Mastering Prepositions and Conjunctions in Grammar

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Written on September 19, 2025 in English with a size of 5.03 KB

Prepositions: Definition, Characteristics, and Usage

According to their morphology, semantics, and syntax, prepositions exhibit specific characteristics:

Prepositions are invariable units, similar to adverbs. They do not support gender or number morphemes.
Expressions formed by an adverb and a preposition, or a noun and a preposition, are often called prepositional phrases.

Prepositions are considered "empty words" because they inherently lack meaning on their own.
In conjunction with other elements, they acquire various semantic values, providing context and relationships.

Prepositions do not play an independent relational syntactic role.
They function as linking words or phrases, connecting one element to another, making one a complement of the other.
Furthermore, in some verbal periphrases, these particles act as connectors, joining the auxiliary verb with the main verb.

Here are common uses for several prepositions:

a: Indicates time, place, movement, manner, proximity, and condition.
de (from/of): Denotes time, origin, manner, material, possession, specification, and condition.
en (in/on): Expresses time, movement, place, method, medium, and price.
para (for/to): Signifies time, direction, purpose, and anticipation of an event.
por (by/for): Refers to time, place, medium, price, and cause.
sobre (on/about): Indicates approximate time, place, and the meaning of "regarding" or "about."

Conjunctions present distinct features in terms of their morphology, semantics, and syntax:

Conjunctions are invariable units, like prepositions; they do not depend on gender, number, or other word characteristics.
Based on their structure, we distinguish three types of conjunctions:
- Simple: Comprise a single word (e.g., y/e, ni, pero).
- Compound: Formed by the merger of several words (e.g., porque, así que, aunque).
- Locutions: Groups of words that are equivalent to a conjunction (e.g., así como, puesto que, como si).

Some conjunctions are semantically empty, while others carry a specific semantic value.

Conjunctions can link units of the same or different syntactic levels:
- They connect units of the same syntactic level (e.g., words, phrases, or clauses of equal importance).
- They link units of different syntactic levels (e.g., a subordinate clause to a main clause).

These conjunctions join elements of the same syntactic level.

Copulative: Join words or sentences by adding their meaning (e.g., y/e, ni).
Disjunctive: Relate items, excluding one (e.g., o/u, o bien).
Distributive: Show alternative actions that do not exclude each other (e.g., bien... bien, ya... ya, aquí... allí).
Adversative: Express an opposition between two events or actions (e.g., pero, sino, sin embargo).
Explanatory: Introduce a clarification of something (e.g., es decir, esto es).

These conjunctions relate elements of different syntactic levels, introducing a subordinate clause.

Completive: Introduce clauses that function as a substantive (e.g., que, si).
Final: Introduce the intention or purpose for which an event or action occurs (e.g., para que, a fin de que).
Causal: State the motive or reason for a preceding event or action (e.g., porque, puesto que, ya que).
Consecutive: Introduce the result or consequence of the preceding statement (e.g., luego, así que, por lo tanto).
Conditional: Show the condition that must be met for an act or action to occur (e.g., si, siempre que, con tal que).
Concessive: Make an objection that does not prevent the compliance or completion of an event or action (e.g., aunque, a pesar de que, mientras que).

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