Correct Use of Conjunctions and Prepositions in Spanish

Two essential elements that will help you build clear and fluid sentences in Spanish are conjunctions and prepositions.

In this article, we will explain what they are, how to use them, and provide you with some practical examples so you can apply them correctly in your conversations and writing.

Let’s get started!

What are conjunctions?

Conjunctions are words that connect words, phrases, or sentences logically, allowing ideas to flow coherently and enabling us to build more complex structures. Examples:

• Claudia y Fátima trabajan juntas. (Claudia and Fátima work together.) (The conjunction "y" connects the two subjects.)
• ¿Quieres agua de sabor o natural? (Do you want flavored or natural water?) (The conjunction "o" offers options.)
• Quisiera ir a la fiesta, pero estoy cansado. (I would like to go to the party, but I am tired.) ("Pero" introduces an opposing idea.)

Types of conjunctions and their use

Conjunctions are divided into two main categories: coordinating and subordinating. Each of these also has subtypes that have specific functions in the sentence.

Coordinating Conjunctions

These connect elements of equal grammatical importance, that is, words with words, phrases with phrases, or sentences with sentences.

Types of coordinating conjunctions

1. Copulative (y, e, ni, que (and, and, nor, that)): Used to add or sum ideas. Examples:

• Tengo ese sombrero en azul y en rojo. (I have that hat in blue and red.)
• Dora e Isabel son amigas. (Dora and Isabel are friends. We use the conjunction “e” to join words or phrases that begin with "i" or "hi", to avoid cacophony)
• No tenemos leche ni tortillas. (We have neither milk nor tortillas.)

2. Disjunctive (o, u (or)): Used to offer a choice between various options. Examples:

• Podemos ir al cine o al teatro. (We can go to the movies or to the theater.)
• ¿Quieres una galleta u otra cosa? (Do you want a cookie or something else?)
• ¿Vienes conmigo o te quedas? (Are you coming with me or staying?)

3. Adversative (pero, sin embargo, no obstante, mas (but, however, nevertheless, but)): Used to contrast or oppose ideas. Examples:

• Me gusta ese reloj, pero no puedo comprarlo ahora. (I like that watch, but I can’t buy it now.)
• Estudió mucho para el examen, sin embargo, no aprobó. (He/She studied a lot for the exam; however, he/she did not pass.)
• Julián tiene mucho dinero, mas no es feliz. (Julián has a lot of money, but he is not happy.)

4. Explanatory (es decir, o sea, esto es (that is to say, that is, this is)): Ideal for clarifying or explaining our ideas. Examples:

• El restaurante está cerrado, es decir, ya no está operando. (The restaurant is closed; that is to say, it is no longer operating.)
• Mi hermano está viajando, o sea, no estará en casa esta semana. (My brother is traveling; that is to say, he will not be home this week.)
• Eduardo es sumiller, esto es, un especialista en vinos. (Eduardo is a sommelier; that is to say, a wine specialist.)

5. Distributive (ya... ya, bien... bien, unos... otros): Used to indicate alternation. Examples:

• Unos trabajan hoy, otros descansan. (Some work today, others rest.)
• Ya terminas de estudiar, ya puedes descansar. (You finish studying, you may rest now.)
• Bien te vas a la fiesta, bien te quedas a descansar. (You either go to the party or stay to rest.)

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions are those that allow us to introduce subordinate clauses, that is, clauses that depend on another main clause to have a complete meaning.

Types of subordinating conjunctions

1. Causal (porque, pues, ya que, puesto que (because, since, as, given that)) : Used to indicate the cause or reason. Examples:

• No hice la tarea porque estaba enfermo. (I didn’t do the homework because I was sick.)
• Estoy corriendo diario, ya que quiero entrenar para un maratón. (I run every day since I want to train for a marathon.)
• No salimos hoy, puesto que llueve. (We didn’t go out today since it’s raining.)

2. Temporal (cuando, mientras, apenas, en cuanto (when, while, barely, as soon as)): Used to indicate time. Examples:

• Llámame cuando llegues a casa. (Call me when you get home.)
• Ve partiendo el aguacate mientras yo lavo el jitomate. (Start cutting the avocado while I wash the tomato.)
• Saldremos a cenar en cuanto termine de trabajar. (We will go out for dinner as soon as I finish working.)

3. Consecutive (por tanto, así que, de modo que (therefore, so that, so that)): Used to indicate consequences. Examples:

• Carla estudió mucho y, por tanto, aprobó. (Carla studied a lot and, therefore, passed.)
• Me quedé dormida, así que llegaré tarde. (I fell asleep, so I will arrive late.)
• Hacía mucho calor, de modo que fuimos a nadar. (It was very hot, so we went swimming.)

4. Conditional (si, con tal que, siempre que (if, provided that, whenever)): As the name indicates, it allows us to express conditions. Examples:

• Si ahorramos lo suficiente, iremos de viaje el próximo año. (If we save enough, we will go on a trip next year.)
• Te presto mi coche con tal que vayas. (I will lend you my car as long as you go.)
• Dejaré que mi hija vaya a la fiesta siempre que apruebe su examen. (I will let my daughter go to the party as long as she passes her exam.)

5. Concessive (aunque, a pesar de que, por más que (although, despite the fact that, as much as)): Allows us to express when there is some difficulty or impediment. Examples:

• Quiero ir a esa playa aunque esté lejos. (I want to go to that beach even though it is far away.)
• A pesar de que es domingo, ella sigue trabajando. (Despite it being Sunday, she continues working.)
• Por más que intento, no puedo abrir este frasco. (No matter how hard I try, I can’t open this jar.)

6. Final (para que, a fin de que, con el propósito de (so that, in order that, for the purpose of)): Allows us to explain the purpose of something. Examples:

• Necesito pasar este examen para que pueda graduarme. (I need to pass this exam so that I can graduate.)
• Angélica trabaja a fin de que su hijo esté bien. (Angélica works so that her son is well.)
• Ahorramos dinero con el propósito de comprar un auto nuevo. (We save money with the purpose of buying a new car.)

7. Comparative (como, igual que, más que, menos que (as, equal to, more than, less than)): Used to compare actions or qualities. Examples:

• Arturo es más alto que su hermano. (Arturo is taller than his brother.)
• Tengo menos tiempo para pintar que antes. (I have less time to paint than before.)
• Mi reloj es igual que el tuyo. (My watch is the same as yours.)

Table of Conjunctions

Here is a table with the conjunctions you will find most commonly so you can study them:

Now that you know what conjunctions are and the types of conjunctions that exist in Spanish, let’s move on to what prepositions are.

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What are prepositions?

Prepositions are words that help us relate elements within a sentence, establishing connections of place, time, manner, cause, and more. Their main function is to join words to provide more information about them. Examples:

• Voy a la tienda. (I am going to the store.)
• El collar es de Alexa. (The necklace belongs to Alexa.)
• Mi casa está por el parque. (My house is near the park.)

Table of Prepositions in Spanish

The Real Academia Española (RAE) recognizes the following prepositions in Spanish:

Conjunctions vs. Prepositions

Now let’s look at a comparative table that will clarify the difference between conjunctions and prepositions so that you can easily distinguish and use them in your sentences without problems:

Summary

Both conjunctions and prepositions are fundamental tools in Spanish that allow you to connect ideas and relate words within sentences.

Conjunctions join words, phrases, or sentences, whether of equal hierarchy or subordinate, while prepositions relate words within the same sentence, helping to establish connections of place, time, cause, and more between them.

Knowing and practicing the correct use of these words will help you communicate more clearly and fluently in Spanish. Don’t forget to review these concepts through the Promova app and use them in your own sentences; you will see how quickly you master them!