Verbs and their prepositions
Type the missing word in each sentence. You hear each sentence read by a native voice.
el día de pago.
Think about pay day.
The rule
Many Spanish verbs pair with a specific preposition that does not match the English one. You dream "with" something (soñar con), not "about" it. Some verbs that need a preposition in English take none in Spanish. This lesson covers the most common pairings so you stop translating prepositions word for word.
The pattern
Learn each verb with its Spanish preposition, not the English one.
| Preposition | Verbs |
|---|---|
| de | depender de, enamorarse de |
| en | pensar en, insistir en, consistir en, confiar en, fijarse en |
| con | soñar con, casarse con |
These verbs take a direct object with no preposition at all: buscar algo, esperar algo, pedir algo, mirar algo, escuchar algo, agradecer algo.
English says "look for a job," but Spanish says buscar trabajo. English says "listen to music," but Spanish says escuchar música.
Examples
- Sueño con viajar a JapónI dream about traveling to Japan
- Depende de la situaciónIt depends on the situation
- Pienso en mi familiaI think about my family
- Ella insiste en pagarShe insists on paying
- Se enamoró de ellaHe fell in love with her
- Busco trabajoI am looking for a job
- Escucho músicaI listen to music
- Miro la pantallaI look at the screen
Watch out
- Sueño de viajar. Sueño con viajar.Soñar uses con, not de.
- Depende en ti. Depende de ti.Depender always takes de.
- Pienso sobre mi futuro. Pienso en mi futuro.Pensar en means to think about something.
- Busco para trabajo. Busco trabajo.Buscar takes no preposition before its object.