Page 96 - Difference or Disorder Digital Version

Chapter 13: SPANISH

SPECIAL NOTE: PREPOSITIONS

Due to the frequency of preposition errors produced by Spanish speakers acquiring English,

a few specific examples are provided below to assist in identifying second language
influenced errors.

Possible misuses of prepositions in
Spanish English English
En (in/on) In/on Put the food in the plate.*
Put the food on the bowl.*

Pensar en/pensar de (think To think about or I think on him everyday.*
in/think of) think of
You can do it if you think of it.*
Enojarse con (to get mad To get mad at She get mad with me.*
with)
Soñar con (to dream with) To dream of I dreamt with you last night*

Decidir de (to decide of) To decide on Have you decided of what you want?*
Casarse con (to marry with) To marry or be Is he married with her?*
married to

Estar enamorado de (to be To be in love with Is he in love of her?*

in love of)
Consistir en (to consist in) To consist of What does your plan consist in?*
Buscar (to look/search) To look for I’m looking my toy.*
Depender de (to depend of) To depend on It depends of what you want.*

Note: Sentences marked with an asterisk (*) are awkward or not grammatical.
Source: Kester & Gorman (2004).

HOME CORNER

As a bilingual speech language pathologist, I am grateful for my upbringing in a South

Texas border town with a balanced blend of Mexican and American cultures. However, as a

child I did not understand the value of knowing and understanding two cultures. Growing up,

it was considered typical to speak English or Spanish depending on the situation or person. In

more formal settings, such as school, I spoke only in English; however, with my family or in
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the community I was able to speak whichever language I felt was appropriate.

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