TO vs FOR vs OF
Cuándo y por qué usarlas
Estas preposiciones son de las más confusas para hispanohablantes porque no siempre corresponden a 'para', 'por', 'de'.
I went to school. / Give it to me. / Nice to meet you.
This is for you. / I studied for 3 hours. / What's this for?
A cup of coffee. / Most of us. / The color of the sky.
Ejercicios Prácticos
I'm looking forward ___ seeing you.
This gift is ___ your birthday.
She's afraid ___ spiders.
Can you explain this ___ me?
I bought flowers ___ my mother.
A glass ___ water, please.
Encuentra el error: 'She listened the music.'
Completa: 'Thank you — helping me.'
IN vs ON vs AT
Lugar y tiempo
Estas tres preposiciones siguen un patrón de general a específico.
IN: meses, años, estaciones, partes del día → in January, in 2020, in the morning
ON: días, fechas → on Monday, on July 4th, on my birthday
AT: horas, momentos → at 5 PM, at night, at Christmas
IN: dentro de espacios → in the room, in London, in the car
ON: sobre superficies → on the table, on the wall, on the bus
AT: puntos específicos → at the door, at the bus stop, at home
Ejercicios Prácticos
I was born ___ 1995.
The meeting is ___ Monday.
I'll meet you ___ 3 o'clock.
She lives ___ a small village ___ the countryside.
The picture is ___ the wall.
I'll see you ___ Christmas Day.
Encuentra el error: 'She arrived at Monday at the morning.'
Completa: 'I live — Bogotá — a quiet neighborhood.'
SINCE vs FOR vs AGO
Expresiones de tiempo
Los tres se refieren al tiempo, pero de maneras muy diferentes.
I've lived here since 2015 / since January / since I was a child.
I've lived here for 10 years. / I studied for 3 hours.
I moved here 10 years ago. (va DESPUÉS del tiempo)
Ejercicios Prácticos
I've known her ___ we were children.
He's been waiting ___ two hours.
We moved to this city five years ___.
She has worked here ___ 2019.
I graduated three years ___.
They've been married ___ 25 years.
Encuentra el error: 'I have started this job three years ago.'
Cambia: 'I moved here in 2018.' usando 'since'.
BECAUSE vs SINCE vs AS vs FOR
Conectores de causa
Todos expresan razón/causa, pero con diferentes niveles de formalidad y posición.
I stayed home because I was sick. (la razón es lo importante)
Since/As it was raining, we took an umbrella. (todos sabemos que llovía)
He was tired, for he had worked all day.
Ejercicios Prácticos
I can't go out ___ I have homework.
___ you already know the topic, let's skip the intro.
She was upset, ___ nobody remembered her birthday.
Why did you leave? — ___ I was tired.
___ everyone is here, let's begin.
Encuentra el error: 'For it was raining, I took my umbrella.'
Combina: 'It was late. We decided to leave.' usando 'since'.
ALTHOUGH vs HOWEVER vs DESPITE
Contraste y concesión
Todos expresan contraste ('aunque', 'sin embargo'), pero su gramática es diferente.
Although it was raining, we went out.
It was raining. However, we went out.
Despite the rain, we went out.
Despite being tired, she continued.
Ejercicios Prácticos
___ she was tired, she kept working.
___ the bad weather, the event was successful.
The food was expensive. ___, it was delicious.
___ having no experience, he got the job.
___ I like coffee, I prefer tea.
Encuentra el error: 'Despite she studied hard, she failed.'
Cambia: 'Although it was cold, we went swimming.' usando 'despite'.
SO vs SUCH (a/an)
Intensificadores
Ambos intensifican, pero se usan con diferentes estructuras.
It's so hot! / She sings so well!
It's such a beautiful day! / They are such nice people!
It was so cold that we stayed home.
It was such a cold day that we stayed home.
Ejercicios Prácticos
The movie was ___ boring that I fell asleep.
She is ___ a talented singer!
He drives ___ fast! It's dangerous.
It was ___ a long day that I went to bed at 8.
I've never seen ___ beautiful scenery.
Encuentra el error: 'It was so a nice party!'
Cambia: 'The exam was so difficult.' usando 'such'.
STILL vs YET vs ALREADY
Adverbios temporales
Estos adverbios expresan si una acción ha ocurrido, continúa o no ha ocurrido todavía.
I still live with my parents. / She's still sleeping.
Have you finished yet? / I haven't eaten yet.
I've already done it. / She already knows.
Ejercicios Prácticos
I haven't received the email ___.
She's ___ working on the project. She started at 8 AM.
Don't tell him. I've ___ told him the news.
Has the train arrived ___?
It's midnight and he's ___ playing video games.
Encuentra el error: 'I don't still understand this.'
Expresa sorpresa de que no terminó: 'He hasn't finished the homework.'
USED TO vs BE USED TO vs GET USED TO
Hábitos y adaptación
Tres expresiones que suenan parecido pero significan cosas muy diferentes.
I used to smoke. (fumaba, ya no fumo)
I am used to waking up early. (estoy acostumbrado)
I'm getting used to the new city. (me estoy acostumbrando)
Ejercicios Prácticos
I ___ (used to) walk to school when I was a kid.
Don't worry, you'll ___ (get used to) the noise.
She ___ (be used to) living alone. It doesn't bother her.
I can't ___ to this cold weather.
He ___ be very thin, but now he's gained weight.
After a year in Japan, I ___ eating with chopsticks.
Encuentra el error: 'I am used to drive on the left.'
Expresa hábito pasado: 'In the past, I drank a lot of soda.'