what is it?
Spanish uses two prepositions to attach a modifier to a noun: de and con. De covers two main jobs: forming compound nouns that describe the type or subject of something (un libro de español), and expressing possession or belonging (la página del libro). Con describes a permanent or defining feature that a noun has (una casa con jardín). The two prepositions are not interchangeable: each has a distinct role.
when to use it
de — compound noun (type or subject). Use de when the second noun names the type, subject, or purpose of the first noun. No article appears after de in this pattern: un libro de español, una clase de música.
de — possession or belonging. Use de to show that one noun belongs to another. When de is followed by the masculine singular article el, the two words contract to del: la página del libro. This contraction is obligatory — de el is not acceptable in standard Spanish.
con — permanent feature. Use con when the modifier names a feature or component that the noun characteristically has: una casa con jardín, un café con leche. Unlike the de compound pattern, con does not describe what the noun is — it describes what the noun has.
formation
The structures are fixed. The table below shows the three patterns with their forms.
| pattern | structure | example | meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| de — type/subject | noun + de + noun (no article) | un libro de español | a Spanish book |
| de — possession (+ la, los, las, …) | noun + de + la/los/las + noun | la página de la carta | the page of the letter |
| de — possession (+ el → del) | noun + del + noun | la página del libro | the page of the book |
| con — feature | noun + con + noun (no article needed) | una casa con jardín | a house with a garden |
The contraction del only applies to de + el (masculine singular definite article). De la, de los, and de las do not contract.
examples in context
common pitfalls
Forgetting the contraction del. Writing «la página de el libro» is incorrect. Whenever de is followed by the article el, they must merge: la página del libro.
Using con instead of de for type or subject. «un libro con español» suggests the book physically contains Spanish (as an ingredient), which is not the intended meaning. Use de to classify the type: un libro de español.
Inserting an article after de in a compound noun. «un libro de el español» is wrong on two counts: the article is not used in this pattern, and de el must contract anyway. The correct form is simply un libro de español — no article after de in the type/subject pattern.