CSG295

284 Complete Spanish Grammar

•    A preposition + a noun modifies a verb. The result is an adverbial expression.

Pelea sin cuidado.    Hefights carelessly (without care).

Trabajo eon paciencia.    I workpatiently (with patience).

•    Certain prepositions followed by an infinitive are equivalent to the present participle (-ing form) in English. Remember to use the Spanish infinitive form after these prepositions.

Al regresar a Italia, fueron a Napoles. Upon returning to Italy, they went to Naples. ;Gómo en tras al cine sin pagar?    How do you go into the movie theater without

paying?

The following prepositions are used in front of infinitives in this way:

al

antes de

eon

de

despues de

upon	en lugar de	instead of
before	en vez de	instead of
with	hasta	until
of	sin	without
after

23-11

ejercicio

En espańol. Escńbe en espańol la frase entre parentesis.

1.    Preferimos descansar_ (instead of walking).

2. _ (After enteńng) a la sala, puedes sentarte en el sofa.

3. _ (Uponfinishing) la merienda (snack), vamos a ver el programa de noticias.

4.    Voy acerrar la ventana_ (without making) ruido (noise).

(with speed),

5. Marta hace sus tareas

(in peace).

6.    En cambio Ruth no sabe hacer nada_

7.    Tomamos cafe_ (upon arrming) a la cafeteria.

8. _ (Instead of washing) la ropa, prefiero escuchar la radio.

The IJses of para and por

For is the basie English equivalent of both para and por. However, these two prepositions change meaning in context. As a learner, ifyou choose para or por incorrectly, you may cause confusion.

If you say trabajo por Marco, the listener will understand that you are taking over Marco s responsibilities and you are working instead of him. If you say trabajo para Marco, you mean that you do some work for Marco or he is your boss. The distinction between para and por is some-times rather subtle in Spanish.