Verbs with prepositions

Sueño con una casita en las montañas

There are many Spanish verbs, that require certain prepositions to be placed after them. You should learn these verbs individually.

empezar a hacer algo – to start doing something

Empiezo a estudiar español — I start learning Spanish

Empezamos a trabajar a las siete — We start working at seven

Don’t say: empiezo estudiar or empiezo a un proyecto

Try it yourself:

When will you start writing the book?

The children come into the hall and start singing

Elena starts a new course

There is also a widely used synonym to empezar in Spanish – comenzar.

comenzar a hacer algo = empezar a hacer algo

It also has the e – ie modification, and is used with the preposition a.

Comienzo a desayunar – I begin to have breakfast

terminar de hacer algo – to finish doing something

Termino de dibujar un perro — I finish drawing a dog

¿A qué hora terminas de trabajar? — What time do you finish working?

This verb needs the preposition de to be connected to the next infinitive, but not to a noun.

Don’t say: termino dibujar or termino del libro

Try it yourself:

We finish working at seven in the evening

Maria finishes talking on the phone and leaves the house

When will you finish school?

ayudar a hacer algo – to help do something

Ayudo a limpiar la casa — I help clean the house

Ayudamos a José a comprar un coche — We help Jose buy a car

In the last example the preposition a is repeated twice. The first one means a direction towards a person, and the second one connects the verb ayudar to the infinitive comprar.

Try it yourself:

Do you help your grandparents to work in the garden?

The teacher helps the students do the homework

Meanwhile, there are many verbs that don’t require any preposition before the next infinitive.

querer hacer algo — to want to do something

poder hacer algo — can do something

Quiero vivir en Australia — I want to live in Australia

¿Puedes abrir la puerta? — Can you open the door?

Try it yourself:

We can do this job

I don’t want to live in Mexico

jugar a + un juego – to play a game

Mis amigos y yo jugamos a las cartas — My friends and I play cards

Los niños juegan al tenis – The children play tennis

The game name traditionally comes with a definite article.

Compare two sentences:

Raúl juega al fútbol – Raul plays football (a particular game)

Raúl juega a videojuegos – Raul plays video games (not a particular game)

In Spanish the verb jugar refers only to games, but not to musical instruments.

For instruments the verb tocar is used, and no preposition is needed.

Toco la guitarra – I play the guitar

Don’t say: Juego a la guitarra

Try it yourself:

Leo plays football very well

Do you play computer games?

Do you play the piano?

pensar en – to think about

Pienso en mi vida — I think about my life

¿En qué piensa ella? — What does she think about?

soñar con – to dream of

Sueño con una casita en la costa del mar — I dream of a little house on the sea cost

Don’t say: pienso de or sueño de

As always, this lesson is too short to provide you with all Spanish verbs that are used with special prepositions. As you will come across new similar verbs, you know what to do with them.