Spanish prepositions in relative clauses and time expressions: A complete guide
- Ananya
- Jul 28
- 3 min read
Spanish grammar loves its little details and prepositions in relative clauses are one of those sneaky but essential topics every learner needs to master.
From con el que to antes de que, this guide will show you exactly when and how to use these structures, with easy examples and simple rules.
What Are Relative Clauses with Prepositions?
A relative clause adds extra information about a noun. When that noun is introduced using a preposition, we call it a prepositional relative clause. Here’s how it looks:
Examples:
El peine es muy práctico.→ El peine con el que me peino todas las mañanas es muy práctico.
La clase es genial.→ La clase a la que voy todos los días es genial.
Los recipientes son de plástico.→ Los recipientes en los que guardo mi almuerzo son de plástico.
Las semillas son escasas.→ Las semillas de las que se obtiene aceite son escasas.
✅ Key takeaway: You're adding information about how, where, or with what something is done, using prepositions + relative pronouns.
🧭 How to Choose the Right Preposition in Spanish
The preposition depends on the verb used in the sentence. Here's a quick guide:
Purpose | Use this | Example |
Tool or instrument | con el/la/los/las que | El cepillo con el que me peino |
Destination or movement | a el/la/los/las que | La clase a la que asisto |
Location | en el/la/los/las que | La ciudad en la que vivo |
Origin/source | de el/la/los/las que | Las personas de las que hablo |
🧍♂️ Talking About People? Use “quien” or “quienes”
When the noun refers to a person, you can use con/a/de/en + quien/quienes instead of the article + relative pronoun:
La amiga con la que hago deporte → La amiga con quien hago deporte
Los chicos a los que les hablé → Los chicos a quienes les hablé
✅ Both options are grammatically correct—but “quien/quienes” sounds more formal or literary.
Talking About Places? Use “donde”
Instead of en el/la que, you can often use donde:
El armario en el que guardo mi ropa es grande.→ El armario donde guardo mi ropa es grande.
⏰ Prepositions in Time Expressions: Subjunctive or Not?
Time expressions like cuando, mientras, hasta que, antes de que, and después de que often involve subjunctive mood. Here's how to know when to use it:
Use Indicative:
When talking about habits or the past.
Cuando voy al cine, me duermo.
Hasta que no tomo café, no funciono.
Use Subjunctive:
When referring to future events.
Cuando vaya a Mallorca, nadaré en la playa.
Hasta que vuelvas, no estaré tranquila.
📅 Before and After: “Antes de” vs “Antes de que”
Many learners struggle with antes de and antes de que. The key difference? Whether you’re using a verb or a full clause:
Expression | Use it with | Mood | Example |
Antes de | Infinitive verb | — | Antes de salir, preparo mi maleta. |
Antes de que | Subject + verb | Subjunctive | Antes de que salgas, haz tu lista. |
Después de | Infinitive verb | — | Después de cancelar el vuelo, esperamos. |
Después de que | Subject + verb | Subjunctive | Después de que lleguemos, descansaremos. |
🧠 Quick Summary
Use prepositions with relative pronouns to give extra information about nouns.
Choose your preposition based on the verb: con, a, en, de, etc.
With people, use quien/quienes. With places, use donde.
In temporal clauses, use indicative for the past or routine, and subjunctive for the future.
Use antes de + infinitive or antes de que + subjunctive depending on the structure.
Stay tuned! we’ll be back to break it all down step by step as you go along. One thing at a time, and you'll see how everything fits together. Keep practicing, and before you know it, these concepts will start to feel much more manageable!
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