Language/Catalan/Grammar/Common-Prepositions
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Welcome to our lesson on Common Prepositions in Catalan! Prepositions are essential in any language, as they help us connect words and provide context to our sentences. They act as bridges, linking nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words in a sentence and helping to clarify relationships, locations, and more. Understanding prepositions will greatly enhance your Catalan language skills and help you form more complex and meaningful sentences.
In this lesson, we’ll explore the most common prepositions in Catalan, their uses, and how to construct prepositional phrases. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid grasp of how to use these prepositions in everyday conversation.
Here’s how we’ll structure our lesson:
- Introduction to Prepositions
- Common Catalan Prepositions
- Using Prepositions in Context
- Prepositional Phrases
- Exercises and Practice
- Conclusion
Introduction to Prepositions
Prepositions are words that link nouns or pronouns to other parts of a sentence. They indicate relationships in terms of time, place, direction, cause, manner, and instrumentality. For example, in the sentence "The book is on the table," the preposition "on" shows the relationship between the book and the table. In Catalan, as in English, prepositions play a crucial role in sentence structure and meaning.
Common Catalan Prepositions
In Catalan, there are several prepositions that you’ll encounter frequently. Here is a list of some of the most common prepositions, along with their meanings and examples:
| Catalan | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| a | /ə/ | to |
| amb | /amβ/ | with |
| de | /ðe/ | of, from |
| en | /ɛn/ | in |
| per | /pɛr/ | for |
| sobre | /ˈsoβɾə/ | on, about |
| entre | /ˈɛntɾe/ | between |
| davant | /ðəˈβant/ | in front of |
| darrere | /dəˈreɾə/ | behind |
| sense | /ˈsɛnse/ | without |
These prepositions can be used in various contexts, making them incredibly versatile. Let's explore each of these prepositions in more detail with examples.
Using Prepositions in Context
1. a (to): Used to indicate direction or destination.
- Vull anar a la platja. (I want to go to the beach.)
2. amb (with): Used to indicate accompaniment or association.
- Vaig al cinema amb els meus amics. (I’m going to the cinema with my friends.)
3. de (of, from): Used to express belonging or origin.
- Soc de Barcelona. (I am from Barcelona.)
4. en (in): Used to indicate location or time.
- Estic en casa. (I am at home.)
5. per (for): Used to express purpose or reason.
- Estudio per aprendre. (I study to learn.)
6. sobre (on, about): Used to indicate subject or topic.
- Parlem sobre la història. (We talk about history.)
7. entre (between): Used to indicate position relative to two or more objects.
- El llibre és entre la taula i la cadira. (The book is between the table and the chair.)
8. davant (in front of): Used to indicate position before something.
- El cotxe està davant de la casa. (The car is in front of the house.)
9. darrere (behind): Used to indicate position at the back of something.
- La biblioteca està darrere de l’escola. (The library is behind the school.)
10. sense (without): Used to indicate absence.
- No puc viure sense tu. (I can't live without you.)
Prepositional Phrases
A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition followed by a noun or pronoun, which acts as the object of the preposition. Prepositional phrases can add detail to your sentences and often answer questions like where, when, or why. Here are some examples:
1. a la casa (to the house)
- Vaig a la casa. (I go to the house.)
2. amb la meva família (with my family)
- Celebrem el Nadal amb la meva família. (We celebrate Christmas with my family.)
3. de Barcelona (from Barcelona)
- Ell és de Barcelona. (He is from Barcelona.)
4. en el parc (in the park)
- Els nens estan en el parc. (The children are in the park.)
5. per la seva salut (for his/her health)
- Fes exercici per la seva salut. (Exercise for your health.)
6. sobre la música (about music)
- Em parles sobre la música. (You talk to me about music.)
7. entre dos arbres (between two trees)
- El banc està entre dos arbres. (The bench is between two trees.)
8. davant del professor (in front of the teacher)
- Estic nerviós davant del professor. (I am nervous in front of the teacher.)
9. darrere de la porta (behind the door)
- Hi ha un gat darrere de la porta. (There is a cat behind the door.)
10. sense el mòbil (without the phone)
- No puc viure sense el mòbil. (I can't live without my phone.)
Exercises and Practice
Now that you have learned about common prepositions in Catalan, it's time to put your knowledge to the test! Here are some exercises for you to practice what you've learned.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences with the correct preposition from the list: a, amb, de, en, per, sobre, entre, davant, darrere, sense.
1. Vull anar ___ la ciutat.
2. Estic ___ casa.
3. Parlem ___ els nostres plans.
4. El llibre és ___ la taula.
5. Ell és ___ València.
Solutions:
1. a
2. en
3. sobre
4. davant
5. de
Exercise 2: Translate the Sentences
Translate the following sentences from English to Catalan.
1. She is with her friends.
2. The cat is behind the sofa.
3. We celebrate Christmas in December.
4. I can't live without my dog.
5. They are between the two buildings.
Solutions:
1. Ella és amb les seves amigues.
2. El gat és darrere del sofà.
3. Celebrem el Nadal al desembre.
4. No puc viure sense el meu gos.
5. Ells estan entre els dos edificis.
Exercise 3: Match the Preposition to Its Meaning
Match the following prepositions to their meanings.
| Preposition | Meaning |
|-------------|---------|
| a | 1. without |
| amb | 2. in front of |
| de | 3. for |
| en | 4. to |
| per | 5. with |
Solutions:
- a -> 4
- amb -> 5
- de -> 2
- en -> 3
- per -> 1
Exercise 4: Create Your Own Sentences
Write your own sentences using the following prepositions: a, amb, de, en, per.
Example Solutions:
1. Vaig a la botiga. (I go to the store.)
2. Estic amb la meva família. (I am with my family.)
3. Ella és de Girona. (She is from Girona.)
4. Ells viuen en un pis. (They live in an apartment.)
5. Estudio per millorar. (I study to improve.)
Exercise 5: Identify the Preposition
Read the following sentences and identify the prepositions.
1. The dog is in the garden.
2. We are going to the concert.
3. She is talking with her mother.
Solutions:
1. in
2. to
3. with
Conclusion
Understanding and using prepositions is a vital step in mastering the Catalan language. By practicing the examples and exercises provided in this lesson, you will feel more confident in forming sentences that convey your thoughts accurately. Remember, practice makes perfect! Keep using these prepositions in your conversations, and soon they will become second nature to you.
Continue your journey in the Complete 0 to A1 Catalan Course, and we look forward to seeing you in the next lesson where we will explore Coordinating Conjunctions!
Sources
- Catalan grammar - Wikipedia
- Catalan Lesson 4 - Prepositions and Directions
- Catalan II Tutorial: Basic Phrases, Vocabulary and Grammar
Other Lessons
- Questions
- Ordinal Numbers in Catalan
- Conditional and future tenses
- Basic Sentence Structure
- Dative Case in Catalan
- Introduction to adjectives and adverbs
- Nominative Case in Catalan
- Regular Verbs
- Reflexive verbs
- Gender
| ◀️ At the Restaurant — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Coordinating Conjunctions ▶️ |