Spanish: An Essential Grammar

Preposition independent of a preceding item

Some prepositions are used independently, in that they are not specifically

associated with a preceding verb or noun. The commonest prepositions

used in this way are para ‘in order to’, sin ‘without’, por(when in it means

‘because of’), and temporal prepositions such as después de‘after’ and antes

de ‘before’:

Jorge se acostó sin cenar. Jorge went to bed without

having supper.

Huélelo antes de beberlo. Smell it before drinking it.

For examples with por andparasee 22.1(b), 22.2(c).

Special cases of prepositions + infinitives

Certain combinations of preposition and infinitive have an unexpected

meaning and so are best learned on their own.

Infinitives with a passive sense aftera, sin, a medio

The sequences sin+ infinitive anda medio+ infinitive are equivalent in

meaning to English ‘un-’ and ‘half’ + past participle respectively:

una camisa sin planchar an unironed shirt

una casa a medio construir a half-built house

The sequence a + infinitive means ‘to be’ + past participle:

una deuda a liquidar a debt to be settled

For similar constructions with por, see 22.1(k).

Special meanings of de+ infinitive

The sequence de + infinitive has a variety of special meanings. It can indi-

cate cause:

Estoy ronco de tanto hablar. I’m hoarse from speaking so

much.

Ser +de+ infinitive means ‘to be’ + past participle:

Es de esperar que dimita. It is to be hoped that he’ll resign.

Su honestidad era de His honesty was to be admired.

admirar.

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Prepositions

+ infinitive

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