Connecting words and phrases
CONNECTING WORDS AND PHRASES
Enumerating/stressing facts
above all
chiefly
(e)specially
finally
first(ly)/second(ly)
in the first place
last(ly)
mainly
primarily
principally
to begin with
then
Making an addition; reinforcing
additionally/in addition
again
also
another thing is that...
apart from this
aside from that
as well as that
besides
for that matter
furthermore
indeed
moreover
what is more
Stating an alternative
Alternatively
apart from this
conversely
except for
excepting
instead
so far as
Giving an example
according to
as far as...is concerned
for example
for instance
namely
such as
Making a comparison or a contrast
as compared to
by/in comparison with
conversely
equally
however
in contrast
in reality
in the same way
likewise
Connecting words and phrases
Making a concession
Admittedly
after all
all the same
anyhow
anyway
at all events
at any rate
at least at the same time
despite this
however
I grant you
in so far as
nevertheless
none the less
Making something clear
I mean...
in other words
put another way
to put it differently
that is to say
Time references
Afterwards
at the same time
concurrently
in the meantime
meanwhile
subsequently
Showing results /causes
Accordingly
as a result
because of this
by this means
consequently
for this reason
hence
in the event
in this way
on account of this
owing to this
so
therefore
thus
Summarizing
all in all
all told
and so forth
and so on
essentially
in brief
in conclusion
in effect
in short
to all intents and purposes
to conclude
to sum up
to summarize
ultimately
Connecting words and phrases
Moving to a different topic
as far as...is concerned
as for
as regards
as to that
by the by
by the way
coincidentally
funnily enough
incidentally
in passing
to return to
well....
with reference to
SOME NEGATIVE ADVERBS/ADVERBS PHRASES
barely
hardly...when
hardly ever
least of all
little
never
never again
never before
at no time
by no means
in/under no circumstances
in no way
on no account
on no condition
no sooner...than...
neither...nor
not a...
not only...but...
not until/till
nowhere
only after
only at that moment
only by
only if
only in some respects
only later
only on rare occasions
only then
only when
only with
rarely
scarcely...when
seldom
a-words
Algunas palabras comunes en inglés empiezan con a- y se acentúa (stress) la segunda
sílaba
PREPOSICIONES ADVERBIOS ADJETIVOS
Against
Amid (amidst)
Among
(amongst)
Aboard
About
Above
Across
Along
Around
Aboard
About
Above
Across
Along
Around
Abroad
Again
Ago
Alone
Ahead
Aloud
Apart
Aside
Afraid (of/that clause)
(frightened + noun)
Alike (similar + noun)
Alive
Alone
Ashamed (of/that clause)
Asleep (sleeping + noun)
Awake
Aware (of/that clause)
Generalmente van
seguidos del verbo be u
otro linking verb
PREPOSICIONES
1. PREPOSICIONES de una sola palabra
**(=no pueden separarse de las palabras a las que se refieren)
About
Above
Across
After
Against
**Besides
Between
Beyond
**But (=except)
By
Off
On
Onto
Opposite
Out
Under
Underneath
**Unlike
Until
Up
Connecting words and phrases
Along
Alongside
Amid(st)
Among(st)
Around
As
At
**Bar
Before
Behind
Below
Beneath
Beside
**Despite
Down
**During
**Except
For
From
In
Inside
Into
Like
**Minus
Near
Of
Outside
Over
Past
**Per
**Plus
Round
**Since
Than
Through
**Throughout
Till
To
Towards
Upon
**Via
With
Within
Without
**Worth
2. PREPOSICIONES de una sola palabra en -ing
Barring
Excluding
Concerning
Including
Considering
Regarding
Excepting
3. PREPOSICIONES de dos o más palabras
According to
Ahead of
Along with
Apart from
As for
As from
As regards
As a result of
As to
As well as
Away from
Because of
But for
By comparison
with
By means of
Due to
Except for
For the sake of
From among
From under
In addition to
In between
In case of
In charge of
In common with
In comparison to/with
In connexion with
In favour of
In front of
In line with
In place of
In spite of
Instead of
In view of
Near to
Next to
On account of
On behalf of
On the left/right of
Out of
Owing to
Regardless of
Together with
Up to
With the exception of
With reference to
With regard to
USOS DE DIVERSAS PREPOSICIONES
'to'+ noun 'at' + noun
He has gone to/been to He is at. He has been at
1. Social/business activities: a concert, aconference, a dance, a dinner, a
funeral, a meeting, a wedding
2. Public places/buildings:
the airport, London airport, the station, Waterloo Station, the bus station, the bus
stop;
the/an art gallery, the Prado Museum, the/a museum, The British Museum, the zoo,
London Zoo;
the car park, the/a filling station, the/a garage;
the shops, Harrods, the butcher's, the chemist's, the shoe shop, the supermarket,
the bank, the library, the police station, the town hall;
the consulate, the embassy;
the/a hotel, the Grand Hotel, the/a restaurant;
the dentist('s), the doctor('s), the hospital.
3. Zero article + noun: go home/be at home, church, college, school, university,
UCLA University, Highfield School, Burgos University
4. Addresses: his sister's, 24 Port Avenue, Rose Cottage
Connecting words and phrases
5. Points inside a building or area: the booking office, Reception, the
Customs;
A lift/an elevator may be at the first/second floor, a person is on the first/second
floor.
'to'+ noun 'in' + noun
He has gone to/been to He is in. He has been in
1. Large areas, countries, states: Europe/Asia, Texas/Kent, the Andes, the
Antarctic, The Sahara Desert, the Mediterranean, the Pacific
2. Towns/parts of towns (excepto cuando los consideramos como puntos en
una ruta): Canterbury, Chelsea, Dallas, Manhattan, New York, Paris, The East End.
3. Outside areas (se prefiere go into con, por ej. Garden, street, etc.): the garden,
the park, Hyde Park, the square, the street, Bond Street, the old town;
The desert, the forest, the jungle, the mountains.
4. Rooms (go into o go to): the bathroom, his bedroom, the garage, the kitchen;
Mr Smith's office, the waiting room;
The bar, the cloakroom, the lounge, the Gents'.
'to'+ noun 'at' o 'in + noun
Usamos at cuando consideramos un lugar como, por ejemplo, un punto de
encuentro.
In cuando lo consideramos 'enclosing': the airport, the cinema, the theatre, the
zoo;
The car park, the garage, the office;
The chemist's, th flower shop, the bank, the library, the post office, the hotel , the
Grand (Hotel), the restaurant.
At/in church (e.g. to pray)
At/in the church (for some other reason)
At school (as a pupil)
At/in th school (as e.g. a teacher)
In prison (as a prisoner)
At/in the prison (as e.g. a visitor)
In hospital (as a patient)
At/in the hospital (as e.g. an outpatient)
PARTICULAR PREPOSITIONS, PARTICLES AND CONTRASTS
1. About, on and over
About y on se pueden usar significando 'concerning' o 'relating to' a subject (= acerca
de ....) On se tiende a usarse en contextos más formales y académicos que about:
Have you seen this article on the Pacific?
Have you read that book about animals?
About (no on) se usa después de verbos como know, read, tell, think y adjetivos tales
como anxious, concerned, worried.
About u on se usan después de nombres tales como idea(s), opinion(s).
Over se usa a menudo en el sentido de 'about', concretamente en noticias de la TV y
radio después de argue, argument, concern, dispute, con frecuencia donde se está
implicado en algún tipo de enfrentamiento.
2. According to and by
According to puede significar 'as shown by' (='como se muestra por', 'de acuerdo
con'):
According to the forecast, it will snow tomorrow.
y 'as stated by' (='como se afirma por'):
According to my father, the sea is rising.
Connecting words and phrases
According to se usa para referirse a información proveniente de otras personas o
fuentes (according to her, according to the timetable, etc.), pero no a información
proveniente de uno mismo (NO *According to me*) ya que according no se puede usar
con opinion y ,por lo tanto, se debe usar con in:
In my opinion, it is true.
By sólo puede sustituir a according to cuando la referencia es bastante específica, ej.
a un reloj, a un horario (timetable), etc, pero nunca a las personas:
It's now nine thirty by/according to my watch
According to también puede significar 'depending on' (='dependiendo de'):
I get to work at 8:30 or just after according to the traffic on the road.
3. Across and over
Ambas preposiciones pueden usarse para significar 'from one side to the other' (='de
un lado al otro') si nos referimos a una linea (por ej a road, a river, a frontier, etc.).
Al combinarse con verbos como run, walk, (run across/over, walk across/over)(verbos
de movimiento) pueden expresar la misma idea que el verbo cross:
Children are taught not to run across/over the road without looking (=not to
cross).
There is a policeman over/across the road.
Sin embargo, over no puede usarse al referirnos a la superficie de una area amplia:
They are laying a pipeline across Siberia
Con verbos que pueden sugerir 'movimiento sin rumbo' (stroll, wander, etc.) se puede
usar over para describir el movimiento dentro de un área (no neceariamente de un
lado a otro) sugeriendo 'aquí y allí' :
We wandered over the fields
We skated over the frozen lake.
Across debe usarse también cuando nos referimos a un movimiento por el agua:
Patricia swam across the Channel.
Across no puede usarse cuando queremos expresar 'go up and come down again'
(='subir y bajar de nuevo') (de un lado de algo alto al otro):
They escaped by climbing over the wall.
4. Across and through
Across puede referirse a una superficie cuando significa 'from one side to the other'
(='de un lado al otro'):
We skated across the frozen lake.
Through, cuando significa 'from one side to the other' (='de un lado al otro') o 'from
one end to the other' (=de un extremo al otro) puede sugerir más esfuerzo que across.
Through se refiere a
Un hueco:
Water flows through this pipe.
Algo tridimensional que 'envuelve' (por ej, a country, a crowd, a forest, long grass,
mud):
It was hard to cut through the forest (atajar)
Una `barrera' (por ej, the Customs, a door, a net, a roadblock, a window):
Look through the window
El uso de across y through depende del tipo de cosa de la que se esté hablando. En
Let's walk across/through the park
ambos son intercambiables porque en la mente del hablante, across se refiere a una
superficie y through a un área tridimensional.
5. After and afterwards
Ambas pueden significar 'later' (='después'), pero after puede ser preposición (seguida
de objeto) y conjunción (seguida por una frase). En este caso, afterwards no puede
sustituir a after:
Come and see me after classes.
Come and see me after you have finished.
Afterwards sólo puede usarse como adverbio (sin nombre o pronombre objeto):
Connecting words and phrases
We made the house tidy and they arrived soon afterwards.
También podemos usar after como adverbio en la oración de arriba
We made the house tidy and they arrived soon after.
O podemos usar and then o and soon after that:
We made the house tidy and then/and soon after that they arrived.
After como adverbio es modificado con frecuencia por soon o shortly y ocurre en
expresiones como happily ever after. No puede usarse en posición inicial para
referirse al segundo de dos acontecimientos distintos:
We had to swim in the sea. Afterwards we lay on the beach.
6. (A)round and about
(A)round y about se intercambian cuando:
se refieren a una falta de propósito o falta de posición o movimiento concretos:
We stood about/(a)round waiting
se refieren a una actividad estúpida:
I wish yiu'd stop fooling around/about
se usan para significar 'aproximadamente':
The fax was received (at) around/about 10
se usan para significar 'en algún sitio cerca':
I lost my wallet about/(a)round here
About no puede reemplazar a around para referirse a:
movimiento circular:
Regino is having a cruise (a)round the world
Distribución:
Would you hand these papers (a)round?
'Todas las partes':
Let me show you (a)round the house
'En el área/zona de':
He lives somewhere (a)round Valladolid
7. At
Se usa para las horas del día, festividades, fines de semana y con el sustantivo night.
Expresiones:
at night
at noon
at midnight
at dinner time
at sunrise
at sunset
at this moment
at Christmas, Easter, New Year
at the weekend
at first
at last
at weekends
At normalmente va detrás de:
Adjetivos asociados con habilidad: good/ bad / clever /better / worse at
I am not good at figures
Unos pocos nombres relacionados con la destreza: a dunce at, a genius at
I am a dunce at chemistry
Verbos usados para sugerir acción dirigida hacia un objetivo o destino (a menudo
sugiriendo agresión) tales como aim, laugh, shout, stare, strike, talk, throw. At
sugiere frecuentemente 'coger un objetivo'. Compara:
Throw the ball to me (para que yo la coja)
Regino is always throwing stones at birds (apuntándoles para herirles)
She shouted to us across the valley (para comunicarse con nosotros)
I got very dirty and she shouted at me (para reñirme)
Against (pero no at) se puede usar detrás de verbos como fight, throw donde no hay
idea de coger un objetivo:
He threw the ball against the wall
We fought against the enemy
Adjetivos que indican una reacción a circunstancias, sucesos, etc: amazed,
annoyed, astonished, surprised, confused, irritated, confused, etc. + at
I am surprised at the calls I have had
Connecting words and phrases
At normalmente puede sustituirse por by (surprised by) detrás de palabras como
surprised cuando se usan como participios en las pasivas.
At también se usa referido al precio/velocidad:
We have some balls at $3 each
(este uso de at se representa a veces simbolicamente con @ en listas de precios, etc.)
Regino is driving at 150 kilometers an hour!
8. Away
Away es un partícula adverbial y nunca va seguida de objeto. Normalmente se
combina con el adverbio far (far away) y con la preposición from (away from) y con
verbos que expresan la idea de 'distancia':
Regino sees storm clouds far away in the distance
I live twenty-five miles away from here
Fíjate en los usos con verbos (ej. fire away (=empezar y no parar); put away (=poner
algo en su sitio); work away (i.e. sin interrupción)
9. Because and because of
Because (conjunción) introduce una frase:
Percy could not go because he was ill
Because of (preposition) lleva un objeto:
I could not go because of my illness
On account of + objeto se puede usar en vez de because of (formal):
Farms are going bankrupt on account of the crisis in agriculture
10. Before and in front of
Before se usa normalmente para referirse a tiempo:
Make sure you are here before 6
Before se puede referir a espacio cuando se usa con verbos como come, go, lie, stand,
y en frases hechas como appear before the magistrate, before (o in front of) your very
eyes, come before the court (before = 'in the presence of'.
In front of ( y su opuesto, behind) se refieren a posición o lugar. Before no es posible
en la mayoría de contextos ordinarios para referirse a posición:
I will wait in front of your house (no *before)
Before (como after) combina con, por ej., come/go y se puede intercambiar con in
front of:
You come before (after) me in the queue
Why don't you go after me?
Before e in front of son intercambiables al referirnos a grandes áreas geográficas:
There, before/infront of us lay the desert
O cuando se usan metafóricamente para referirse a grandes espacios de tiempo:
Your whole life lies before/in front of you
11. Behind, at the back (of), back
Behind se puede usar como preposición:
There is a big car behind that house
o como adverbio:
There is a car in front and one behind
Behind se puede sustituir por at the back (of):
There is a big car at the back of that house
There is a big car at the back
Back es un adverbio y se combian, a menudo, con verbos como keep, put, stand y
stay.
I wish you'd put things back in their places
Keep this book. I don't want it back
Back no debe confundirse con again en, por ej.,
Our friends invited us to dinner last week and we must invite them back
(devolverles la invitación)
Connecting words and phrases
We enjoyed having our friends to dinner and we are going to invite them again
(en otra ocasión)
Cuando la idea de 'back' esta inmersa en el verbo, el adverbio back no debe usarse:
We has to go back early
We had to return early (No *return back)
Back también puede usarse con el sentido de ago:
I saw her five years ago/back
12. Beside and besides
Beside es una preposición que significa 'junto a' (next to):
Come and sit beside us
Besides es una preposición y adverbio que significas 'además' (in addition to / as well
as):
There were many people there besides us.
This car is very fast. Besides, it has four-wheel drive
Besides no debería confundirse con con except:
All of us went besides Regino (= Regino fué y nosotros también)
All of us went except Regino (= Regino no fué pero nosotros sí)
13. Between and among
Between se usa más normalmente para mostrar una división o conexión entre dos
personas, cosas u horas:
Divide it equally between the two of you
There is a good service between this town and the island
We will be there between 6 and 6:30
Ocasionalmente puede usarse para referirse a más de dos cosas, etc. Cuando se toman
por separado y no hay muchas:
Please don't smoke between courses (platos)
Switzerland is between France, Germany, Austria and Italy.
Between se usa frecuentemente en comparaciones y diferencias cuando hay dos cosas,
etc.:
What is the difference between Regino and Meté?
También puede usarse para referirse a 'una actividad compartida' cuando hay dos o
más:
The scouts collected money for the poor. Between (or Among) them they got
50.000 pesetas.
Among (y el menos popular amongst) + un nombre en plural se refiere a una multitud
de cosas que no pueden ser vistas por separado:
Were you among the members present?
Se usa a menudo para referirse a 3 o más:
Regino is among the world's best rugby players :-)
14. But (for) and except (for)
But for introduce una condición:
We would have been able to get there on time but for the heavy snow
Except for significa 'con la excepción de' (=with the esception of):
Everyone has helped except for you
But y except se usan sin for para significar 'con la excepción de', especialmente
después de compuestos de every/any/no. Sin embargo, no podemos usar but ni
except (sin for ) como preposiciones para empezar una oración:
Everyone but/except you has helped
Except/But for you everyone has helped
Sólo podemos usar except (no except for) delante de una frase preposicional:
Regino goes to bed before 11, except in the summer
Usamos but (no except) en preguntas como
Who but Regino would do a thing like that?
But y except también son conjunciones.
Connecting words and phrases
15. By, near and on
Estas palabras se pueden usar para significar 'no lejos de' (= not far from).
By puede significar 'justo junto a' (=right next to) o 'junto a' (= beside) una persona,
objeto o lugar y se puede intercambiar con beside y next to:
I sat by the phone all morning
Near generalmente sugiere 'un corto camino desde' (= a short way from) más que
'justo junto a (=right next to):
We live near Valladolid - just 10 kilometers south
Near (no by) se asocia con not far from:
We live near/not far from the mountains
El opuesto de near es a long way from o (quite) far from:
We live a long way from7(quite) far from the sea.
Near (pero no by) puede ir modificado por very:
The film is very near the end
By puede ir modificado por right and close para enfatizar:
The shop is right by/close by the church
On puede significar 'justo junto a' (=right next to) o 'junto a' (=beside) cuando se
refiere a una linea:
Our house is right on the road/on the river
On my right I have Regino and on my left I have Nacho
On se encuentra con frecuencia en nombres de lugares etc., junto al mar o ríos:
Southend-on-sea; Stratford-(up)on-Avon (Shakespeare)
16. By and past
Ambas se pueden intercambiar con verbos de movimiento (go, run, walk, etc.) para
significar ‘más allá de un punto en el espacio o tiempo’ (=beyond a point in space or
time):
He went right by/past me without speaking
Several days went by/past before I had news
17. By, with and without
By y with pueden usarse para significar ‘por medio de’ (=by means of) pero no son
generalmente intercambiables.
By ocurre en frases hechas como by bus y en construcciones de pasiva
My dog was hit by by a bus
By (a menudo + -ing) se puede referir a ‘método’
You can lock this door by moving this catch to the left (así es cómo debes
hacerlo)
By puede referirse a tiempo, medida, o precio:
I am paid by the hour/day/week
You can only buy eggs singly, not by the pound
También lo usamos para referirnos a cualquier clase de medida en una escala
He is shorter than I am by ten centimeters
Interest rates have gone up by ten per cent
Usamos by para significar ‘por’ (=via) al referirnos a rutas:
We drove to the coast by the main road
With y without se refieren a cosas (especialmente herramientas/instrumentos) que
usamos o necesitamos usar
You might get it open with a bottle opener (es lo que necesitas usar)
It will not open without a bottle opener
With también puede referirse a ‘modo, manera’ (=manner)
Paul returned my greeting with a nod
18. Down, up, under and over
Down es el opuesto de up e indica dirección a un nivel inferior
Connecting words and phrases
Let’s climb up the hill, then climb down
Aunque down es más comunmente usado con verbos de movimiento, puede (como
across, along y up) ser usado con verbos de posición para indicar un lugar apartado del
hablante. No hay sugerencia de ‘a un nivel inferior (=at a lower level) en este uso
We live down the street
Under lleva la idea de ‘estar cubierto’ (=being covered)
Let’s sit under this tree
There are a lot of minerals under the sea
Over puede significar ‘cubriendo’ (=covering)
Keep this blanket over you
19. Due to and owing to
Algunas gramáticas establecen una distinción entre estas dos preposiciones que sería
que due es un adjetivo y debe, por lo tanto, estar asociado con un nombre + be. Puede
sustituirse por caused by
Our delay (nombre) was due to/caused by heavy traffic
Owing to esta relacionado con un verbo. Puede sustituirse por because of
The soccer game was cancelled (verbo) owing to/because of the strike
En la práctica, esta distinción no se tiene en cuenta por parte de muchos hablantes
educados que usan due to de la misma forma que owing to o because of
He lost his job due to/owing to/because of a change in management
20. For
Usos comunes
Propósito The best man for the job
+ -ing I need this for opening it
‘recipient’ This the train for York
I have news for you
Razón, motivo He did it for the money
Duración Regino has been away for days
‘Exchange’ I bought it for 1.000 ptas.
Significado What is Spanish for ‘cat’?
(= as) I did it for a joke
(= instead of) I will do it for you
(= in favour of) Are you in favour of this? Yes. I am all for it
El opuesto es against: I am against the idea
Intención Let’s go for a swim (Después de go y come for no va seguido de
- ing)
Referencia de tiempo específico (no periodo de tiempo) I’ll order a taxi for 11
For y to: for no se usa delante de un infinitivo con ‘to’ pero puede ir seguido de
un gerund para indicar propósito o razón I used this tool to drill a hole
This tool is used for drilling holes
He was praised for being punctual
21. From
From se usa a menudo para indicar origen. La referencia puede ser de
Un lugar Regino is from Valladolid
Una persona Who is that letter from?
Un grupo We are from the government
Una cita This line is from 'Macbeth'
Distancia I am away from my city
Abstracto He died from a stroke
I acted from delf-interest
22. In and out
Se usan como partículas. In y out se refieren a menudo a 'entrada' y 'salida', como en
Way in y Way out, o simplemente in y out. El significado puede extenderse a la
Connecting words and phrases
referencia a correo entrante y saliente. Como en los sustantivos in-tray (=bandeja de
entrada) y out-tray (=bandeja de salida)
23. In spite of, etc
(Al)though (=aunque) es una conjunción e introduce una frase. En comparación, in
spite of (3 palabras)(= a pesar de), despite (= a pesar de, pese a) y notwithstanding
(= a pesar de que) en cambio no (introducen una frase) y son muy formales. Veamos la
siguiente escala:
The temperature has dropped, but it is still warm
It is still warm,(al)though the temperature has dropped
It is still warm in spite of the drop in temperature
It is still warm, despite the drop in temperature
It is still warm, notwithstanding the drop in temperature
Notwithstanding puede usarse al final de una oración para expresar incluso mayor
formalidad:
It is still warm the drop in temperature notwithstanding
In spite of, despite y notwithstanding van a menudo seguidos de the fact that
In spite of the fact that he has failed so often he has entered for the exam again
In spite of/despite pueden ir seguidos de -ing:
In spite of losing a fortune, he is still rich
For all (= a pesar de) expresa la misma idea pero menos formalmente:
For all her money, Regino is not happy
Compara con with all (= teniendo en cuenta/con todo/a/os/as = having into account)
With all this rain, there will be a good crop
24. Instead and instead of
Instead es un adverbio; instead of es una preposición compuesta. Cuando se usa
instead como adverbio, generalmente se coloca al final de la frase:
If you don't want a holiday in Villasana, why don't you go to Pucela instead?
Usamos instead of + sustantivo, pronombre o -ing:
We eat fish instead of meat
Why can't Regino drive you into town instead of me?
Instead of writing, I prefer reading
25. Like and as
Like como preposición va seguida de sustantivo, pronombre o -ing.
There's no sport like rugby (=para compararlo)
There's no one like her (=para compararle)
Why don't you try something like doing a bit of work for a change? (= tal como)
There were lots of people we knew at the party, like the Rodriguez and the
Gutierrez (=tales como/por ejemplo)
Like algunas veces puede sustituirse por such as (no por as):
Like puede expresar la idea de 'parecido'
It was like a dream (=parecido a/similar to)
El opuesto es unlike:
The holiday was unlike any other
Like puede sugerir 'a la manera de':
He acts like a king (= de la misma manera que)
As (= en calidad de) puede usarse como preposición y no debería confundirse con like
(=parecido). Puede referirse a personas y cosas.
Compárese: He works as a slave (lo es) /He works like a slave (trabaja mucho)
I work as a teacher
As a lawyer, I would recommend it
Who has used this knife as a pencil?
As (=dado que/ya que) puede ser conjunción introduciendo una frase:
As the last bus had left, we returned on foot
Usada como conjunción, as puede expresar similitud (= como):
Connecting words and phrases
She is musical as her mother was/as was her mother
Like (= como/como si) se usa a menudo como conjunción especialmente en inglés
americano coloquial que esta influyendo al inglés británico en este sentido. Este uso
no ha conseguido aceptación en el inglés británico.
Like I told you, it is an offer I cannot refuse ( As I told you...)
She is spending money like there was no tomorrow (= ...as if...)
Like y unlike pueden comportarse como adjetivos cuando los usamos después de
very, more o most:
He is more like his mother than his father. I don't agree. They are very unlike.
26. Of, out of, from, with
Todas estas preposiciones se pueden combinar con made para indicar los materiales o
ingredientes de lo que algo está creado. Made of y made out of se usan cuando
realmente podemos reconocer el/los material/es: made of wood, iron, etc.
You rarely find toys made (out) of solid wood
Made from se usa cuando el ingrediente/s no son inmediatamente obvios
Beer is made from hops
Bronze is made from copper and tin
Made with para sugerir 'contener' , se usa frecuentemente para identificar uno o más
de los ingredientes usados:
This sauce is made with fresh cream
Estas preposiciones pueden seguir a los participios pasados de otros verbos como, por
ej., built/constructed of/out of/from/with y ocurren en expresiones tales como paved
with tiles, loaded with hay, etc
27. Of and off
Of/off no son intercambiables pero su ortografía tan parecida puede hacer que nos
confundamos. Of nunca ocurre como partícula y off es , a la vez, preposición y
partícula.
Of
Se emplea para usos posesivos y también para:
Origen Mrs Ray of Worthing
Dirección north/east/south/west of
Instituciones The University of Valladolid
Edad A man of 33
Off
SeparaciónIt is just off the motorway / Take the top off (of this jar)
Salida We set off at noon
Desaparición Has your headache worn off?
28. On and in
On e in se usan frecuentemente con referencia al cuerpo. On se refiere a posición en
una superficie:
There is a black mark on your nose
The X-ray shows a spot on the lung
In se usa en relación a un espacio o área para sugerir 'metido':
I have a speck of dust in my eye
También para referirse a:
Dolores I have a pain in my stomach/back/ear
Heridas profundas I have a cut in my foot
Heridas superficiales pueden usarse con on:
I have a scratch on my arm
29. On and off
On y off se usan generalmente como preposiciones o partículas para referirse al
suministro de energía, especialmente electricidad y agua:
Turn the light/tap/faucet on/off
También se usan en relación con sentimientos:
Connecting words and phrases
Amaya turns her affections on and off
Ambas preposiciones se encuentran frecuentemente en interruptores, aparatos, etc.
ON/OFF
30. Opposite (to)
Opposite puede ser un adverbio:
Where is the bank? - It is opposite
O puede usarse como preposición, con o sin to (aunque to es frecuentemente
innecesario).
There is a bank opposite (to) my office
Opposite puede usarse como adjetivo predicativo:
The house opposite is very expensive
y como adjetivo atributivo:
We both have opposite points of view
31. Out of, outside, out
Out of es el opuesto de into cuando describimos movimiento:
We ran out of the burning house
Compara:
We got into the house in a hurry
Out of es el opuesto de in cuando no se implica movimiento:
Regino is out of the office (=no está/he is not in)
Regino is in his office (=no es tá fuera/he is not out)
Out se usa a veces informalmente como preposición:
Don't throw your bus ticket out the window (out of the window)
Outside puede susutituir a veces a out of para describir movimiento:
We ran outside the burning house
Pero, sin información adicional, , esto puede ser interpretado también como que
nosotros ya estábamos fuera de allí cuando empezamos a correr.
Inside e into permanecen en la misma relación:
We ran inside the burning house
también puede ser interpretado como que ya estábamos dentro cuando empezamos a
correr.
Sin movimiento, outside no puede sustituir a out of:
He is outside his office
significa 'él está justo fuera de la oficina, en una habitación, etc. contígua'
He is out of his office
significa 'él no está aquí, está en algún otro sitio'.
Outside e inside se pueden usar como adverbios; into y out of sólo pueden usarse
como preposiciones:
He is inside/outside
We rushed inside/outside
Siempre es más seguro usar into y out of como preposiciones mejor que outside e
inside significando 'de un lugar a otro'.
In/into pueden usarse como adverbios:
He is in/out
32. Over, above, on top of
Over puede tener el sentido de 'cubriendo' (y a veces 'tocando') y su opuesto es under
(cubierto por/covered by).
Above subraya la idea de 'a un nivel más alto' (i.e. 'sin tocar')
Keep the blankets over you
I can't sleep with a light on above my head
On top of generalmente sugiere 'tocando':
Don't put anything on top of the TV, please
Above y over pueden usarse frecuentemente intercambiados con verbos de
movimiento:
I'd like to fly above/over the Pacific
Connecting words and phrases
Over y above se pueden usar intercambiados en el sentido de 'verticalmente a un nivel
más alto'
The helicopter was over/above the bridge
My bedroom is over/above the kitchen
Sin embargo, no son intercambiables cuando todo a lo que nos referimos está 'a un
nivel más alto' (no 'verticalmente a un nivel más alto'). Si, por ejemplo nos estamos
refiriendo a dos gatos en un arbol deberíamos decir que A is above B, no over B. En
términos generales, over y under indican relación vertical, mientras que above y
below se refieren simplemente a niveles.
Over y above tienen diferentes usos metafóricos o figurados.
Over significa 'a cargo de':
We don't want anuone like that over us
Above puede significar 'un rango más alto':
Major is above the rank of captain
Over ( y menos comúnmente above) pueden significar 'más que':
He isn't over (above/more than) 24
Above (no over) se usa para medir en una escala:
His work is on average
Ambos over y above se combinan con see (see over=pasa a la página siguiente / see
above=mira más arriba de la misma página/hace referencia a la página anterior)
Over puede combinarse con turn, en turn over (una página) y su opuesto es turn
back.
33. To
Cuando to va con el infinitivo, no es una preposición: I want to go / She began to sing,
etc.
Sin embargo,después de verbos tales como object, look forward, be/get used o
adjetivos tales como accustomed, to es una preposición. Significa que puede ir
seguida de un sustantivo o un gerundio:
I am accustomed to hard work
I am accustomed to working hard
34. Towards
To en I go from A to B cubre todo el movimiento, empezando en A y llegando a B.
Towards indica dirección general y no cubre todo el movimiento.
Puede expresar:
Dirección/movimiento Walk slowly towards me
'en dirección de' My house looks toward the river
'cerca' I feel tired towards the end of the day
'en relación a' My attitude towards...
'por el propósito de' Pay towards a pension
Toward es más común en inglés EEUU que towards.
35. Under, underneath, beneath, below
Under significa 'cubierto por' (y, a veces, 'tocando') y 'en un lugar más bajo que' (no
'tocando')
There is nothing new under the sun
También puede usarse con verbos de movimiento:
We walked under the bridge
Under puede significar 'menos que'
I think he is under 19
Below también es posible en ciertos contextos:
Mrs Smith can't be below 40
Underneath significa 'completamente cubierto por' (tocando y no tocando):
Put a mat underneath that hot dish
Beneath es menos común y más literario pero puede sustituir a under y underneath:
Our possessions lie beneath the rubble (escombros)
Connecting words and phrases
Below es el opuesto de above. Se puede intercambiar con under y underneath cuando
significa 'a un nivel más bajo':
We swam just below the surface
We camped below/under/underneath the summit (cumbre)
Pero no es generalmente intercambiable al referirse a lugar o posición:
The stone hit me just below the knee
Under puede usarse para significar 'mandado por':
Our foreman/boss has ten people under him
Below puese usarse figurativamente para referirse a rango:
What's the rank below Captain
36. With and without
With y without puede usarse para significar 'acompañado de' o 'no acompañado de':
I went to the zoo with Regino
What was your life like without any brothers?
I can't manage without you
With puede sustituir a 'teniendo' en, por ej.,
He stood with his hands in his pockets
With his background, he should go far
Without puede sugerir 'y no hacer algo':
We must get inside without waking Regino
With puede sugerir 'tomando en consideración':
With the cost of living so high, we are cutting down on luxuries
With so many accidents on the road, the use of seat-belts was made ompulsory
With (pero no without)
Sigue a adjetivos comunes para expresar sentimientos: angry, annoyed, furious, etc.
(with someone, pero at something)
Y ten en cuenta: blue with cold, green with envy, etc.
With también sigue a verbos como cope, fight, quarrel, etc.
37. With, without, in, of
With y without puede usarse para significar 'llevando' o 'no llevando':
Who's the woman with the green umbrella?
I am without any money
o puede significar 'acompañado/no acompañado por':
The camera comes with/without a case
With y without pueden usarse para significar 'teniendo' o 'no teniendo' características
físicas:
He is a man with a big nose and black hair
Se puede extender esto a características externas como estilos de peinado o
maquillaje:
The woman with red lipstick
In puede usarse para significar 'llevando puesto':
Who is the man in the blue jeans?
y para referirse al tono de voz:
He spoke in a low/loud voice/in a whisper
Of puede usarse para describir:
Cualidades personales He is a man of courage
Edad He is man of about 34
Riqueza He is a man of means
38. With regard to, etc.
Un número de preposiciones pueden usarse cuando queremos hacer referencias
formales o llamar la atención ,por ej., as far as ...is concerned, as for, as regards, as
to, regarding, with reference to, with regard to
As regards your recent application for a job, we haven't made up our minds
yet.
Connecting words and phrases
We haven't had a reply from our neighbours regarding their proposal to build a
garage
I am writing to you with reference to your inquiry of November 27th
Sin embargo, pueden ocurrir usos informales:
I didn't ask too many questions as to his whereabouts (paradero)
As for his interest in this business, I have no comment to make
As far as I am concerned, you can do as you please
ALGUNAS FRASES PREPOSICIONALES
AT +
Meals (lunch, etc.)
place
points of time
all events
all times any rate
best/worst
fault
first
first sight
hand
...km per hour
last
least
leisure
length
a loss
the moment
most
once
pains
peace/war
play/work
present
a profit
sea
sight
table
the time
times
BY +
bus, etc...
time
weight
accident
air
all means
any/no means
birth
chance
cheque/credit card
day/night
degrees
design
far
force
hand
heart
land/sea/air
luck
marriage
means of
mistake
name
post
right(s)
stages
surprise
virtue of
the way
way of
FOR +
period of time
the better/the best
a change
ever
once
sale
a walk, etc.
FROM +
A to Z
bad to worse
the first
good to bad
the heart
now on
then on
IN +
place
time
action
addition
all
any case, any event
brief
business
case of
cash
the circumstances
comfort
comparison
control
danger
debt
demand
depth
detail
doubt
the end
fact
full
general
half/halves
a hurryink/pencil
a minute
no time
order
pain
personal practice
public
return
short
tears
time
turn
view of
Connecting words and phrases
conclusion love
OFF +
duty
one's head
the point
the record
the road
school/work
ON +
day/date
account of
approval
average
behalf of
business
condition
the contrary
credit
demand
display
duty
fire
foot
guard
hand
holiday
the hour
the job
a journey
loan
no account
offer
one's own
purpose
the radio/tv
sale
strike
the (tele)phone
time
a visit
the way
a farm
a plane/bus/train/boat
OUT OF +
breath
character
control
danger
date
debt
doors
fashion
favour
focus
hand
hearing
humour
love
luck
order
the ordinary
pain
place
practice
reach
season
sight
step
stock
style
touch
tune
turn
use
work
PAST +
belief
care
control
hope
TO +
advantage
a great extent
hand
the point
UNDER +
age
control
cover
one's feet
the impression
(no) obligation
orders
pressure
repair
the rules
suspicion
the weather
UP TO +
date
mischief
much/ (not) up to much
no good
one's ears
to (you)
WITH +
Connecting words and phrases
regard to
respect to
the exception of
WITHIN +
one's income
the law
range
reach
WITHOUT +
bothering
ceremony
delay
a doubt
exception
fail
prejudice
Nombre + preposición
Necesidad de = a need for
La causa de= the reason for
Una solución a = a solution to
La llave del piso = the key to the flat
Un cheque de 10 dolares = a cheque for ten dollars
Un billete de 5 dólares = a five dollar bill/note
Adjetivo + preposición
TO BE:
Estar enfadado/furioso por algo =
Arrepentirse de/sentir algo =
Estar emocionado/preocupado por=
Estar trastornado por/triste a causa de=
Darse bien/saber hacer=
Darse mal/no saber hacer=
Ser negado para algo=
Estar impresionado/sorprendido por=
Ser responsable de=
Ser diferente de=
Estar interesado por=
Tener miedo a=
Estar cansado de=
Estar harto/aburrido de
Estar celoso/tener envidia de=
A favor de=
En contra de=
Ser independiente de=
Ser dependiente de=
Ser aficionado a=
Estar casado con=
Ser amable con=
Tratar mal=
Ser educado con=
Ser maleducado/grosero con
Estara costumbrado a=
Estar enfadado/furioso con alguien
Estar contento/encantado con
Estar harto de
Estar aburrido con=
Ser generoso/amable/sensato de mi...=
angry/furious about sth
sorry about sth
excited/worried about
upset/sad about
good at sth
bad at sth
hopeless at sth
socked/surprised at/by sth
responsible for
different from
interested in
afraid of
tired of
bored of
jealous of
in favour of
against
independent of
dependent on
keen on
married to
nice/kind to
cruel to
polite to
rude to
used to
angry/furious with sb
pleased/delighted with
fed up with
bored with
generous/kind/sensible of sb to do sth
Connecting words and phrases
Alegrarse/entristecerse...de hacer algo happy/sad ... to do sth
Verbos + preposiciones
+ about
pensar en = to think about
soñar con = to dream about
quejarse de/reclamar = to complain about
+ after
cuidar = to look after
+ at
reirse/mofarse de = to laugh at
mirar = to look at
sonreir = to smile at
gritarle a alguien = to shout at sb
tirar a (agresivo) = to throw at
llegar a = arrive at + lugar
(ir a casa = to go/arrive/get home)
+ for
esperar = to wait for
solicitar algo = to apply for sth
pedir a alguien una cosa = to ask sb for sth
preguntar a alguien una cosa = to ask sb for sth
rogar = to beg for
esperar a = to hope for sth
anhelar = to long for
desear algo = to wish for sth
buscar = to search/look for
(registrar) = to search
pagar = to pay for
sentir pena por alguien = to feel sorry for sb
disculparse por = to apologize for
apreciar = care for
echar a alguien la culpa de = to blame sb for
+ from
padecer de = to suffer from
impedir a alguien hacer = to prevent sb... from ...ing
+ in
conseguir = succeed in
creer en = believe in
vestir = dress in
llegar a = arrive in + ciudad/país
+ into
chocar con algo = to crash/run/drive/bump into sth
encontrarse por casualidad = to run/bump into sb
dividir/cortar en = to divide/cut into
+ of
soñar con (conscientemente;el futuro) = to dream of
consistir en = consist of
Connecting words and phrases
pensar en = think of
recordar/traer a la memoria = to remind sb of sb/sth
ocuparse de/cuidar = to take care of
+ off
vivir de (algo/alguien) = to live off
+ on
insistir en = to insist on
depender de = depend/rely on
vivir de (e.g. poco dinero) = to live on (e.g. little money)
concentrarse en = concentrate on
subir a (tren , etc) = to get on (train, etc.)
entenderse con alguien = to get on with sb
+ to
atender a algo/alguien = to attend to sb
oponerse a algo = to object to sth
oponerse a alguien = to oppose sbescuchar = to listen to
escribir a = to write to
hablar con = to speak/talk to
anticipar/desear algo con ganas = look forward to
llamar a alguien a voces = to shout (sth) to sb
tirar algo a alguien = to throw sth to sb
+ with
tratar con = to deal with
tirar adelante con algo = to go ahead with sth
sin preposición
esperar algo = to expect sth
casarse con alguien = to marry sb/ to get married to
salir de = to leave
carecer de = to lack
ir a casa = to arrive/get/go home
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