La Enseñanza de las Preposiciones de la Lengua Inglesa a Nivel

Medio

Prof.: Rosario Vitale Di Benedetto

Febrero 2012
ÍNDICE
Páginas
Prólogo 3
Introducción 4

Unidad I Preposiciones Simples 5

I.1 Tipos de Preposiciones 5

I.2 Significado Amplio de Preposiciones 31
I.3 Ejercicios 42
I.4 Adverbios o Preposiciones 46

Unidad II Preposiciones Compuestas 53

II.1 Preposiciones Compuestas con Función de Adjetivo 55

II.2 Preposiciones Compuestas con Función de Adverbio 55

Unidad III Frases Preposicionales 60

III.1 El Gerundio después de las Preposiciones 64

III.2 El Gerundio con Preposiciones después de Verbos 65
III.3 El Gerundio con Preposiciones después de 67
Adjetivos
III.4 Preposiciones que acompañan a Verbos 74
III.5 Preposiciones que preceden a los Nombres y 75
Nombres que siguen a las preposiciones
III.6 Dificultades con algunas Preposiciones 78
III.7 Interferencia de las Preposiciones Inglesas con el 80
Español

Unidad IV Estructuras Relativas 82

IV.1 Las Preposiciones con Estructuras Relativas 82

Unidad V Las Formas Pasivas 91

V.1 Las Formas Pasivas de los Verbos con Preposiciones 91

Unidad VI Las Expresiones Idiomáticas 95

VI.1 Expresiones Idiomáticas que empiezan con 95

Preposiciones
 Unidad VII Las Preposiciones con Verbos 100
Compuestos

VII.1 Verbos Compuestos Transitivos 100

VII.2 Verbos Compuestos Intransitivos 104

Referencias Bibliográficas 108

PRÓLOGO

Las preposiciones se pueden definir de manera diferente; sin embargo,

existen pocas definiciones en el diccionario que permitan al estudiante
facilitar su aprendizaje.
Éstas son problemáticas por dos razones fundamentales. La primera se refiere
al problema central de la definición. La segunda trata de aclarar su naturaleza
sintáctica: ¿Cómo hacer para saber cuando una preposición tiene una función
sintáctica o de léxico?
Determinar las respuestas a estas dos preguntas es esencial si se quiere
comprender la naturaleza de las preposiciones. Al contestar estas preguntas,
aumenta la comprensión de las mismas y de la función sintáctica que tienen
en un contexto dado y en una situación establecida.
La palabra preposición está compuesta por dos palabras pre+posición, por
lo cual, cualquier palabra que se presente ante un nombre o pronombre, en
relación a otras partes del discurso en un enunciado, será siempre una
preposición.
Las preposiciones se usan también para expresar una serie de relaciones
como: tiempo, lugar, modo, medio, cantidad, propósito, estilo o condición. Su
uso y las diferentes relaciones dependerán de la temática y del contexto
Haciendo uso del diccionario y de su definición, es posible interpretar las
preposiciones como elementos gramaticales peculiares que construyen las
siguientes relaciones: agente (by); comparación (like, as…as); dirección (to,
towards, through); lugar (at, on, under); posesión (of); propósito (for); fuente,
origen (from, out of); tiempo (at, on, after, before.)
Una preposición une a nombres, pronombres y frases con otras palabras en un
enunciado. La palabra o frase que la preposición introduce se denomina
objeto de la preposición. En este caso, las preposiciones forman frases
preposicionales.
Así que, algo importante que debemos tener siempre presente, las
preposiciones siempre se encuentran en frases preposicionales.
Una frase preposicional consta de un grupo de palabras que no tiene un sujeto
o un verbo y funciona, dentro de un contexto gramatical, como una parte
singular del discurso.
Una frase preposicional consiste de una preposición y un nombre o
pronombre, los cuales se definen como objeto de la preposición. El objeto de
la preposición es el primer nombre o pronombre que sigue a la preposición.

INTRODUCCIÓN

El siguiente trabajo se presenta desglosado en una serie de unidades que

abarcan, de manera profunda, a las preposiciones de la lengua inglesa
partiendo de las simples para llegar a las complejas.
En la primera unidad se estudian las preposiciones simples, enmarcadas en
una tabla de contenidos donde aparecen la mayoría de ellas. Se pone énfasis
en el uso y significado de cada una.
En primer término, se analizan las preposiciones de lugar, de movimiento y
de tiempo con dibujos y caricaturas explicativas y múltiples ejemplos.
En un segundo término, se presentan las preposiciones que presentan ciertas
ambigüedades en cuanto a su significado y uso.
La unidad dos analiza las preposiciones compuestas con función de adjetivo
y las mismas con función de adverbios, explicando a los estudiantes que
éstas, a diferencias de las preposiciones simples, están compuestas por dos o
más elementos. Una tabla con las preposiciones compuestas más importantes
acompaña a las explicaciones.
En la unidad tres se presenta el concepto de frase preposicional, explicando
su estructura y su uso. Se analiza también aquí, el gerundio después de los
verbos y de los adjetivos. Se muestra además, una serie de participios que
funcionan como adjetivos en los casos en que los primeros anteceden a las
preposiciones.
Se observa un número amplio de verbos que anteceden a ciertas
preposiciones en particular, se enumeran aquellas preposiciones que actúan
antes de los nombres y se presentan también las preposiciones con adjetivos.
En la unidad cuatro, se analizan los pronombres relativos y las estructuras
gramaticales con las preposiciones.
En la unidad cinco, se enseñan las formas pasivas de los verbos y las
preposiciones que se usan en dicho caso.
En la unidad seis se enumeran una serie de expresiones idiomáticas que
empiezan con preposiciones.
En la séptima y última unidad se analizan las preposiciones con verbos
compuestos, transitivos e intransitivos.

UNIDAD I
Preposiciones Simples

I.1. TIPO DE PREPOSICIONES

Definición: las preposiciones simples son una clase de palabras cortas usadas
para señalar una relación entre nombres. Se encuentran a menudo frente a
verbos en gerundio.
En la lengua inglesa hay aproximadamente 70 preposiciones simples. Casi la
mitad de ellas tienen dos sílabas (under, over, behind, without) o más
(underneath, notwithstanding).
Muchas de estas preposiciones señalan lugar (on, behind, under), algunas
señalan tiempo (before, after), mientras que otras señalan relaciones
concretas o lógicas (of, for, to, with).
Muchos estudiantes con conocimientos avanzados de la lengua inglesa,
tienen problemas para comprender su diferente uso y significado.
Sin embargo, aun cuando no existen reglas para aprenderlas, hay ciertas
normas que hemos tratado de aplicar aquí, para facilitar su aprendizaje.
Presentamos en seguida las preposiciones simples más comunes de la lengua
inglesa:
about below except on to
above beneath for onto toward
across reside from out under
after between in outside underneath
against beyond inside over until
among but into past up
around by like since upon
at despite near through with
before down of throughout within
behind during off till without
I.1 Ejercicios
Completar las frases siguientes con las preposiciones presentadas en la tabla
superior:
1. I see nothing funny………………..this.
2. I like to be………………..the sea.
3. If you have no money, you are ……………….troubles.
4. I am………………a rock and a hard place.
5. There is no hell……………….a woman scorned.
6. I will wait for you……………….the end of time.
7. With you or……………….you.
8. Sheena is beautiful………………..stupid.
9. Bees were buzzing………………..me.
10 I got wet through and………………..
11. Fly me……………..the moon and back to Tulún.
Las preposiciones de la lengua inglesa de uso frecuente:
Las preposiciones simples preceden a los nombres:
Por ejemplo:
-after class
-at home
-before Tuesday
-in London
-on fire
-with pleasure
Una preposición generalmente señala la relación temporal, espacial o lógica
de su objeto referente al resto del enunciado.

Por ejemplo:
-the book is on the table.
-she read the book during class.
-the car is in good conditions except that the breaks need relining.
En el primer enunciado, la preposición on sitúa al objeto en un lugar. En el
segundo enunciado, la preposición during coloca al libro en el tiempo, y en
el último enunciado, la preposición except nos proporciona una relacíón
lógica entre la palabra car y breaks.
¿Por qué decimos, the bank is on Prim Lane, y she lives at 134 Pit Avenue en
lugar de, the bank is at Prim Lane y she lives in 134 Pit Avenue?
Muchos estudiantes y maestros a veces vemos el uso y significado de las
preposiciones como un secreto difícil de descifrar. Sin embargo, si
examinamos sus patronos de uso y los elementos sintácticos será fácil
llegar a una explicación y aprendizaje de las mismas.
Las preposiciones se usan en inglés para hablar o leer sobre lugares y
tiempos. A veces, la elección de una u otra en una frase en particular parece
arbitraria. Sin embargo, si analizamos los patrones de frecuencia, podemos
identificar conceptos claves en significado y uso que tienen lugar de manera
continua y que pueden ser usados como una estrategia de aprendizaje.
Hay diferentes clases de preposiciones: de lugar; de movimiento; de tiempo;
de lugar y tiempo; de tiempo y movimiento; de lugar y movimiento y de otros
tipos
La siguiente tabla, contiene un conjunto de usos y aplicaciones para la
mayoría de las preposiciones que generalmente se usan en la lengua inglesa.
Veremos en primer lugar, las preposiciones de lugar y sus diferentes
significados:

Preposiciones de Lugar

Preposición Uso Ejemplo

más alto que otra cosa, pero A path above the lake.
above no encima de manera
directa
around alrededor de Seated around the table.
behind por detrás Look behind you!
debajo de algo pero no en el The fish are below the
Below
fondo surface.
en una posición más baja, To marry beneath one, that’s
beneath
socialmente inferior beneath me.
a la izquierda o derecha de She is standing by/beside the
beside
algo o alguien car.
cerca, a una corta distancia He stood near the wall.
en el tiempo, lugar, The sun is near setting.
Near
condición o parecido She was near-hysterical.
This drink is a near-beer.
 throughout por todas partes Cities throughout the USA.
under bajo otra cosa The bag is under the table.
justo debajo de I wrote the date underneath
underneath
the address.

I.2 Ejercicios
Completar las siguientes frases con las preposiciones arriba enlistadas:
1. We are all equal……………….the law.
2. People old-fashioned are ……………..the times.
3. Animals and plants all……………….me.
4. She wore a swimsuit………………..her dress.
5. Some thieves act………………cover of darkness.
6. Walk……………….me.
7. I am sure there is a heaven………………..
8. I want you……………….me.
9. We look at the clouds………………..
10………………..us only sky, according to John Lennon.
1I. I look………………..and I see your face.
12. If you stand………………..me, I cannot see you.
13. It seems similar above and………………..
14. To steal is………………..me
15. I don´t remember if she was on my right or on my left. I only know
she was………………..me.
16. The hotel was not far; it was………………..the gas station.
17. The USA looked for Bin Laden………………..in Pakistan.
18. You are………………..my thumb, according to Jagger.
19. You can sign right………………..your name.
20. There is a sky up………………
BEHIND

Observa las caricaturas y los dibujos anteriores.

Selecciona la preposición correcta para las frases que siguen abajo.
Usa una de las siguientes preposiciones: at, in, on, near, under, behind,
above:
I.3 Ejercicios
1.-Lisa: we can’t make spaghetti without garlic. Where is the garlic?
Leo: it’s…………………….the table.
2.-Lisa: I don’t see it. I only see tomatoes.
Leo: it’s……………………the tomatoes.
3.-Lisa: it’s not here.
Leo: look……………………the refrigerator.
4. Lisa: I don’t see any garlic.
Leo: look…………………….the beer.
5.-Lisa: it’s not there.
Leo: look on the floor. Maybe it’s…………………….the table.
6.-Lisa: it’s not there either.
Leo: maybe it fell……………………the stove.
7.-Lisa: did you find it?
Leo: yes, but it wasn’t…………………..the stove.
8.-Lisa: where was it?
Leo: it wasn’t …………………….the stove.
9.-Lisa: was it……………………the table?

10.-No, it was…………………….my hand!

Preposiciones de Movimiento

Preposición Uso Ejemplo

 across llegar al otro lado We swim across the lake.
atravesar algo con límites en I drive through the tunnel.
through la parte superior, en el fondo
y en los lados
into entrar a un cuarto o edificio We go into the kitchen.
movimiento hacia la parte He jumped onto the table.
onto
superior de algo
movimiento en dirección de She walks five steps toward
toward or
algo (pero no directamente the house.
towards
hacia él)
con el sentido de origen The giant came from a far
from
country.
I.4 Ejercicios
Completar las frases con las preposiciones presentadas en la tabla superior:
1.……………..here to eternity is the title of a film.
2. The detective moved………………the crime scene.
3. The cable goes……………….the river.
4. The man escaped…………….a gallery.
5. They saw me……………….the hill.
6. The car ran………………a tree.
7. I climbed ……………… the next branch.
8. Icarus flew……………….the sun.
9. I walked……………..the house.
10. The little turtles ran………………..the sea.
11. We drove……………..the beach.
12. ………………..New York to Las Vegas.
13. Las Vegas is not far………………Los Angeles.
14. With open arms she walked………………..me.

Picture It Clip Art Preposition Example

to "He carried the rubbish to the bin."

"The train came through the

 through tunnel."

across "He swam across the channel."

along "He walked along the road."

down "He skied down the mountain."

over "They walked over the bridge."

off "The man ran off the cliff."

"The arrow is moving round the

round
ball."
"The man poured the sand into the
into
timer.

Completar las frases con la preposición correcta. Presta atención a los

ejemplos de las tablas superiores y a los dibujos ilustrados abajo:
I.5 Ejercicios
1. His house was…………………….the hill.
2. I was soaked by rain through and…………………….
3. There was a bridge………………….the river.
4. The truck ran ………………….the tunnel.
5. We went………………….the ship.
6. She ran………………….the house.
7. The girl ran away…………………..the gorilla.
8. They set out…………………….San Francisco.
9. She was afraid, but she walked ………………. the bridge in the end.
10. We swam……………………..the channel.
11. We were two miles…………………. shore.
12. They flew………………… the lake.
13. The three little boys swam ……………………the ship.
14. The little girl lives……………………. the street from us.
15. The woman and the dog walked………………the street.
16. The man was riding………………..the tunnel.
17. The pilot jumped………………the plane.
18. The man in a small plane is flying………………..the world.
19. The soldier got……………….. trouble.
20. The car was driven ………………..a cliff.
21. The man in a red small plane flew……………….the palace.
22. The girl swam ………………..a shipwreck.
23. The man on a bicycle is riding………………..the river.
Preposiciones de Tiempo

Preposición Uso Ejemplo

un cierto tiempo en el four years ago
ago
pasado
a partir de cierto punto en since 1990
since el pasado (del pasado hasta
 ahora)
antes de un cierto momento before 2011
before
en el tiempo
por un cierto periodo de for five years
for
tiempo
marca el inicio y el final de from Monday till Sunday
till-until
un periodo de tiempo
after por largo tiempo after a week she reconsidered
during por largo tiempo he slept during the sermon

I.6 Ejercicios

1. A year…………………….I was younger.

2. ……………………..the depression people had no food.
3. This company started ………………1978.
4. I haven´t smoked ……………………1995.
5. Most people don´t wash their hands……………………..eating.
6. The doctor has had an affair with a nurse………………..a year.
7. I plan to go on vacation………………..Christmas.
8. I´ll see you………………..Tuesday.
9. All the students slept…………………….my class.
10. I wake up ………………..the sunrise.
11. The British and Irish have been quarreling………………..seven
centuries.
12. He has worked here……………….1980.
13. She has lived in Spain………………..seven years.
14. ………………..the Great Recession, interest rates stayed very low.
15. We have a deadline, we must finish the project………………..March.
16. We have………………..March to complete the project.
17. We must complete the project……………….March.
18. ………………..1950, few people in Europe had flown in an airplane.
19.…………………1970, many people had flown in an airplane.
20. …………………the introduction of commercial airlines, few people
experienced flying.

Preposiciones de Lugar y Tiempo

Preposición Uso Ejemplo

próximo a, cerca de un at the door, at the station, at
objeto o cosa, un lugar the top of each page, at the
específico back of the book, at Helen´s
house…

en lugares públicos y tienda at the dentist, at college, at

the station, at the
supermarket…
at con direcciones numeradas
I live at 31 Dill Square…
en eventos
at last’s year conference…
referente a mesa
at the table…
lugar donde se hace algo
especial (ver películas, at the cinema, at school…
estudiar, trabajar…)
cuarto, edificio, calle, in the kitchen, in Paris, in
ciudad, país, regiones England, in the mountains…
geográficas en general,
con contenedores, in the fridge, in the pocket…

in con líquidos y sustancias milk in the coffee, garlic in

 para mostrar su contenido the sauce…
meses/ estaciones in August/ in winter
después de un periodo de in a minute
tiempo

Preposición Uso Ejemplo

sobre algo, indica posición o on the table
contacto en una superficie
Indica movimiento hacia on the right, on the left
una dirección the satire is on society.
se usa para leer o hablar
on acerca de algo
the bank is on the corner of
se usa con calles, caminos, Madero.
ríos, o en todo lo que está Koblenz is on the Rhine
situado en línea.

a la izquierda o derecha de she is standing by/beside the

algo o alguien car
en el sentido de a más I will be back by eight
by tardar o’clock
hasta cierto momento by nine o’clock, I had read
the book

Completar con at, in, by, on:

I.7 Ejercicios
1. My birthday is…………………….September.
2. My office is ……………………..the third floor.
3. We often go to movies…………………….Saturday.
 4. Frankfurt is…………………..the river Mein.
5. My work starts……………………eight o’clock.
6. I had a cup of coffee……………………Jennifer’s house.
7. I wake up late…………………the morning.
8. There is a man…………………….the door.
9. This report is urgent. I need it…………………….next week.
10. The index is…………………..the back of the book.
11. Write your name……………………the top of each page.
12. Valerie lives…………………..55 Pit Road.
13. We have a house…………………..Lincoln Street.
14. Where is the spider? It’s……………………the wall.
15………………….Winter many animals hibernate.
16. Where are you now? I am………………….the airport.
17. We shall be here………………….noon.
18. New Mexico is …………………… the USA.
19. We sat………………….the fire and talked.

Preposiciones de Tiempo y Movimiento

Preposición Uso Ejemplo

para decir la hora ten to five
to movimiento hacia algo o go to bed, go to France
alguien

después de la hora five past five

past
más allá de she ran past the house
Completar con to o past:
I.8 Ejercicios
1. Your theory is…………………….belief.
2. It is five minutes…………………..six.
3. Show it ……………….me!
4. It is half ………………..two.
5. The rope was perpendicular………………..the base.
6. He ran…………………his father.
7. The car drove ……………… the house.
8. Lozano is a threat…………………. society.
9. This drink is………………..your health.
10. Those pants are…………………mending.
11. She came………………our aid.
12. We are all subject…………………criticism.
13. Bullets whistled…………………our ears.

Preposiciones de Lugar y Movimiento

Preposición Uso Ejemplo

out indica movimiento hacia she ran out the door
fuera
outside en el lado exterior wait outside the office
inside en el lado interior stay inside the gates
down hacia un punto más bajo walk down the stairs
up hacia un punto más alto climb up the stairs
 upon hacia un punto más alto row upon row of seats
(formal),
over arriba de algo pero sin the plane flew over the
contacto mountain
más de over 15 years of age
llegar al otro lado walk over the bridge

beyond más lejos, más tarde not a step beyond, beyond

your bedtime…

along de una extremidad a otra the hedge grows along the

path

Completar las frases siguientes con las preposiciones de lugar y

movimiento mencionadas arriba:
I.9 Ejercicios
1. The helicopter hovered…………………….the building, trying to land.
2. There were dark clouds…………………….the city.
3. There were…………………….50 people at the meeting.
4. She waited……………………the office..
5. We were……………………the house when the fire started.
6. The ball rolled…………………..the hill.
7. We live…………………..the street.
8. We asked for her address…………………….the road.
9. She met me………………….the post office.
10. He went ………………….. the limits.
11. He walked……………………the river.
12.She climbed…………………….the hill.
13. I can’t do it. This task is………………….me.
14. We can see trees…………………….the river.
15. The handkerchief had a lace……………………..the edge.
16. The two years old child climbed…………………….the ladder.
17. I always run…………………of prison.
.
18. I really cannot help you. It’s……………………me.
19. She lives a few miles……………………the coast.
20. The opposite of up is ……………………..

Otras Preposiciones

Preposición Uso Ejemplo

among entre varias personas o among friends
cosas
between entre dos between you and me.
with se usa cuando dos o más red with blue
personas o cosas van en
unión

within no más allá de los límites within sight

without sin tener without money

about acerca de this book is about birds

against contra arson is against the law.
but excepto, a parte de everyone went but me.

Preposición Uso Ejemplo

 despite no obstante, a pesar de she ran despite the injury.
except a parte de, pero the car is in good condition
except that the engine needs
a tune-up.
like similar a… my house is like a barn
of señala origen o derivación an aristocrat is a man of
noble birth.
off indica separación física o I took the knife off the table.
distancia de una posición de the house was off the main
descanso. road.

Completar las frases siguientes con la preposición correcta. Usa las

preposiciones de la tabla superior:
I.10 Ejercicios
.
1. The path was …………………….the main road.
2. When I grabbed the knife, the handle came………………….
3. I read the story ……………………Gulliver’s travels.
4. We went to work…………………….the snow.
5. Your composition is all right…………………..that it is too long.
6. All failed…………………..me.
7.……………………..tits there is no paradise.
8. You are………………….an angel, according to Radio Head.
9. You are in favor of war, I am………………….because I am a pacifist.
10. She was torn………………….two lovers and feeling ………………a
fool.
11. We must act…………………..the jurisdiction of the state.
12. If you are brave you must face battle…………………….fear.
 13…………………you or………………….you, sings Bono.
14. The letter was nothing……………………an insult.
15. There was no one in the stadium……………………me.
16. Swear to tell the truth, all the truth, nothing…………………….the
truth.
17. I want to know the truth…………………..Mary.
18. There was discontent……………………the poor.
19. …………………..you and me, I want to tell you a secret.
20. The boat was two miles…………………..shore.
21. I went out……………….the rain.
22. I fell……………….the chair and I broke my knee.
23. There are few writers ………………..Poe.
24. Ornithologists know a lot……………….birds.
25. Arson is………………….the law.
26. Dracula walked out………………..the Light.
27. I like to keep a distance…………………you and me.
28. Don´t worry, I can live………………..you.
29. I need you ……………….a hole in the head.

SIGNIFICADO AMPLIO DE LAS PREPOSICIONES

THROUGH

Se usa para señalar una causa:

She failed through ignorance.
Se usa para expresar exposición a ciertas condiciones:
She put him through hell.

Es usado para analizar de manera completa algo:

We saw the matter through.

Es usado para señalar la falta de habilidades y recursos:

He is through as a tennis player.

Es usado para denotar una ruptura de relación:

I am through with her.

Es usado para expresar término o final de algo:

I am through with the book.

FROM

Se usa para indicar causa:

Otello killed his wife from motives of jealousy.

Es usado para indicar separación:

They released him from his obligation.

Se usa para indicar relación o distinción:

You cannot tell one twin from the other.

BEFORE

Se usa como sinónimo de rather than:

1. Choose virtue before everything else.
Se usa para aclarar jerarquías:
2. Generals come before colonels.

Expresa en presencia de:

3. She was brought before the judge.

Se usa con el significado de frente a:

4. She recoiled before a shock.

Se usa para describir una ardua tarea que nos espera:

5. We have a great task before us

FOR

Se usa para señalar una causa:

She was punished for cheating.

Lo que concierne, referente a:

For my part, I prefer to stay here.

Explica, aclara, sinónimo de because y since:

He could not face justice for it would make him appear as guilty.

Se usa para señalar un resultado de algo:

She felt better for having said the truth.

Denota consecuencia:
She wept for boredom

Señala una causa:

 She cried for joy.

Señala capacidad, deber o atribución:

It is not for the president to make such a decision.

Hacer algo sin ayuda exterior:

I can do it for myself

Se usa con all con el significado de a pesar de.

For all his large size, he moves gracefully.

AFTER

Se usa para indicar en busca de, ir tras alguien:

He ran after the postman

Es usado con el significado de no obstante:

After all our help, he still went the wrong way.

Se usa con el significado de imitando, a la manera de:

Paintings after the Dutch painters.

Es usado con el significado de copiado de:

An engraving after Poussin.

Se usa para aclarar que se recibe el nombre de alguien:

He was named after his grandfather.

AT

Se usa para mostrar temperaturas específicas, precios y velocidades:

 Tickets are on sale at 15 pesos each.
She was driving at 160 kilometers per hour.

Es usado para hablar acerca del nivel o cotización de algo:

Interest rates have stayed at this level for months.
The loan payments are going up at an alarming rate.

Se usa para aclarar la edad de alguien:

Mozart played the piano at the age of 4.
She chose not to retire at 65.

Se usa también para mostrar que una actividad es dirigida de manera

específica hacia alguien o algo.
She’s always shouting at the children
Magic threw the ball at the wall.

Se usa para mostrar la causa específica de un sentimiento o reacción:

People still laugh at her jokes.
We were rather surprised at the news.

Es usado para especificar en el tiempo:

I will see you at half past two.
The beetles arrived at the end of April.

Se usa para hablar acerca de la noche:

Vampires go out at night.

Es usado también para los fines de semana:

I usually rest at the weekend.

Se usa también para las siguientes expresiones:

At Christmas, at the moment, at present…
I am very busy at the moment.
Se usa después de algunos verbos para enfatizar la finalidad u objetivo de una
acción:
Let’s have dinner at my place.

IN

Se usa para mostrar movimiento hacia la parte interior de un contenedor,

lugar o área:
She put the letter back in her briefcase.
The hunter fired a few shots in the air.

Se usa para mostrar que alguien lleva puesto algo especial:

Do you know the girl in the black dress?
A man in a brown suit was walking towards her.

Se usa a veces como preposición de movimiento para aclarar el propósito del

movimiento:
Throw the paper in the bin.

ON

Se usa para mostrar cuando la superficie de algo golpea accidentalmente o

toca una parte del cuerpo:
I cut my finger on a sharp knife.
She banged her head on the cupboard door.

Se usa también para indicar que algo está incluido en una lista:
He’s not on the list of suspects.
How many items are on the agenda?

Se usa a menudo como sinónimo de against

The USA declared war on Vietnam.
Es usado para indicar medios de transporte:
I traveled on a plane and you traveled on a bus.

Se usa para medios de comunicación:

She watched the news on TV and I read them on the Internet.

Es usado para fechas y días especiales:

The meeting is on 29th April.
She was born on Valentine’s Day.

Se usa para mencionar los días de la semana:

In many countries the week starts on Monday.

BY

Se usa con el significado de cerca de:

A day by the sea.

Es usado con el significado de en dirección hacia:

Oregon is best by north.

Se usa para significar a lo largo de:

We came by the quickest road.

Es usado para delimitar una cantidad, dimensión o distancia:

She won by a meter.

Se usa con el significado de con respecto a:

I did my duty by a friend.

Es usado para decir por, por medio de:

 I usually travel by car.

Es usado para significar nacido de :

He had two children by a previous wife.

Es usado con el significado de en nombre de:

I swear by God.

Se usa para indicar progresión o cantidad:

The Irish emigrated by the thousand.

PAST

Se usa para indicar que se ha rebasado la edad para ciertas cosas:

She´s past playing with dolls

Se usa para describir un curso o dirección que se acerca y al mismo tiempo va

más allá del lugar:
He drove past the house.

Se usa para indicar algo que rebasa la capacidad, rango o esfera de…
Your story is past belief.

OVER

Se usa para indicar preocupación:

He had troubles over Money.

Es usado para señalar ocupación o actividad:

We spent an hour over cards.

Se usa para marcar el final de algo:

 They stayed over Sunday.

Es usado como sinónimo de during:

Over the past 30 years.

Se usa para indicar un medio particular o canal de comunicación:

We heard the news over the radio.

OF

Es usado para indicar causa, motivo o razón:

Flora died of flue.

Se usa con el significado de de parte de.

It is very kind of you.

Es usado para señalar componentes o elementos de algo:

A cup of water, please!

Se usa como sinónimo de about:

Casanova wrote the stories of his travels.

Es usado para indicar posesión o pertenencia:

Elisabeth is the queen of England.

Se usa para indicar separación. Es sinónimo de from.

He was eased of pain at last.

Es usado para especificar:

The city of Rome is very old.

Se usa como aposición:

 That fool of a husband.

Es usado para indicar cualidades y características:

Che Guevara was a man of courage.

Se usa para indicar la posición en el tiempo de una acción o suceso:

She died of a Monday.

Es usado también como sinónimo de before:

I will see you at quarter of ten.

OFF

Es usado para indicar la suspensión de una actividad:

I am off duty.

Se usa para señalar cuando alguien no está en forma:

He is off his game.

Es usado para marcar el objeto de una acción:

She borrowed a dollar off him.
He dived off oysters.

Se usa para indicar cuando alguien vive de algo:

Many people still live off the land.

LIKE

Se usa con el significado de parece que:

It looks like rain.
Es usado con el significado de típico de:
It is like him to do that.

ABOUT

Es usado para expresar intención o determinación:

I am about to quit.

Se usa como sinónimo de around:

She had a scarf about her neck.

Es usado como sinónimo de near:

There was a fight about us.

BUT

Se usa con los siguientes sinónimos como conjunción y conector semántico:

nevertheless, however, on the other hand, on the contrary, yet:
She tried very hard, but did not succeed.
I am tall, but you are short.
The work is hard, but you are well paid.
Se usa también como adverbio con los siguientes significados alternativos:
only, no more than:

She is but a child.

I saw her but a moment ago.
Es usado como pronombre relativo con el significado de: who not, that not:
There is not a man but feels pity.
 Nobody but- has his fault.

ACLARACIÓN GRAMATICAL

Problemas con la preposición: Among versus Between

Las preposiciones among y between son dos de las preposiciones que se
prestan a más confusión en la lengua inglesa. Si bien las dos preposiciones
tienen muchos significados, trataremos aquí de discutir solamente uno de los
significados que las dos comparten: siendo temas de aplicación, personas,
cosas, tiempos y sucesos.
Muchos estudiantes usan las dos preposiciones como si fueran iguales. Sin
embargo, between deberá usarse cuando hablamos o escribimos sobre dos
elementos, y among deberá usarse cuando los elementos son más de dos.

Ejemplos:

The guests arrived at the wedding between 2 and 3 p.m.

I was seated between John and Mary at the party.
I was seated among friends at Jane’s graduation dinner.
The check was found among the papers on the desk.

Observamos que en los ejemplos anteriores las dos preposiciones se aplican a

casos diferentes en número. A este punto, es fácil memorizar que between se
usa para dos, mientras que among se usa para más de dos.
Probemos nuestra comprensión de las dos preposiciones escogiendo la
correcta en cada enunciado abajo escrito.

1. Tara was seated (among, between) the manager and the accountant at the
business meeting.
2. The lost keys were found (among, between) the papers and books on my
desk.
3. On the freeway, I was (among, between) several show-moving cars.

Respuesta
Tara was seated between the manager and the accountant at the
business meeting.

The lost keys were found among the papers and books on my
desk.

1. On the freeway, I was among several slow-moving cars.

I.11 Ejercicios
QUIZ GENERAL CON PREPOSICIONES
¿En las siguientes frases cuantas preposiciones hay?
1. I ran to school without shoes.
a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4
2. I have some books on my bed.
a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4
3. At night is very cold in winter.
a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4
4. In the middle of the night, I went to the bathroom with a towel.
a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4
5. At the zoo, we found many animals of different size.
a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4
6. I stood waiting for an hour at the corner of Lexington and 34 street.
a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4
 7. I got a ticket from a policeman for speeding.
a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4
8. On my cell phone I called 911 to report the accident at the beach.
a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4
9. At the party we all had a lot of fun.
a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4
10. Near the mall we found many policemen with machine guns around
their shoulders.
a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4.

Observar las palabras subrayadas en la parte inferior anotando las

preposiciones a la izquierda y aquellas que no lo son, a la derecha:
I.12 Ejercicios

Because he was poor, Carl Sandburg left school at the age of thirteen to drive
a milk truck.
While still in his teens, he traveled around the country making friends with
hoboes and working when he needed money.
Later, he worked his way through college, did some traveling and finally took
a job in Chicago.
The city and its people are the subject of some of his poems.
Sandburg’s talents were not limited to poetry; he was a collector of folklore
who did much to popularize folk music and who won recognition as a
historian with his six-volume of Lincoln.

Son preposiciones No son preposiciones

------------------------------- ----------------------------
-------
------------------------------- ----------------------------
-------
------------------------------- ----------------------------
-------
------------------------------- ----------------------------
-------
------------------------------- ---------------------------
-------
------------------------------- ---------------------------
-------

Selecciona la respuesta correcta para cada preposición:

I.13 Ejercicios
1. He made his escape by jumping………………..a waiting car.
a)between
b)into
c)over
2. I saw something about it………………..television.
a)in
b)at
c)on
3. I went ………………..him and asked him the best way to
get………………town.
a)at
b)toward
c)to
 4. Its bad luck to walk………………..a ladder. I always
walk it.
a)under
b)through
c)around
5. Mary left school………………..the age of 16.
a)on
b)at
c)in
6. He jumped………………..the wall and…………………the garden.
a)up
b)over
c)into
7. He was driving………………..180 kilometers per hour when he
crashed……………….a wall.
a)under
b)into
c)at
8. When the bull ran……………….me, I jumped………………the fence.
a)from
b)over
c)towards
9. I saw a parking space………………..two cars.
a)by
b)on
c)between
10. I go to work……………….car. Oriana goes…………………foot.
a)in
b)on
 c)by
11. I could not get ……………….the door.

a)into
b)up
c)through

Leer el siguiente poema y subrayar las preposiciones:

Kidnap Poem
Nikki Giovanni
ever been kidnapped
by a poet
if I were a poet
I´d kidnap you
put you in my phrases and meter
you to jones beach
or maybe Coney Island
or maybe just to my house
lyric you in lilacs
dash you in the rain
blend into the beach
to complement my see
play the lyre for you
ode you with my love song
anything to win you
wrap you in the red Black green
show off to mama
yeah if I were a poet i´d kid
nap you

Identifica y subraya las preposiciones en las frases siguientes:

I.14 Ejercicios
 1. On either side the river lie long fields of barley and rye
2. What is the moon? It is just a balloon in the sky for a loon.
3. There is a country where always is Spring and everyone is in love.
4. I usually sleep with my eyes open..
5. The Mohawk climbed to the top of the World Trade Center.
6. He shouted at the top of his lungs, “I´m an Indian.”
7. I heard this story on a tape recorder.
8. I chatter as I flow, I babble on the pebbles.
9. What is rain? It is a congregation of drops.
10. After any sunset comes the end of day.

ADVERBIOS O PREPOSICIONES

En algunos casos, las palabras que están en la lista de preposiciones no

actúan como tales. Actúan como adverbios. Observemos la diferencia:
Adverbios: palabras que modifican verbos, adjetivos y otros adverbios.
Preposiciones: palabras que muestran la relación entre un nombre, un
 pronombre y otras palabras en un enunciado.
Veamos la palabra down en los siguientes ejemplos. ¿Cuál actúa como
preposición y cuál representa a un adverbio?
A. The squirrel ran down the tree.
B. The tree fell down.
Debemos recordar que las preposiciones siempre están presentes en frases
preposicionales. Una frase preposicional es una preposición que acompaña a
un nombre o pronombre.
Veamos dos ejemplos:
At home
In the cupboard
Las palabras de la lista de preposiciones que no se usan en frases
preposicionales, no son preposiciones- son adverbios. Veamos de nuevo los
ejemplos anteriores:
i. The squirrel ran down the tree.
ii. The tree fell down.

En el enunciado A, la preposición down se sitúa en la frase preposicional

down the tree.
En el enunciado B, down no es una frase preposicional, así que no es una
preposición. Es un adverbio que nos dice donde cayó el árbol
Si queremos podemos cambiar down de adverbio a preposición:
The tree fell down. (adverbio)
The tree fell down the hill. (preposición)

Escribe a tu derecha si las palabras en cursiva son preposiciones o adverbios:

I.15 Ejercicios

1. The driver jumped off the bus -----------------------

----
2. Get me a book about tigers. -----------------------
---
3. You can check your score below. ----------------------
---
4. The secretary did not take her day off. --------------------
----
5. The fish was swimming below the surface of the river -------------------
----
6. The man at the bus stop was laughing. --------------------
---
7. The girl forgot her umbrella and she was soaked through. ----------------
----
8. She got through the mystery novel. -------------------
----
9. There was a fight outside. --------------------
---
10. The motorist stopped his motorcycle on a country road.------------------
-----
RECUERDA
Muchas palabras se usan como preposiciones; pero
pueden ser usadas como adverbios. Una preposición
nunca aparece sola; siempre acompaña a un objeto
que puede ser un nombre o un pronombre. Una palabra
acompañada por un nombre o pronombre es una preposición.
Si la palabra en cuestión no tiene como compañero un nombre
o un pronombre es en adverbio.
The Money fell out of my pocket. (preposición)
Do you want to go out ? (adverbio)

Determina si las palabras subrayadas son preposiciones o adverbios:

I.16 Ejercicios
1. I opened the door and peaked inside the closet.
Preposition………...
Adverb ……………..
2. All the people were inside.
Preposition……………
Adverb…………………
3. Mat threw his gloves down.
 Preposition……………..
Adverb…………………..

4. The drunk got off the bus.

Preposition………………
Adverb………………….
5. The cork came off the bottle.
Preposition………………
Adverb……………………
6. The guard would not let us across.
Preposition………………..
Adverb …………………….
7. Everyone gathered around the campfire.
Preposition…………………
Adverb………………………
8. The coffee shop is around the corner.
Preposition…………………
Adverb………………………
9. We took a shortcut through the park.
Preposition………………….
Adverb………………………
10. Only emergency vehicles can get through.

Cambiar las preposiciones con sinónimos o antónimos:

I.17 Ejercicios
1. I usually go to swim after school.
………………………………………………………………..
2. We drove behind a truck.
……………………………………………………………….. …..
 3. The deer ran through the woods.
…………………………………………………………………
4. We all sat on the table.
……………………………………………………………………………
5. I will see you at the station.
……………………………………………………………………….
6. I saw plenty of trouts below the surface.
………………………………………………………………………..
7. Carrie was standing by the car.
…………………………………………………………………………
8. You can visit hundreds of cities throughout Europe.
………………………………………………………………………….
9. Look for the register book and sign underneath your name.
………………………………………………………………………
10. Some people like reading books in the library.
………………………………………………………………………..

Completar las frases que siguen con la opción correcta en cada caso:
I.18 Ejercicios
1. Go………………..talking. I´m all ears.
a) on b) with c) by d) from
2. I prefer writing………………..ink.
a) on b) in c) with d) by
3. Talk it………………….with your wife.
 a) over b) with c) to d) on
4. I always get………………..with my classmates.
a) through b) along c) with d) by
5. She was not…………………home yesterday when I called her.
a) at b) in c) into d) with
6. Semo is sitting……………….his favorite armchair.
a) down b) into c) in d) on
7. You must look………………….yourself.
a) after b) at c) in d) on

8. How long were you…………………the plane?

a) in b) on c) at d) of
9. The monkey smiled……………….me.
a) for b) at c) of d) with
10. If you want to know the meaning of this word, look
it…………………..in the dictionary.
a) on b) in c) up d) for
11 .I was born……………………September 21, 1945.
a) on b) at c) of d) in
12. I must put…………………my visit to the doctor.
a) up b) off c) on d)
through
13. Who did you receive the letter………………….?
a) from b) of c) at d) in
14. We spent the whole day there and didn´t come………………until
dark.
a) up b) back c) off d)
over
15. Look…………………. a car is coming!
a) out b) for c) into d)
up
16. When I saw her, she was………………..a beautiful white dress.
a) at b) in c) on d)
into
17. The picture of Mona Lisa will be in the lobby………………..two
weeks.
a) since b) for c) by d)
at
18. This flue may develop…………………a serious disease.
a) under b) into c)
in d) up
19. The old man fell………………….the ladder and broke his arm.
a) off b) of c)
out d) on
20. Will you get……………….? It´s almost noon.
a) over b) up c) to d)
on
21. She often gets…………………my nerves.
a) on b) from c)
in d) up
22. We have business classes…………………..night.
a) at b) from c)
on d) in
23. I never go to school…………………..Sundays.
a) in b) on c)
by d)of

UNIDAD II
Preposiciones Compuestas

Las preposiciones compuestas se denominan también preposiciones

complejas y están, como implica el nombre, compuestas por más de una
palabra.
Por ejemplo, because of, e in between son preposiciones que usan dos
palabras, mientras que in front of y on behalf of son preposiciones
complejas que usan tres palabras.

EJEMPLOS:

He didn´t go to university because of his low grades.

I accept your petition on behalf of all the citizens.
 Preposiciones Compuestas más Comunes

apart from ahead of in relation to

without regard to as far as in routine fashion
with regard to as opposed to in spite of
with regard to as to in terms of
Due to at that point in time in the event that
because of at this point in time in the immediate
without regard for vicinity of
because of back from in the nature of
result of back to in as much as
consequence of by reason of near to
effect of by virtue of on behalf of
for lack of close to on the basis of
for lack of contrary to on top of
for want of during the course of out of
In case of for the purpose of prior to
In case of for the reason that pursuant to
In charge of from the point of view similar to
of
In the event of in a manner similar to subsequent to
by all means in back of up to
In front of in close proximity with with a view to
from means of in excess of with reference to
as for in lieu of with regard to
In favor of in light of with respect to
In addition to in order to
next to in receipt of
on account of regardless of
instead of in regard to

Las preposiciones compuestas reúnen un grupo de palabras sin sujeto o

verbo. Una preposición compuesta no puede subsistir por si misma;
solamente puede funcionar como parte del discurso.
Éstas empiezan con una preposición y terminan con un nombre o
pronombre. El nombre o pronombre es el objeto de la preposición
compuesta.

Ejemplos de frases con preposiciones compuestas:

Because of you
Due to the storm
Out of luck
With respect to your petition
In order to study
On top of the table
Podemos enlazar dos o más preposiciones compuestas con una
conjunción. Usamos las siguientes: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, y so.
EJEMPLO:
The hotel is beside the mountain and by the lake.
La conjunction es and.
You can usually find Marvin in the steam room or on the exercise bike.
 La conjunction es or.
Las preposiciones compuestas tienen diferentes usos y aplicaciones; a
veces funcionan como adjetivos y otras veces como adverbios. Podemos
observar a continuación los dos casos.
A. PREPOSICIONES COMPUESTAS CON FUNCIÓN DE
ADJETIVOS
Si queremos saber cuando una preposición compuesta funciona como
adjetivo, debemos observar si las frases responden a las preguntas: which
one? what kind of ?
Estas preposiciones describen un nombre o un pronombre.
Aquí presentamos unos ejemplos:
The manager with the black suit terrorized the employees.
La frase “with the black suit” describe el nombre “manager”.
The price of the tomatoes was too high.
La frase “of the tomatoes” describe el nombre “precio”.
Something in the corner of the desk was moving.
La frase “in the corner” describe el nombre “something”; la frase “on the
desk” describe el nombre “corner”.

B. PREPOSICIONES COMPUESTAS CON FUNCIÓN DE

ADVERBIO
Si queremos saber cuando una preposición funciona como adverbio,
debemos observar si la frase responden a las preguntas, “Where?”
“When? “In what manner?” “How” “To what extent.”…
Las siguientes frases pueden funcionar como frases adverbiales al
modificar un verbo, un adjetivo, un adverbio. Por ejemplo:
She lost her head at the supermarket. (Where?)
La frase adverbial “at the supermarket” describe al verbo “lost”.
The rock players arrived late at night. (When?)
La frase adverbial “at night” modifica al adverbio “late”

Escoger la preposición correcta para completar las frases que siguen:

II.1 Ejercicios
1. I will have wine……………….. beer.
a) instead from
b) instead of
c) instead to
d) instead than
2. ……………….. bad weather, the trip will be postponed.
a) in case
b) in case of
c) in case to
d) in case from
3. ……………….. my employees, I would like to thank you.
a) in behalf
b) in behalf of
c) on behalf of
d) from behalf of
4. We finally solved the problem……………….. a new device
a) from means of
b) by means of
c) by means from
d) by means to
5. ……………….. me, I will dedicate few hours to the revolution.
a) as for
b) as of
c) as to
d) as from
6. ……………….. John, no one wants to work on this project.
a) apart to
b) apart from
c) apart
d) apart of
7. How can they go out? Chon has nothing ……………….. Chan.
a) in common
b) in common with
c) in common to
d) in common of
8. ……………….. Lino, they won´t finish the Project this year.
a) according
b) according in
c) according to
d) according from
9. I´m ……………….. helping out the poor.
a) in favor of
b) in favor to
c) in favor for
d) in favor from
10. ……………….. you, I can´t sleep at night.
a) because
b) because of
c) because to
d) because from
11. ……………….. the large number of requests, I accept the candidacy.
a) due
b) due to
c) due of
d) due at
12. ………………… our friendly staff, you will find in our resort
everything you need.
a) in addition
b) in addition of
c) in addition to
d) in addition from
13. There is a car ………………… the gate.
a) in front of
b) in front
c) in front to
d) in front from
14. She was a fearless woman who acted ……………….. her health.
a) without regard
b) without regard of
c) without regard for
d) without regard to
15. ……………….. your proposal, we will not be able to approve your
request.
a) with regard
b) with regard to
c) with regard of
d) with regard from
16. I´m afraid I charged you too much ……………….. . Sorry about that!
a) from mistake
b) to mistake
c) by mistake
d) on mistake
17. You are going to work overtime ……………….. your responsibilities.
a) regardless to
 b) regardless of
c) regardless about
d) regardless through
18. Don´t be angry ¡ I did not break your toy …………………
a) in purpose
b) on purpose
c) by purpose
d) from purpose
19. they were accepted……………………………………their race.
a)without regard to
b)without regard for
c)without regard of
d)without regard at

Escribir 10 frases con las siguientes preposiciones compuestas

Observar los ejemplos:
Ex: I missed the train because of you.
She stood in front of me and I didn´t see her.
I left my money on top of the table
II.2 Ejercicios
1. For lack of ………………………………………………………..
2. Instead of ………………………………………………………...
3. In favor of………………………………………………………….
4. In front of…………………………………………………………...
5. Due to……………………………………………………………….
6. With respect to…………………………………………………….
7. In addition to……………………………………………………….
 8. Next to……………………………………………………………….
9 In case of……………………………………………………………
10. Apart from…………………………………………………………..

Escribir a lado de cada preposición si son simples o compuestas:

Observar los ejemplos:
Ex: Beneath Simple
According to………………………………………… Compuesta
II.3 Ejercicios
1. Throughout…………………………………………………………
2, Along with……………………………………………………………
3. Before………………………………………………………………
4. After…………………………………………………………………
5. Underneath………………………………………………………...
6. In charge of…………………………………………………………
7. Among……………………………………………………………….
8. Because of………………………………………………………….
10. With regard to………………………………………………………
11. Between……………………………………………………………..

UNIDAD III
Frases Preposicionales
Las frases preposicionales empiezan siempre con una preposición y
terminan con un nombre, pronombre o gerundio, siendo éstos el objeto de
la preposición.
El objeto de la preposición a menudo tendrá uno o más modificadores.
Observemos a continuación las diferentes estructuras o modelos de una
frase preposicional:

ESTRUCTURA SIMPLE

PREPOSICIÓN + OBJETO = FRASE PREPOSICIONAL

on the fence on the fence
Las frases preposicionales se usan como:
Adjetivos The cat on the fence cried all night ( Which one?)
Three men in blue suits escorted the president(Which ones?)
They followed women .in red dresses(which ones?).
Adverbios She threw the trash into the dumpster(Where?).
In an instant, I knew it was a mistake(When?).

Preposición+ Nombre
Pronombre+Gerundio, o frase
Preposición+Modificadores+Nombre, Pronombre, Gerundio o cláusula
Veamos algunos ejemplos básicos de frases con preposiciones:
At home
At = preposición; home = nombre.
In time
In = preposición; time = nombre.

From Robert
From=preposición; Robert=nombre.
With me
With=preposicion; me=pronombre.
By singing
By=preposición; singing=gerundio
About what we need
About=preposición; what we need=cláusula

Muchas frases preposicionales son más largas:

From my grandmother
From=preposición; my=modificador; grandmother = nombre.
Under the warm blanket
Under=preposición; the, warm=modificadores; blanket= nombre.
In the weedy, overgrown garden
In=preposición; the, weedy, overgrown=modificadores;
garden=nombre.
Along the busy, six-lane highway
Along=preposition; the, busy, six-lane=modificadores;
highway=nombre.
By writing furiously
By= preposición; writing=gerundio; furiously; modificador adverbial.

COMPRENDER QUÉ FUNCIÓN TIENEN EN UN ENUNCIADO

LAS FRASES PREPOSICIONALES.

Como vimos con anterioridad una frase preposicional funcionará como

adjetivo o como adverbio. Como adjetivo, esta preposición contestará la
pregunta Which one?
Como un adverbio, las frases preposicionales contestarán preguntas tales
como How? When? Where?

Leer los siguientes enunciados prestando atención a las frases

preposicionales en negritas:
III.1 Ejercicios
Contestar abajo con: how, which one, where o when:
1. The book on the bathroom floor is wet from shower steam.
……………
2. Freddy is tired from yesterday´s football practice.
…………….
3. The potatoes in the vegetable bin are green.
………………
4. Josh was playing before class.
………………..
5. The note from Beverly confessed that she had robbed the bank.
…………………
6. We ate burritos at Tito´s Taco Palace.
…………………..
7. There is a bus at the corner of Lincoln and Jefferson.
…………………..
 8. Sorry, I did not hurt you on purpose.
…………………..
9. She acted without fear.
………………….
10. The clown with the big feet was chasing the clown with the red nose.
……………………………..
11. At eight o´clock the alarm goes off.
………………………………
12. By noon, I was starving.
……………………………….
13. The diva in a red dress looked very frail.
………………………………..
14. At the mall, we met a maniac.

Recuerda que las frases preposicionales nunca contienen el sujeto del

enunciado.
A veces un nombre con una frase con preposición parece ser el sujeto de un
verbo.
Veamos el ejemplo que sigue:
Neither of these books contains the recipe for sushi.
Lo que está con negritas es la frase preposicional. El sujeto es Neither.
Otras preposiciones compuestas como along with e in addition to, pueden
también conducirnos a creer que pueden ser sujetos de un enunciado; pero no
lo son.
Veamos el siguiente ejemplo:
Sam, along with the other students, breathed a sigh of relief when
the teacher announced that the exam had been postponed.
El sujeto es Sam. Along with es la preposición compuesta, y along with the
other students es una frase preposicional.

Subrayar en los siguientes enunciados, las frases preposicionales. Puede

haber dos en un mismo enunciado:
III.2 Ejercicios

1. I can´t complete your report without the information.

2. We can go around the world in 80 days.
3. Come into the garden with me.
4. Maura wanted to go to the movies
5. The stories in that book were written by my professor.
6. That picture behind my desk used to hang in the bedroom.
7. Many poor people live under bridges.
8. The ship sailed with people from many countries.
9. She hid behind the door
10. Flowers were planted during the night around my house.
11. Come with me to the sea.
12. I left your baby by your front door.

A. EL GERUNDIO DESPUÉS DE LAS PREPOSICIONES

Si queremos usar un verbo después de una preposición, éste será siempre un

gerundio. Es imposible usar un infinitivo después de una preposición; así que
decimos:
 1. I will call you after arriving at the office.
2. Please, have a drink before leaving.
3. Tara dreams about going on holiday.

Sin embargo, es factible remplazar todos los gerundios mencionados arriba

con nombres:
1. I will call you after my arrival at the office.
2. Please, have a drink before your departure.
3. Tara dreams about her holiday
B. EL GERUNDIO CON PREPOSICIONES (DESPUÉS DE VERBOS)
Usamos el gerundio después de las preposiciones.
El verbo+las preposiciones

Usamos el gerundio después de los siguientes verbos con preposiciones:

accuse of they were accused of breaking the law.
Agree with I agree with playing chess.
Apologize for I apologize for being late.
Believe in she doesn´t believe in doing good.
Blame for Murdoch is blamed for spying.
Complain about some students complain about bullying.
Concentrate on I´m concentrating on reading.
Congratulating I congratulate myself on making a good speech.
on
Cope with some people can´t cope with getting old.
Decide against they decided against stealing the car.
Depend on success depends on being perseverant.
Dream about/of Lisa dreams about being a singer.
Feel like I don´t feel like working.
Get used to I don´t get used to being married.
Insist on she insisted on going out with me.
Look forward to I´m looking forward to seeing you.
Prevent from I can´t prevent you from making mistakes.
Rely on He doesn´t rely on winning in the casino.
Succeed in How can I succeed in learning geometry?
Specialize in Maserati is specialized in designing cars.
Stop from I cannot stop you from smoking.
Talk about/of let´s talk about traveling to China.
Think of I think of playing chess.
Warn against They warned her against driving the car.
Worry about the patient worries about having the check up.

Escribir las preposiciones correctas para completar las frases:

III:3 Ejercicios
1. She complained ……about…………….playing rude.
2. He doesn´t feel……………………watching television.
3. We are looking forward………………..going out this weekend.
4 .Laura dreams…………………living in a foreign country.
5. I apologize…………………….insulting you.
6. .Do you agree……………………staying with me.
7. Luisa insisted……………………going out with Lelio.
8. Eddy thinks……………………..climbing trees this afternoon.
9. I insisted………………………..being present.
10. I warned her………………………..trusting him.
 11. I cannot prevent things……………………happening.
12. I´m talking…………………..suggesting new ideas.
13. Karl can´t cope…………………solving problems every day.
14. He congratulates himself………………..performing with
success.
15. Ferrari specializes………………….making fast cars.
16. Lorena decided…………………………..taking off all her
clothes.
17.A crazy individual is accused…………………shooting over 90
students in Norway.
18. Bush never apologized………………….declaring an illegal war.
19. I had a dream, I was dreaming …………………..pissing on
Obama.
20. I´m concentrating………………….writing an essay.
21 .I can´t prevent you……………………. telling lies.
22. I cannot succeed…………………..quitting smoking.

C. EL GERUNDIO CON PREPOSICIONES (DESPUÉS DE

ADJETIVOS)
Usamos el gerundio después de las preposiciones.
Adjetivo+preposición
Usamos el gerundio después de los siguientes adjetivos con preposiciones:
Afraid of they are afraid of losing the game.
Angry about/at I´m angry about walking in the rain.
Bad at Mozart was good at playing the piano.
Good at
Clever at she is clever at skate boarding.
Crazy about Sharapova is crazy about playing tennis.
Disappointed about/at I was disappointed at seeing the film.
Excited about we were excited about traveling abroad.
Famous for Gaga is famous for singing songs.
Fed up with I am fed up with being treated like a child.
Fond of Fanny is fond of going to parties.
Glad about Zaza is glad about getting married again.
Happy about/at children are happy at playing in the dirt.
Interested in I´m interested in robbing banks.
Keen on Sam is keen on drawing.
Proud of I´m proud of being an alien.
Sick of we are sick of doing nothing.
Sorry about/for I´m sorry for eating your cake.
Tired of I´m tired of waiting.
Used to he´s used to smoking.
Worried about students are worried about making mistakes.

Completar las frases con la preposición correcta:

III.4 Ejercicios
1. Magic was good…………………playing basket.
2. Dracula is afraid………………….exposing himself to the sun.
3. I´m crazy…………………… …….meeting you.
4. Are you interested………………..marrying me?
5. I´m keen…………………………..drawing ugly women.
6. I´m afraid…………………………..working hard.
7. Who isn´t sick …………………….listening to Vicente Fox?
8. Some people are bad…………….telling lies.
9. Calderón is proud………………….being inept.
10. Politicians are very clever……….stealing.

LISTA DE PARTICIPIOS QUE ACTÚAN COMO ADJETIVOS Y LAS

PREPOSICIONES QUE LOS ACOMPAÑAN
ABOUT FOR OF

concerned about prepared for ashamed of

confused about/by qualified for composed of
excited about remembered for convinced of
undecided about concerned for frightened of/by
Upset about made of/from
worried about scared of
tired of
terrified of
AT FROM

discriminated from
alarmed at /by divorced from
amazed at/ by / with made from/ by
amused protected from
annoyed removed from
astonished refrained from
astounded separated from
shocked at/by stopped from
surprised
thrilled
upset
BY IN TO
amazed disappointed in / by accustomed to
/with
amused dressed in addicted to
annoyed engaged in committed to
bewildered interested in connected to
confused involved in dedicated to
disgusted located in devoted to
embarrassed by engaged to
encouraged by limited to
entertained by married to
exhausted by opposed to
fascinated related to
frightened by
frustrated
impressed by
 irritated
overwhelmed by
relaxed by
shocked
terrified by
WITH
amused with
acquainted with
annoyed with
associated with
blessed with
bored with
coordinated with
covered with
crowded with
delighted
disappointed with/in
disgusted
endowed with
fascinated
filled with
finished with
frustrated with
furnished with
impressed with/by
irritated
pleased with
rude
satisfied with
thrilled
upset with

Completar con las preposiciones correctas usando los elementos arriba

enlistados:
III.5 Ejercicios
1. She is terrified………………spiders.
2. I enjoyed my vacation, but I was disappointed…………….the
hotel.
3. I was surprised…………………the way she reacted.
4. I am not satisfied………………….myself.
5. She was astonished……………….the crowd in the subway.
6.I was married…………..a slut.
7. I am not interested……………………sports.
8. Arnold was pleased…………………..his big nose.
9. I was amazed………………..his story telling abilities.
10. Mexico city is crowded…………………….people.
11. I am finished………………………..the tape.
12. Danny was terrified………………..the neighbor´s dog.
13. The man on TV was concerned………………the coming
storm.
14 .I was worried………………………you.
15. The girl was covered…………………mud.
16. Robert Palmer was addicted……………………love.
17. I am impressed………………………your expertise.
18. The USA is always engaged………………….. wars.
19. We are all so disappointed………………..Barak Obama.
20. Dracula filled his glass…………………….blood.
21. I cannot embrace you, you are all covered………….shit!
PREPOSICIONES QUE ACOMPAÑAN A LOS SIGUIENTES
ADJETIVOS

Adjetivo+Preposición

Los adjetivos siguientes usan las preposiciones que se presentan a

continuación:
OF
Bad, careless, charming, crazy, cruel, evil, good, honest, ignorant, kind,
mean, nasty, nice, responsible, rude, selfish, sweet, thoughtful, stupid, silly,
typical, intelligent, sensible, polite, reasonable, afraid, fond, jealous, mindful,
proud, repentant, ,respectful, sure, suspicious, scared, uncertain, unsure,
wary:
It was very nice/good of you.
It was stupid of her to go out with me.

TO
Charming, considerate, courteous, cruel, faithful, friendly, good, gracious,
grateful, hatefu., helpful, hospitable, kind, mean, nice ,.polite, pleasant, rude,
similar, sweet, sympathetic, truthful:
She has always been very kind/good to me.
Why are you so unfriendly/rude to Ann?
AT
Aghast, angry, indignant, good, bad, excellent, brilliant, hopeless, rude:
I am bad at telling lies.
She is good at playing chess.
TOWARD
Affectionate, charitable, considerate, cool, courteous, friendly, gracious,
hospitable, rude, spiteful, sympathetic, thoughtful, warm:
She was always considerate toward me.
Some people are charitable toward the poor.

ABOUT
Angry, anxious, bashful, careless, charming, crazy, cruel, faithful, glad,
good, honest, kind, mean, nasty, nice, happy, honest, mad, nervous, objective,
optimistic, pessimistic, right, rude, sad, selfish, sick, silly, sorry, sweet,
thoughtful, unkind unhappy:
I am sorry about the noise.
FOR
Eager, grateful, ready, responsible, rude, sorry:
I am sorry for pissing all over you.
Be/feel sorry FOR:
I feel sorry for you.
Responsible FOR:
Who is responsible for the crime?
WITH
Content, happy, rude, unhappy:
The boss is happy with me
ON
Easy, hard, rough, rude, soft, strict, tough:
Go easy on me.

Completar los enunciados siguientes con las preposiciones correctas:

III. 6 Ejercicios
1. I don´t feel sorry………………..her because her problems are her own
fault.
2. He is responsible……………….what appears in his newspaper.
3. She´s brilliant…………………..repairing watches.
4. It´s very nice……………….. you to lend me your wife.
5. Why are you so rude………………your parents?
6. It was not polite……………….him to spit on the floor.
7. I can´t understand people who are cruel……………….animals.
8. I can´t lend you money. I´m short………………..money myself.
9. Your shoes are similar……………….. mine.
10. People are always kind………………me.
11. Obama is good……………….making speeches.
12. I cannot complain, she has always been good………………..me.
13. It was not good………………..you to insult the bishop.
14 .It was stupid………………..you to go naked to school.
15. Teenagers need good manners, so be tough……………..them!
16. Madam Bovary was unhappy………………..her marriage.
17. Misanthropes are not friendly……………………….people.
18. Many people in the world are not content…………………politicians.
19. Go easy…………………..me, I´m in love for the first time!
20. Sluts are not faithful……………………their husbands.

D. PREPOSICIONES QUE ACOMPAÑAN A LOS VERBOS

Preposiciones después de Verbos

Verbo+Preposición
 ABOUT AT IN OF ON OVER
advise know aim assist advise agree argue
agree laugh glare bask complain concentrate battle
argue lie grab cooperate dream expound cry
Ask pray hit drown hear focus fight
bother question laugh help inform harp grieve
brag read look interest know insist puzzle
care remind rush invest learn report sigh
complain say shoot participate remind speak worry
contact sing snatch persist sing write
cry speak stare steep speak
do talk swing submerge talk
dream teach yell tell
fight tell think
forget think
grieve wonder
harass worry
hear write
inform yell
joke

Completar los enunciados con las preposiciones correctas:

III.7 Ejercicios

1. We all care……………………you.
2. Focus..........................the object and aim……………………the target.
3. Think……………………me when I´m far away.
4. How much money did you invest………………….Wall Street?
5. Married couples usually argue……………………stupid things.
6. They were all laughing………………………..Quasimodo.
7. Javier Sicilia is not interested…………………….politics.
8. We should submerge politicians…………………water and let them die.
9. Don´t worry .You´ll be informed……………….your rights.
10. Hundreds of bishops fell off a boat and drowned…………………….the
sea.
11. Don´t shoot………………..me, I´m unharmed!
12. Politicians always agree………………….something; they only like
money.
13. Naked girls reading Oscar Wild and all men staring………………them.
14. I turn off the light and I think………………….you.
15. It´s useless to cry………………………the spilled milk.
16. Concentrate…………………the beach. You are alone and a naked girl
approaches and offers you a coconut.
17. Don´t persist………………….playing the guitar. You should play the
drums.
18. What are you talking…………………?
19. You make many promises and then you forget…………………..them.
20. I would not dream……………..upsetting you.

E. PREPOSICIONES QUE PRECEDEN A LOS NOMBRES Y

NOMBRES QUE SIGUEN A LAS PREPOSICIONES

Primero las preposiciones y luego los nombres

Preposición+Nombre
IN WITH IN / WITH
assent abandon humility anger dread
cold blood anger indifference apprehension earnest
compliance care kindness approbation fairness
confusion compassion joy approval fear
consent courage love compassion friendship
defeat delight malice confidence gratitude
disgrace despair optimism contempt grief
disobediencediscretion pleasure defiance happiness
dissent disdain pride delight kindness
desolation distress regard despair pain
fun enthusiasm sadness disappointment relief
person fear shame disbelief sadness

IN WITH IN / WITH

private feeling skill disdain shame

public glee sympathy disgust sorrow
reaction gratitude tenderness dismay sympathy
absence happiness thanks distress trust
presence hatred understanding

AT IN ON OUT UNDER
OF
ease a hurry disarray a roll breath consideration
leisure a mess disaster approval control construction
peace a mood disgrace board danger discussion
play a rage disorder call focus investigation
rest anguish doubt display gear suspicion
Risk awe dread duty luck
War bankruptcy fear edge order
work captivity focus fire practice
chaos gear guard
charge good high/low
health volume
check jail high/low
speed
 circulation luck hold
comfort love leave
comisión need loan
condition order order
confinement pain parole
conflict power record
confusion ruins sale
control session schedule
danger shape stand-by
debt sickness strike
demand tears tap
despair troubles target
track
trial
vacation

Completar los enunciados con las preposiciones correctas. Estudiar los

dos cuadros anteriores:
III.8 Ejercicios

1……………cold blood is a famous novel by Truman Capote.

2. Blues must be played……………feeling.
3. We were all……………fear; but the ship weathered the rack in the end.
4. When we act……………fairness, we are kind and just.
5. ……………apprehension, we view the future with anxiety and alarm.
6. The police got to the crime scene……………a hurry.
7. When we are……………ease, we are free from pain or discomfort.
8……………enthusiasm, we experiment a strong excitement of feeling.
9. We are living……………the edge of disaster.
10. We are back……………the right track again.
11. The country is……………peace at last.
12. If you are…………..duty, you have a moral and legal obligation.
13. Men…………..work is a rock band from Australia.
14. There were times when we lived…………..danger.
15. Prisoners…………..parole must comply with a promise of good
behavior.
16. The murder is still…………….investigation.
17. If you lose your job, your house and your wife abandons you, you are
eventually………………luck.
18. Your opinion as an official statement will go……………record.
19. I fell……………love with a rich old lady.
20. You live…………..confusion; you must put order in your life.
21. The plane landed……………Schedule.
22. I saw the devil……………person.
23. The president of the IMF was put…………..jail accused of rape.
24. Someone is……………fire, when consumed by a burning passion.
25. Can we have a talk……………private?
26. …………..understanding, we can reach an adjustment of differences.
27. He rose…………..anger and struck his opponent to the floor.
28. The president of the INF was…………..suspicion of rape.
29. A vehicle is……………gear, when we make it ready for effective
operation.
F. DIFICULTADES CON ALGUNAS PREPOSICIONES

El Mismo + Preposiciones = Significados Diferentes

Verbo Diferentes
A veces el mismo verbo con dos preposiciones diferentes adquiere
significados diferentes:

Provide for We have provided for every possible hazard

Provide with The Red Cross provided us with blankets.

En el primer ejemplo, provide for tiene el significado de tomar previsiones.

En el segundo ejemplo, provide with tiene el significado de proporcionar.

Argue about We argue about politics. (tema)

Argue with We argue with the professor. (participante)

En el primer caso, argue about se refiere al tema en discusión.

En el segundo caso, argue with se refiere a la persona con quien se discute.

El Mismo + Preposiciones = Mismos significados

Verbo Diferentes

A veces dos preposiciones diferentes se usan con el mismo verbo con poco
cambio en el significado:

Compete with Joe competes with his older brother

Compete against Joe competes against his older brother.

En el primer caso, competes with significa compete con.

En el segundo caso, competes against significa compete contra. En los dos
casos el significado cambia muy poco.
 El Mismo + Las Mismas = Significado Diferente
Verbo Preposiciones
A veces la misma preposición adquiere dos significados diferentes:

I bought the gift for Lana.

I bought the gift for Lana.
En el primer caso, Compré el regalo y se lo dí a Lana.
En el segundo caso, Lana no tenía tiempo para comprar el regalo, así que yo
lo compré por ella.
James robbed the bank with a gun (instrumento)
James robbed the bank with his sister (participante)
En el primer caso, el actor robó el banco usando una pistola.
En el segundo caso, el personaje robó el banco acompañado por su hermana.

Hay algunas preposiciones que siempre actúan en parejas:

From…to (rango de distancia, tiempo o grado)
Eno walked from the train station to the liquor store.
From…until/ill (rango de tiempo solamente)
The execution is from 9 to 11.
Out of…into (cambio de un lugar cerrado a otro)
Lady Gaga got out of the car and into the van.
Out of…into (cambio de estado o condición)
The fish jumped out of the water and into the frying pan.

Off…on (cambio de lugar con verbos de movimiento

como take y put)
Tina took off her coat and put on her sweater.

Las preposiciones out, over y under, forman numerosos verbos compuestos:

Out+Verbo Over+Verbo Under+Verbo

Outdo Overdo Underestimate

Outrun Overrate Underrate
Outlast Overeat Underline
Outgrow Overcome Underscore

G. INTERFERENCIA DE LAS PREPOSICIONES INGLESAS CON

EL ESPAÑOL
Inglés: on Español: de

That depends on you Eso depende de tim

Inglés: of Español: en

I am always thinking of you. Siempre pienso en ti.

Inglés: at Español: del

I laughed at the joke Me reí del chiste.

Inglés: for Español: no hay preposición

I looked for my keys Busqué mis llaves.

Inglés: with Español: de

She fills my heart with joy Ella llena my corazón de
alegría.
Inglés: from Español: del

Fanny fell from the second floor. Fanny cayó del segundo piso.

Inglés: for Español: por

Thanks for everything. Gracias por todo.

Inglés: by Español: en

I travel by train Viajo en avión.

UNIDAD IV
Estructuras Relativas

PRONOMBRES RELATIVOS Y LAS PREPOSICIONES

¿Debemos terminar un enunciado con una preposición?
La pregunta acerca de si es correcto o no usar una preposición al final de una
frase u oración, ha estado bajo discusión durante tres siglos.
Muchos especialistas coinciden en rechazar la noción según la cual terminar
un enunciado con una preposición sea un error.
Sin embargo, es aconsejable en la escritura formal evitar poner la preposición
al final. Por otra parte, en el lenguaje oral y en la escritura informal es
comúnmente aceptado poner la preposición al final.

Primer Caso
La preposición va al final cuando la pregunta en una frase u enunciado
empieza con who, what, which, where, whom. Ésto es lo común con el uso
informal.
Por otra parte, la preposición va al principio en un enunciado o frase formal.

Formal Informal
Preguntas breves Preguntas breves
For what? What for?
For whom? Who for?
From where? Where from?
To where? Where to?
With what? What with?

Preguntas largas Preguntas largas

For whom is this present? Who is this present for?
With whom did she go? Who did she go
with?

Completar las siguientes preguntas con la preposición correcta:

UNIT IV.1 Ejercicios:
1. What are you crying………………………..?
2. Who shall I give this………………………..?
3. What are you waiting……………………….?
4. Which writer were you talking ……………..?
5. Which candidate have you voted………….?
6. Who were you talking ……………………….?
7. Which picture are you talking………………?
8 What are you laughing ………………………?
9. Where did your father come…………………?
10. What are you looking……………………….?
11. You told me you had a nightmare. What…?
12. What did you buy that ………………………?
13. Where did you borrow the money………….?
14. Who did you sell your car……………………?
15. Who did you go to the party…………………?

Cambiar las siguientes preguntas del estilo informal a formal:

IV.2 Ejercicios:

1. Who is the dating service for?

For whom is the dating service?
2. .Who can I turn to?
………………………………………
3. Who did you give your number to?
 ………………………………………
4. What kind of hobbies are you interested in?
…………………………………………………..
5. Where do you come from?
……………………………
6. Which card did you pay with?
……………………………………………….
7. Which box did you put your shoes in?
……………………………………………
8. Where did you steal the book from?
…………………………………………….
9. Who did she go with?
…………………………………………….
10. Who did you play tennis with?
...............................................................
11. What are you looking at?
………………………………………………
12. Who the bells toll for?
……………………………………………….
13. Who did you buy the car from?
………………………………………………..
14. What did you prepare the sauce with?
..................................................................
15. Who are you angry at?
…………………………………………………

Cambiar las siguientes preguntas de estilo formal a informal:

IV. 3 Ejercicios:
1. To whom did you sell your bike?
…………………………………………..
2. From where do you come?
……………………………………………
3. In which school did you study?
……………………………………….
4. In what kind of women are you interested?
…………………………………………
5. To whom did you give the book?
…………………………………………………
6. In which house were you born?
…………………………………………………..
7. To what are you referring?
……………………………………………………
8. At what are you driving?
……………………………………………………
9. From which box did you take these shoes?
……………………………………………………
10. With what did you make the salad?
…………………………………………………………
11. To whom were you talking?
………………………………………………………….
12. In which floor is the patient?
……………………………..…………………………….
13. With what are we going to work?
………………………………………………………….
14. To whom can I address my petition?
………………………………………………………….
15. At what are you laughing?
…………………………………………………………..

Segundo Caso

Cuando un pronombre relativo es el objeto de una preposición, ésta

usualmente se escribe al final del enunciado o de una frase. That equivale a
Who, whom, which. En los enunciados formales usamos who y whom para
personas y which para cosas.
 Informal Formal
This is the book that I´ve been This is the book for which I´ve
looking for been looking

She´s is the only woman that I´ve This is the only woman with whom
been in love with I´ve been in love

Completar los siguientes enunciados con las preposiciones y pronombres

relativos faltantes:
IV. 4 Ejercicios:
Observa los ejemplos que preceden:
1. Sila is the only woman…whom…………….. I´ve been in love......with.
2. She´s the only woman with…whom……………I´ve been in love.
3. This is the store………………….I told you about.
4. This is the store about………………..I told you.
5. This is the girl……………..I told you about.
6. This is the girl about………………I told you.
7. Anita Ekberg was the actress………………I was in love with.
8. She was the actress……………….whom I was in love.
9. It´s you………………..I am angry with.
10. It´s you with……………….I am angry.
11. This is the topic about…………………I´m talking.
12. This is the topic which I´m talking……………………..
13. She pointed out something…………….I had never paid attention to.
14. She pointed out something…………………which I had never paid
attention.
15. Forrest Gump is a picture………………I´ve heard many people talk
about.
16. Forrest Gump is a picture……………….which I´ve heard many people
talk.
17. She´s a woman……………….you can talk to.
18. She´s a woman………………whom you can talk.
19. I´m going to give you something that you can talk………………
20. I´m going to give you something about……………….you can talk.
21. You are the one that I´m in love………………….
22. You are the one………………..whom I´m in love.
23. She´s the witch …………………I am in love with.
24. She´s the girl whom I was going to live…………… .
25. I met a woman…………………I used to work with.
26. I met a woman…………………whom I used to work.
27. My boss is a man……………….you don´t want to work for.
28. My boss is a man………………..whom you don´t want work.
29. She´s the girl ………………I´ve been thinking of.
30. She´s the girl…………………whom I´ve been thinking.
31. Greed is something………………..you can´t get away from.
32. Greed is something……………….which you can´t get away.
 UNIDAD V
Las Formas Pasivas

LAS FORMAS PASIVAS DE LOS VERBOS CON PREPOSICIONES

Las formas pasivas se usan teniendo como objeto a la persona o cosa afectada
por una acción. En este caso, las personas, animales o cosas son receptores de
la acción, dejan de ser sujetos para convertirse en objetos. En nuestro caso,
analizaremos solamente una de las formas pasivas: la forma pasiva con
preposición. La preposición recurrente en este caso es casi siempre la
preposición by.

Completar los enunciados con la opción correcta:

V.1 Ejercicios:
1. Many species of animals are endangered by hunting and fishing.

a) have endangered
b) are endangered by
2. Buildings and trees………………………………….pollution.
c) have been harmed by
d) is harming
3. People´s health…………………………. overeating junk food.
e) has affected
f) has been affected by
4. Natural resources……………………………….recycling.
g) is saving
h) are being saved by
5. New types of cars that don´t pollute as
much………………………….some major companies.
i) are being developed by
 j) are developing
6. Thousands of people…………………………..hidden mines.
k) are killed
l) are killed by
7. Many people……………………………….. the hurricane in Japan.
m) have been affected by
n) have affected
8. Miss Monroe …………………….. the president and his brother.
a) was loved by
b) will be loved
9. I want to…………………………….you, just you and nobody else but
you.
o) be loved by
p) be loved
10. Most of the coyotes…………………………. hunters in North
America.
q) are killed
r) have been killed by

¿ACTIVO O PASIVO?
Señala la respuesta correcta:
Recuerda que las formas pasivas pueden detectarse, en muchos casos,
observando las diferentes conjugaciones del verbo to be:
V.2 Ejercicios:
1. They listen to music.
Active…………….
Passive…………..
2. These cars are made in Japan.
Active……………..
Passive…………...

3. German is spoken in Austria.

Active………………
Passive…………….

4. Lots of houses were destroyed by the earthquake.

Active………………
Passive…………….
5. In summer, people in Sweden open all doors and windows.
Active………………
Passive…………….
6. The bus driver was hurt in an accident.
Active………………
Passive…………….
7. Rich people built cathedrals in the Middle Age.
Active…………………
Passive……………….
8. I sent a letter to the pope.
Active…………………
Passive……………….
9. The bike is being repaired by a mechanic.
Active…………………
Passive……………….
10. We might see dolphins in the sea.
 Active………………….
Passive………………..
11. The report must be completed by next Friday.
Active………………….
Passive………………..
12. We lost our keys in the garage.
Active………………….
Passive………………..
13. I am given a book by a friend.
Active………………….
Passive………………..
14. Somebody painted my room with a brush without my approval.
Active………………….
Passive………………..
15. Cricket is played in Australia.
Active………………….
Passive……………….
16. The exercise was explained to the student.
Active…………………
Passive………………
17. It is said that children are afraid of ghosts.
Active………………..
Passive……………. .
18. Children are said to be afraid of ghosts.
Active……………….
Passive…………….
19. Someone broke into the pet shop.
 Active……………….
Passive……………..
20. The pet shop was broken into.
Active……………….
Passive……………..

UNIDAD VI
Las Expresiones Idiomáticas

EXPRESIONES IDIOMÁTICAS QUE EMPIEZAN CON

PREPOSICIONES

Hay cientos de expresiones idiomáticas que empiezan con preposiciones en el

idioma inglés.
Las expresiones idiomáticas son frases que, tomadas literalmente, no tendrían
sentido.
La expresión “on the other hand”, por ejemplo, literalmente significa, “sobre
la otra mano”; pero, traducida como un todo a nivel idiomático, la expresión
se traduciría como “por otra parte”.
Presentamos en seguida una lista de frases idiomáticas, de ninguna manera
exhaustiva.
Sin embargo, ésta reúne las expresiones idiomáticas más comunes que
empiezan con preposiciones.
AT
At any rate: en cualquier caso
At one´s disposal: disponible para el uso de uno
At fault: que causa un problema o accidente
At first: al principio
At last: finalmente
BEHIND
behind the scenes: secretamente
BESIDE
Beside the point: irrelevante
BY
By accident: no a propósito
By all means: por todos los medios posibles
By hand: a mano
By Heart: de memoria
By mistake: por error
By oneself: solo
By the way: incidentalmente
FOR
For good: permanentemente
For sale: en venta
For sure: definitivamente
For now: por ahora
 For a while: por un periodo corto de tiempo
FROM
From scratch: a partir de nada o casi nada
From time to time: de vez en cuando
IN
In advance: por adelantado
In any case: en cualquier caso
In charge: al mando
In common: en común
In danger: en peligro
In a daze: confundido
In debt: endeudado
In demand: requerido
In the end: al final
In fact.: de hecho
In a hurry: de prisa
In itself: en sí mismo
In sight: dentro del campo de visión, a la vista
In the long run: eventualmente, a la larga
In no time: inmediatamente
In season: maduro
In trouble: en problema
In vain: en vano
 In the wrong: responsable por un error, culpable
INSIDE
Inside out: de dentro hacia fuera
OF
Of course: naturalmente

OFF
Off and on: intermitente
ON
On account of: a cuenta de, debido a
On the air: al aire (en radio o televisión)
On all fours: sobre los pies y las rodillas
On demand: en demanda
On fire: en llamas
On hand: a la mano: disponible
On the lookout: cuidadoso
On the one hand: por una parte
On one´s own: solo, sin ayuda
On the other hand: por otra parte
On purpose: a propósito
On sale: en venta a precios rebajados
On second thought: después de pensarlo
On a shoestring: con muy poco dinero
On time: a tiempo
OUT
Out of the blue: de manera inesperada
Out of breath: sin aliento
Out of order: sin funcionar
Out of the ordinary: insólito
Out of the question: algo que no merece ser tomado en cuenta
Out of sight: fuera del campo de visión, fuera de la vista
Out of tune: desentonado
Out of work: desempleado
TO
To a certain extent: hasta cierto punto
UNDER
Under the circumstances: debido a las circunstancias
Under fire: recibir fuertes críticas
Under the impresión that: tener una idea o suponer
Under the influence: bajo la influencia
UP
Up in the air: incierto

WITH
With the naked eye: sin lentes
With regard/respect to: con respecto a

Completar las expresiones idiomáticas con las preposiciones correctas:

VI. 1 Ejercicios:

1. It is difficult to build a school system………………..scratch.

2. We all must work………………..a living.
3. If you want the merchandize, you must pay………………..advance.
4. I´m going to stay in Huatulco………………a while.
5. Unfortunately López Dóriga is still……………….the air.
6. My computer is………………..of order.
7. I drank too much wine. I was………………a daze.
8. I loved you…………….vain.
9. I saw her……………….the end.
10. If the bank lends money, you are……………….debt.
11. In my case, to make money selling drugs is………………..the question
12. My guitar is not in tune; it is……………….tune.
13. An addict is always………………..the influence of alcohol or drugs.

UNIDAD VII
Las Preposiciones con Verbos Compuestos

A. VERBOS COMPUESTOS TRANSITIVOS

Un verbo compuesto consiste de un verbo y una preposición.
El verbo y las preposiciones son usualmente palabras comunes; sin embargo
su significado, por separado, no nos ayuda a adivinar el significado del verbo
compuesto:

Verbos compuestos Significado

Set up establecer
Put out apagar

Los verbos compuestos, como otros verbos, a menudo tienen más de un

significado:
She´s looking up the roof.
She´s looking up a word in a dictionary.
Please turn down the radio.
They turned down my application.

Muchos verbos compuestos son transitivos. (Toman un objeto directo)

I pick up the phone.
She put out her cigarette.
Muchos verbos transitivos son separables.
Esto significa que el objeto directo puede seguir a la preposición o éste puede
colocarse entre el verbo y la preposición:
They tore down the building.
They tore the building down.

Sin embargo, cuando el objeto directo es parte de una frase muy larga, no
separamos el verbo compuesto:
Hans tried out the complex theories of feng shui. (Correcto)
Hans tried the complex theories of feng shui out. (Incorrecto)
Los Verbos Compuestos Transitivos más Comunes
Verbos Compuestos
Ask someone over
Block something out
Blow something up
Bring something about
Bring someone down
Bring someone up
Burn something down
Call something off
Call someone up
Carry something out
Cheer someone up
Clean someone or something up
Clear something up
Close something down
Count on someone or something
Do something over
Do something up
Drink something up
Fill something up
Find something out
Significado
invitar a alguien a la casa
bloquear algo
hacer explotar algo
hacer que suceda algo
deprimir
criar niños
quemar algo por completo
cancelar algo
llamar a alguien por teléfono
realizar un plan, un experimento
animar
limpiar por completo algo o a alguien
aclarar algo
cerrar algo con fuerza
depender de alguien o algo
hacer algo de nuevo
hacer algo más bonito
tomar una bebida por completo
llenar algo hasta el tope
aprender, descubrir algo
Give something away regalar algo
Give something out distribuir algo
Give something up renunciar, abandonar
Hand something out repartir algo
Keep up with someone or something insistir con alguien o algo
Lay someone off dar de baja temporal a alguien
Leave something out omitir
Let someone down desilusionar a alguien
Let someone in dejar entrar a alguien
Let someone off dejar salir
Look someone or something over examinar
Make something up crear, inventar algo
Pass something out distribuir algo
Pass someone or something up decidir no usar
Pick someone or something out escojer a alguien o algo
Pick someone or something up recoger
Put something off posponer
Run into someone toparse con alguien
Set something up establecer algo
Switch something on prender la luz, una máquina
Take something off remover algo
Talk something over discutir algo
Tear something up romper algo en pedazitos
Turn someone or something down rechazar algo o a alguien
Turn something off apagar la luz o una máquina
Turn someone or something into cambiar de una forma a otra
Use something up consumir, usar completamente
Wake someone up despertar a alguien

correctas Completar las frases con verbos compuestos agregando las

preposiciones:
VII 1 Ejercicios:
1. You can always count……….me.
2. Why did you wake me……….?
3. Count Dracula every night turns……….a vampire.
4. She turned……….my proposal of marriage.
5. Due to a poor attendance, the meeting was put………..
6. I know we can reach an agreement, if we talk it………..
7. Can you pick me……….at Grand Central Station?
8. The subway was teeming with people. They wouldn´t let me………..
9. Don´t let me……….is a song by John Lennon.
10. I can´t take it any longer; I give………..
11. Give me a glass of wine and don´t fill it………. , please!
12. Production in the factory dwindled and so I was laid………..
13. Too many mistakes; I had to do it…………
14. It cleared……….quickly after the rain.
15. You must take……….your shoes entering a mosque.
16. Someone is knocking at the door. Let him………..
17. If you want to know how he is, why don´t you call him………..?
18. Due to bad weather, the trip was called……….
19. I will turn ……….the light to think about you.
20. The explosion burned……….the casino.
21. When you tear something into pieces, you just tear it………..
22. Switch…………the light so that I can see you.

B. LOS VERBOS COMPUESTOS INTRANSITIVOS MÁS COMUNES

Un verbo intransitivo es aquel que no tiene un objeto directo. Éste difiere de

los verbos transitivos debido a que estos últimos tienen uno o más objetos
directos.
We arrived at the classroom door five minutes late.
Arrived= intransitive verb
Glenda sits on the front porch to admire her lawn.
Sits=intransitive verb
En los dos ejemplos analizados, no hay un objeto directo, de manera que
podemos considerar los ejemplos como intransitivos.
Sin embargo, muchos verbos pueden en base a contextos diferentes, ser
transitivos e intransitivos al mismo tiempo.
Rosa always eats before leaving.
Rosa usually eats pizza.
Daniel runs along the highway.
Daniel runs his first marathon.
En el primer caso, eats es un verbo intransitivo porque no tiene un objeto
directo.
En el segundo caso, el mismo verbo es transitivo porque tiene un objeto
directo
En los ejemplos que siguen sucede lo mismo. Runs es intransitivo en el
primer ejemplo, pero el mismo verbo es transitivo en el segundo.

Verbos Compuestos Significado

blow up perder el temperamento

break down dejar de funcionar
break out ocurrir de repente
catch on volverse popular
come about suceder
come back regresar
come off destaparse
come out salir
come up surgir
dress up vestirse elegantemente
drop in visitar de manera sorpresiva
eat out comer en restaurantes
end up acabar en
fall off caerse, despegarse
fool around perder el tiempo tontamente
get ahead avanzar
get along llevarse bien
get back retornar
get by sobrevivir
get together reunirse
get up levantarse de la cama
go back regresar
go off explotar
go on seguir
grow up crecer

keep away mantenerse a cierta distancia

keep on continuar
keep up seguir el paso
lie down reclinarse
look out tener cuidado
make up reconciliarse
pick up recuperarse, mejorar
run out of no tener suficiente de algo
show up aparecerse
sign up registrarse
sit down sentarse
slip up equivocarse
stand up levantarse
start over empezar de nuevo con algo
stay up permanecer despierto
take off despegar de un avión
turn out resultar
turn up aparecerse
wake up despertarse
watch out tener cuidado
work out ejercitarse

Completar las frases con las preposiciones correctas:

VII 2 Ejercicios:
1. I woke……………in the morning and you were on my mind.
2. Get…………..Jojo, your mom is waiting for you.
3 Lie……………on the couch and tell me all your lies.
4. Sit…………….on the chair and listen to me for once in your life.
5. The business is picking……………we don´t have to close down the
factory.
6. Let´s get……………for the revolution.
7. The plane took………………..in time.
8. He showed………………..late for his own wedding.
9. Juan and Juana stopped fighting and the finally made………………..
10. I waited and waited but she never showed…………………….
11. The prodigal son turned………………..
12. I grew ………………..surrounded by women.
13 I get………………..with a little help of my friends.
14. I want to eat…………………in a restaurant not in the garden.
15. Sign………………for the candidacy.
16. He ended………………as a thief.
17. Go ………………where you belong.
18. I usually work………………..in the gym.
19. I´m running………………of money.
20. I knew nothing about her visit. She just dropped………………..
21. The fence will keep wolves……………….
22. Things did not turn……………….as we expected.
23. the cork wouldn´t come…………………
24. She stayed……………….all night waiting for her son.

Respuestas a los Ejercicios

Unidad I
Ejercicio I
1. about 2.in,under 3.in 4.between 5.like 6.till 7.without 8.but 9.around 10.th

Ejercicio II
1. under 2.behind 3.around 4.under 5.under 6.beside 7.above 8.beside 9.abov

Ejercicio III

1. on 2.near 3.in 4.under 5.behind 6.under 7.under 8.under 9.under 10.in.

Ejercicio IV
1. from 2.through 3.across 4.through 5.from 6.into 7.onto 8.toward 9.into 10
Ejercicio V
1. down 2.through 3.over 4.through 5.into 6.into 7.from 8.to 9.over 10.across

Ejercicio VI
1. ago 2.during 3.before,after 4.since 5.before 6.for 7.for 8.before 9.during 1

Ejercicio VII
1. in 2.on 3.on 4.on 5.at 6.at 7.in 8.at 9.by 10.at 11.on 12.at 13.in 14.on 1

Ejercicio VIII

1. past 2.to 3.to 4.past 5.to 6.to 7.past 8.to 9.to 10.past 11.to 12.to 13.past.

Ejercicio IX
1. over 2.over 3.over 4.outside,inside 5.inside 6.down 7.down 8.along 9.outsid

Ejercicio X
1. off 2.off 3about 4.despite 5.but 6.but 7.without 8.like 9.against 10.between,
like 11.within 12.without 13.with. without 14.but 15.except,
but 16.but 17.about 18.of 19.between 20.off 21.despite 22.off 23.like 24.ab

Ejercicio XI
1. b 2.a 3.b 4.d 5.b 6.c 7.b 8.c 9.b 10.c.

Ejercicio XII
Prepositions Adverbs

at, of, to because

around, with, in while, still,
when
through, in later
of
to, of, with
Ejercicio XIII
1. into 2.on 3. toward, to 4.under, around 5.at 6.over, into 7.at,
into 8.toward, over 9.between 10.by, on 11.through.

Ejercicio XIV
1. on, of 2.in,for 3.in 4.with 5.to, of 6.at,of 7.on 8.on 9.of 10.of.

Ejercicio XV
1. preposition 2.preposition 3.adverb 4.adverb 5.preposition 6.preposition 7.ad

Ejercicio XVI
1. 1.preposition 2. adverb 3.adverb 4.preposition 5.preposition
6.adverb 7.preposition 8.preposition 9.preposition 10.adverb.

Ejercicio XVII
1. before 2.before 3.across 4.under 5.by 6.above 7.near 8.across 9.under 10.

Ejercicio XVIII
1. on 2.with 3.over 4.along 5.at 6.on 7.after 8.in 9.at 10.up 11.in 12.off 13.

Unidad II

Ejercicio I
1. instead of 2.in case of 3.on behalf of 4.by means of 5.as of
6.apart from 7.in common with 8.according to 9.in favor of
10.because of 11.due to 12.in addition to 13.in front of
14.without regard for 15.with regard to 16.by mistake
17.regardless of 18.on purpose 19.without regard to.

Ejercicio II
1. For lack of money, I couldn´t go to Europe.
2. Instead of taking, you should act.
 3. I am in favor of democracy.
4. There was a fire in front of my house.
5. Due to unemployment, many young people have left the country.
6. With respect to your application, we cannot help you.
7. In addition to what you have said, I would like to express my
opinion.
8. She sat next to me.
9. In case of danger, pull the handle.
10. Apart from me, there´s no one here.

Ejercicio III
1. simple
2.compuesta 3.simple 4.simple 5.simple 6.compuesta 7.simple 8.compuesta 9

Unidad III
Ejercicio I
1. where 2.when 3.where 4.when 5.where 6.where 7.where 8.how 9.how 10.wh
one 11.when 12.when 13 which 14.where.

Ejercicio II
1. ……. 2………3.into the garden, with me 4.to the movies 5.in that
book, by my professor 6.behind my desk, in the bedroom 7.under
bridges 8.with people, from many countries 9.behind the door
10.during the night, around my house 11.with me, to the sea 12.by
your front door.

Ejercicio III

1. ……..
2.like 3.to 4.about,of 5.for 6.with 7.on 8.of 9.on 10.against 11.from 12.abou

Ejercicio IV

1. at 2.of 3.about 4.in 5.on 6.of 7.of 8.at 9.of 10.at.

Ejercicio V
1. by 2.in,by,with 3.at 4.with 5.by,at 6.to 7.in 8.with 9.by 10.with 11.with 1

Ejercicio VI
1. for 2.for 3.at 4.of 5.on 6.of 7.to 8.of 9.to 10.to 11.at 12.to 13.of 14.of 15
too/ toward 18. with19.on 20.to.

Ejercicio VII
1. about 2.on/at 3.of 4.in 5.about 6.at 7.in 8.in 9.about/of 10.in 11.at 12.abou

Ejercicio VIII
1. in 2.with 3.in/with 4.in/with 5.in/with 6.in 7.at 8.with 9.on 10.on 11.at 12.
of 18.on 19.in 20.in 21.on 22.in 23.in 24.on 25.in 26.with 27.with/in 28.un
of.

UNIDAD IV

Ejercicio I
1. for 2.to 3.for 4.to/with 5.for 6.to/with 7.about 8.at 9.from 10.at
11.about 12.for 13.from 14.to 15.with.

Ejercicio II
1. ………………..2.to who can I turn? 3. to who did you give your
number? 4. in what kind of hobby are you interested? 5.from
where do you come? 6. with which card do you pay? 7. in which
box did you put your shoes? 8. from where did you steal the
book? 9. with who did she go? 10. with who did you play
tennis? 11.at what are you looking? 12.for who the bells toll?
13. from who did you buy the car? 14. with what did you prepare
the sauce? 15. at who are you angry?.

Ejercicio III
 1. whom did you sell your bike to?
2. where do you come from?
3. which school did you stay in?
4. what kind of women are you interested in?
5. whom did you give the book to?
6. which house where you born in?
7. what are you referring to?
8. what are you driving at?
9. which box did you take the shoes from?
10. what did you make the salad with?
11. whom were you talking to?
12. which floor is the patient in?
13. what are you going to work with?
14. whom can I address my petition?
15. what are you laughing at?

Ejercicio IV
1. …………….. 2. …………….
3.which 4.which 5.whom 6.whom 7.whom 8.with 9.that 10.whom 9.that 10

Unit V
Ejercicio I
1………. 2.c 3.f 4.h 5.i 6.l 7.m 8.a 9.o 10.r.

Ejercicio II
1. active 2.passive 3.passive 4.passive 5.active 6.passive 7.active 8.active 9.pas
Active 20.passive.

Unit VI
Ejercicio I

1. from 2.for 3.in 4.for 5.on 6.out 7.in 8.in 9.in 10.in 11.out
of 12.out of 13.under.
Unidad VII

Ejercicio I

1. on 2.up 3.into 4.down 5.off 6.over 7.up 8.in 9.down 10.up 11.up 12.off
over 14.up 15.off 16.in 17.up 18.off 19.off 20.down 21.up 22.on.

Ejercicio II

1. up 2.up 3.down 4.down 5.up 6.together 7.off 8.up 9.up 10,up 11.up 12.u

REFERENCIAS

Ammer, Cristine, Dictionary of Idioms, Houghton Miffin Harcourt, Reprint

Edition (September 13, 2003)
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Reader (March 2007)
Cole, Tom, The Preposition Book, University of Michigan Press/ESL
(September 11, 2006)
Fogarty, Mignon, Ending a Sentence with a Preposition, General Grammar,
Episode 269 (March 31, 2011)
Grubic, Bob, Those Problematic English Prepositions, CFI-BACI
Conference, Long Beach, California (November 13, 2004)
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Hoffman, Sebastian, Grammatcalization and English Complex Prepositions
, Routledge Taylor and Francis Group, New York (June, 2005)
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Lindstromberg, Seth, English Prepositions Explained, John Benjamin
Publishing Company, Amsterdam ( 2010)
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the Clause, Linguistik Aktuell/Linguistics Today (September, 2005)
Saint-Dizier, Patrick, Syntax and Semantics of Prepositions, Springer,
Dordrecht, The Netherlands (2006)
Tyler, Andrea, The Semantic of English Prepositions, Cambridge University
Press (2003)
Comics:
Real life adventures by Gary Wise and Lance Aldrich, November 28, 2011
Rubes by Leigh Rubin, November 23, 2011
Working it out by Charlos Gary, November 12, 2011
The wizard of Id, October 19, 2011
The wizard of Id, November 17, 2011