Prepositions of Location in Spanish

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 21 views

Introduction

When learning a new language, one of the most challenging aspects is mastering prepositions. In Spanish, prepositions are used to describe the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. In this article, we will focus on the prepositions used to describe locations, specifically the preposition used to say "The school is next to the library" in Spanish.

Prepositions of Location in Spanish

In Spanish, there are several prepositions that can be used to describe locations. Some of the most common prepositions include:

Detrás de (behind)
Al lado de (next to)
Encima de (on top of)
Entre (between)

Choosing the Correct Preposition

To determine which preposition to use, let's analyze the sentence "The school is next to the library." The key word in this sentence is "next to," which indicates a proximity between the school and the library.

Option A: Detrás de

The preposition detrás de is used to indicate a location behind something. For example:

La casa está detrás de la montaña. (The house is behind the mountain.)
El coche está detrás de la camioneta. (The car is behind the truck.)

This preposition does not convey the idea of proximity or closeness, so it is not the correct choice for the sentence "The school is next to the library."

Option B: Al lado de

The preposition al lado de is used to indicate a location next to something. For example:

La escuela está al lado de la biblioteca. (The school is next to the library.)
La casa está al lado del parque. (The house is next to the park.)

This preposition conveys the idea of proximity and closeness, making it the correct choice for the sentence "The school is next to the library."

Option C: Encima de

The preposition encima de is used to indicate a location on top of something. For example:

La casa está encima de la colina. (The house is on top of the hill.)
El edificio está encima de la tienda. (The building is on top of the store.)

This preposition does not convey the idea of proximity or closeness, so it is not the correct choice for the sentence "The school is next to the library."

Option D: Entre

The preposition entre is used to indicate a location between two things. For example:

La casa está entre la montaña y el valle. (The house is between the mountain and the valley.)
El coche está entre la camioneta y el autobús. (The car is between the truck and the bus.)

This preposition does not convey the idea of proximity or closeness, so it is not the correct choice for the sentence "The school is next to the library."

Conclusion

In conclusion, the correct preposition to use to say "The school is next to the library" in Spanish is al lado de. This preposition conveys the idea of proximity and closeness, making it the perfect choice for describing the relationship between the school and the library.

Practice Exercises

To practice using the preposition al lado de, try completing the following exercises:

La biblioteca está al lado de la escuela. (The library is next to the school.)
La casa está al lado del parque. (The house is next to the park.)
El edificio está al lado de la tienda. (The building is next to the store.)

Q: What is the difference between "al lado de" and "cerca de"?

A: Al lado de is used to indicate a location next to something, while cerca de is used to indicate a location near something, but not necessarily next to it. For example:

La biblioteca está al lado de la escuela. (The library is next to the school.)
La casa está cerca de la playa. (The house is near the beach.)

Q: Can I use "entre" to describe a location next to something?

A: No, entre is used to indicate a location between two things, not next to something. For example:

La casa está entre la montaña y el valle. (The house is between the mountain and the valley.)
El coche está entre la camioneta y el autobús. (The car is between the truck and the bus.)

Q: What is the difference between "encima de" and "sobre"?

A: Encima de is used to indicate a location on top of something, while sobre is used to indicate a location above something, but not necessarily on top of it. For example:

La casa está encima de la colina. (The house is on top of the hill.)
La ciudad está sobre la costa. (The city is above the coast.)

Q: Can I use "detrás de" to describe a location next to something?

A: No, detrás de is used to indicate a location behind something, not next to it. For example:

La casa está detrás de la montaña. (The house is behind the mountain.)
El coche está detrás de la camioneta. (The car is behind the truck.)

Q: What is the difference between "al lado de" and "a lado de"?

A: Al lado de is the correct preposition to use to indicate a location next to something. A lado de is not a valid preposition in Spanish.

Q: Can I use "entre" to describe a location near something?

A: No, entre is used to indicate a location between two things, not near something. For example:

La casa está entre la montaña y el valle. (The house is between the mountain and the valley.)
El coche está entre la camioneta y el autobús. (The car is between the truck and the bus.)

Q: What is the difference between "encima de" and "en cima de"?

A: Encima de is the correct preposition to use to indicate a location on top of something. En cima de is not a valid preposition in Spanish.

Q: Can I use "detrás de" to describe a location near something?

A: No, detrás de is used to indicate a location behind something, not near something. For example:

La casa está detrás de la montaña. (The house is behind the mountain.)
El coche está detrás de la camioneta. (The car is behind the truck.)

Conclusion

Mastering prepositions in Spanish can be challenging, but with practice and patience, you can become more confident in your ability to describe locations. Remember to use the correct preposition to convey the intended meaning, and don't be afraid to ask for help if you're unsure.