropezar | con | Tropecé con un escalón. | I tripped on a step. | B2 |
- Before a pronoun, the preposition stays and the pronoun takes its stressed form: Me enamoré de ti. / Soñé con ella.I fell in love with you. / I dreamt about her.
- Prepositions of place and time: see Prepositions of Place and Time; por and para: Por and Para.
Adjectives with a prepositionB2
| Pattern | Rule | Example | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| difícil + de + infinitive | With fácil, difícil and imposible, the subject receives the action of the infinitive. | Este texto es difícil de leer. | This text is hard to read. | B2 |
| ser + adjective + infinitive | The impersonal sentence says the same, with no preposition. | Es difícil leer este texto. | It is hard to read this text. | B2 |
| adjective + de + noun | Adjectives such as partidario, consciente and responsable take de before the noun. | Somos partidarios de un cambio. | We are in favour of a change. | B2 |
| capaz + de + infinitive | Adjectives of ability take de before the infinitive. | Es capaz de aprender solo. | He is able to learn on his own. | B2 |
| interesado + en + infinitive | The subject of the adjective and that of the infinitive are the same. | Estoy interesado en asistir. | I'm interested in attending. | B2 |
| interesado + en que + clause | With a different subject, the clause takes the subjunctive. | Estamos interesados en que vengas. | We are interested in you coming. | B2 |
Direct object or prepositional objectC1–C2
| Direct object | Prepositional object | Pronoun | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuida a Ana.He looks after Ana. | Cuida de Ana.He takes care of Ana. | La cuida. / Cuida de ella.He looks after her. / He takes care of her. | C1 |
| Olvidé la cita.I forgot the appointment. | Me olvidé de la cita.I forgot about the appointment. | La olvidé. / Me olvidé de ella.I forgot it. / I forgot about it. | C1 |
| Recuerdo la fecha.I remember the date. | Me acuerdo de la fecha.I do remember the date. | La recuerdo. / Me acuerdo de ella.I remember it. / I do remember it. | C1 |
| Contestó a nuestras preguntas.He answered our questions. | Se refirió a nuestras preguntas.He referred to our questions. | Las contestó. / Se refirió a ellas.He answered them. / He referred to them. | C2 |
- Atreverse a and osar mean the same; the pronominal verb takes a. No me atrevo a decirlo. / No oso decirlo.I don't dare say it. / I dare not say it.
- C2With contestar, the thing is replaced by lo or la, and the person by le. La pregunta, la contestó con calma. / A Ana, le contestó con calma.She answered the question calmly. / She answered Ana calmly.
- On lo, la, le and the personal a: see Direct Object Pronouns and Personal a.
Nouns and adjectives with a clauseC1
| Pattern | Rule | Example | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| noun + de + infinitive | The noun takes de before an infinitive with the same subject. | Siento el deseo de volver. | I feel the desire to return. | C1 |
| noun + de + haber + past participle | The compound infinitive presents the fact as completed. | Me alegra la idea de habernos reunido otra vez. | The idea of having got together again makes me happy. | C1 |
| noun + a + infinitive | Nouns of fear, such as temor, allow a before the infinitive. | Me paraliza el temor a perderte. | The fear of losing you paralyses me. | C1 |
| noun + de que + clause | With a different subject, the clause takes de que and the subjunctive. | Tengo el temor de que no llegue a tiempo. | I fear that he won't arrive on time. | C1 |
| adjective + de + infinitive | Adjectives of desire, such as deseoso, take de before the infinitive. | Estoy deseoso de verte. | I'm eager to see you. | C1 |
| adjective + a + infinitive | Decidido, dispuesto and acostumbrado take a before the infinitive. | Está decidida a contarlo. | She is determined to tell it. | C1 |
| adjective + en + indirect question | Before an indirect question, the adjective keeps its preposition. | Estoy interesado en cómo es tu trabajo. | I'm interested in what your job is like. | C1 |
The preposition before queC1
| With a preposition | Without a preposition | |
|---|---|---|
| Me alegro de que hayas ido.I'm glad you went. | Celebro que hayas ido.I'm delighted you went. | C1 |
| Me acuerdo de que cerraban a las diez.I remember that they used to close at ten. | Recuerdo que cerraban a las diez.I recall that they used to close at ten. | C1 |
| Me di cuenta de que faltaba un libro.I realised that a book was missing. | Noté que faltaba un libro.I noticed that a book was missing. | C1 |
| Insisto en que lo revises.I insist that you check it. | Exijo que lo revises.I demand that you check it. | C1 |
| Estoy seguro de que vendrá.I'm sure he will come. | Pienso que vendrá.I think he will come. | C1 |
- If the question has the preposition, so does que: ¿En qué te fijaste? Me fijé en que la puerta estaba abierta.What did you notice? I noticed that the door was open.
- Nouns with de que: see Noun Complements.
Adjectives with a noun complementC2
| Pattern | Agreement | Example | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| adjective + de + noun | The adjective agrees with the subject. | Luisa es corta de entendimiento. | Luisa is slow-witted. | C2 |
| de + noun + adjective | The adjective agrees with the noun. | Luisa es de entendimiento corto. | Luisa is slow of understanding. | C2 |
| The two constructions | They say the same; only the agreement changes. | Mis hermanos son largos de piernas. = Mis hermanos son de piernas largas. | My brothers are long-legged. = My brothers have long legs. | C2 |
- The noun is usually a part of the body or a trait of character: Es baja de estatura y fácil de carácter.She is short and easy-going.
Typical errorsB2–C2
| Wrong | Right | Rule | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Se negó de responder. | Se negó a responder. | negarse takes a before the infinitive | B2 |
| Pienso de mi familia. | Pienso en mi familia. | pensar takes en to have something in mind | B2 |
| Soñé de mi abuela. | Soñé con mi abuela. | soñar takes con | B2 |
| Este texto es difícil leer. | Este texto es difícil de leer. | if the subject is what is read, the adjective takes de | B2 |
| Dejé fumar. | Dejé de fumar. | dejar de means to stop doing something | B2 |
| Quedamos a vernos a las ocho. | Quedamos en vernos a las ocho. | quedar en means to agree on something | B2 |
| Me alegro que hayas ido. | Me alegro de que hayas ido. | before que, the verb keeps its preposition | C1 |
| Estoy seguro que vendrá. | Estoy seguro de que vendrá. | before que, the adjective keeps its preposition | C1 |
| Pienso de que tienes razón. | Pienso que tienes razón. | pensar takes no preposition before que | C1 |
| Me acuerdo la fecha. | Me acuerdo de la fecha. | acordarse takes de; recordar takes no preposition | C1 |
| Está decidida de contarlo. | Está decidida a contarlo. | decidido takes a before the infinitive | C1 |
| Luisa es de entendimiento corta. | Luisa es de entendimiento corto. | after de and the noun, the adjective agrees with the noun | C2 |
| Mis hermanos son largas de piernas. | Mis hermanos son largos de piernas. | before de and the noun, the adjective agrees with the subject | C2 |
| La pregunta, le contestó con calma. | La pregunta, la contestó con calma. | with a thing as complement, contestar takes la, not le | C2 |