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Prepositions with direct objects Exercises in Spanish language
Mastering prepositions with direct objects in Spanish is a critical step in achieving fluency. Prepositions often connect nouns, pronouns, and phrases to other words in a sentence, indicating relationships like direction, location, or time. When paired with direct objects, prepositions can change the meaning of a sentence dramatically. Understanding the correct usage of these combinations can help you construct more precise and nuanced sentences, making your communication clearer and more effective.
In Spanish, prepositions such as "a," "de," "con," and "en" frequently appear with direct objects, each introducing unique rules and contexts. For example, the preposition "a" is often used before a direct object that is a person, as in "Veo a Juan" (I see Juan). This differs from English, where no preposition is necessary. Learning these distinctions is essential for avoiding common mistakes and improving your overall command of the language. Our exercises will guide you through various scenarios and sentence structures, helping you practice and internalize these important grammatical rules.
Exercise 1
<p>1. María compró un regalo *para* su madre (indicates the recipient).</p>
<p>2. Salimos *a* las ocho de la mañana (time preposition).</p>
<p>3. Los estudiantes hablaron *con* el profesor después de clase (indicates company).</p>
<p>4. Vamos *a* la playa este fin de semana (destination preposition).</p>
<p>5. Él puso el libro *en* la mesa (location preposition).</p>
<p>6. Ella está esperando *a* su amigo en la estación (direct object preposition).</p>
<p>7. Me gusta correr *por* el parque todos los días (indicates movement through a place).</p>
<p>8. La carta es *de* Juan (indicates origin).</p>
<p>9. Ella está hablando *con* su hermana por teléfono (company preposition).</p>
<p>10. Él se fue *sin* decir adiós (indicates absence).</p>
Exercise 2
<p>1. Ella compró un regalo *para* su madre (preposition indicating purpose or recipient).</p>
<p>2. Los niños siempre caminan *hacia* la escuela (preposition indicating direction).</p>
<p>3. Están esperando *a* su amigo en el parque (preposition used before a direct object that is a person).</p>
<p>4. Ellos miraron *por* la ventana (preposition indicating means or method).</p>
<p>5. Necesito hablar *con* el profesor sobre el examen (preposition indicating accompaniment).</p>
<p>6. Pusieron la mesa *en* la cocina (preposition indicating location).</p>
<p>7. La carta fue enviada *por* correo (preposition indicating means or method).</p>
<p>8. Vamos a salir *sin* nuestros teléfonos (preposition indicating absence).</p>
<p>9. El libro está *sobre* la mesa (preposition indicating position above something).</p>
<p>10. Ellos trabajan *para* una gran empresa (preposition indicating purpose or recipient).</p>
Exercise 3
<p>1. Juan está *mirando* la televisión (action with visual focus).</p>
<p>2. María quiere *comer* una manzana (action related to food).</p>
<p>3. Ellos van a *comprar* un coche nuevo (action related to acquisition).</p>
<p>4. Nosotros vamos a *leer* un libro interesante (action related to reading).</p>
<p>5. Ana necesita *escribir* una carta (action related to writing).</p>
<p>6. Ellas prefieren *escuchar* música clásica (action related to listening).</p>
<p>7. Tú debes *lavar* los platos después de cenar (action related to cleaning).</p>
<p>8. Pedro va a *pintar* su casa de azul (action related to painting).</p>
<p>9. Carlos quiere *visitar* a sus abuelos el fin de semana (action related to visiting).</p>
<p>10. Nosotros vamos a *correr* en el parque por la mañana (action related to running).</p>