25.1.16 Encima de
Encima de corresponds to English ‘on top of’, ‘above’, and is more specific than en. It is
often, though not exclusively, used to denote a high position.Encima de la torre había un pararrayos.
On top of the tower was a lightning conductor.Encima de la casa se veía una nube de humo.
Above the house a cloud of smoke could be seen.39.3 (p. 232)
25.1.17 Enfrente de (also written en frente de)
Enfrente de corresponds to English ‘opposite’: see also frente a (25.1.19).
Mi casa está enfrente de/frente a la catedral. (see 39.3)
My house is opposite the cathedral.39.3 (p. 232)
25.1.18 Entre
Entre corresponds to English ‘between’, ‘among’.Está entre correos/el correo y el banco. (see 39.3)
It’s between the post office and the bank.NOTE the use of the personal pronoun forms in the expression entre tú y yo‘between you and me’
(see 8.2.1).39.3 (p. 232)
25.1.19 Frente a
See also enfrente de (25.1.17). Frente a, in the literal meaning of ‘opposite’, is more
typical of the written language (except in L. Am.), but it is also used in the figurative
sense of ‘faced with’: (see also ante (25.1.2)):Frente a la posibilidad de perder, decidimos abandonar la empresa.
Faced with the possibility of losing, we decided to abandon the
enterprise.39.3 (p. 232)
25.1.20 Hacia
Hacia corresponds to English ‘towards’: in time expressions it has the meaning of
‘about’, ‘approximately’.hacia el sur‘towards the south’
hacia las seis de la tarde‘at around six in the evening’Basic use of prepositions 25.1