It is not easy to learn how to use prepositions correctly in a foreign language. In this article, we are going to learn how and when to use con in Spanish.

We will start reviewing how and when to use con in Spanish. We will go through its main uses and then we will see some combinations of verbs or adjectives that are followed by this preposition.

How to Use Con in Spanish

Generally speaking, the Spanish preposition con is the equivalent of with.

You can use it with nouns or pronouns.

Mi hija juega con Ana en el jardín.

My daughter is playing with Ana in the garden.

¿Conocéis a Sara? Estudia con vosotros francés.

Do you know Sara? She studies French with you.

When con is used with a verb, you should use the infinitive form.

El profesor amenazó con cancelar la fiesta.

The teacher threatened to cancel the party.

Sueño con abrir una tienda de ropa algún día.

I dream of opening a clothing store one day.

Conmigo and Contigo

You can use con with any subject, except yo and tú. If you want to say with me or with you, you should say conmigo and contigo. They are written in one word.

¿Vienes esta tarde al teatro conmigo?

Are you coming this evening to the theater with me?

Me gusta estar contigo. Eres muy divertido.

I like being with you. You are very funny.

Contigo means with you when addressing someone informally.

Mi grupo ensaya contigo los domingos.

My band rehearsals with you on Sundays.

Me gustaría trabajar contigo.

I would like to work with you.

When to Use Con in Spanish

Let’s have a look at the four main uses of this preposition to understand when to use con in Spanish.

1. To express being with

Ahora no puedo ir porque estoy con Antonio.

I can’t go now because I am with Antonio.

Mi padre trabaja con tu primo.

My father works with your cousin.

2. To express doing something with an instrument or tool

No te preocupes por el dinero, pago con tarjeta.

Don’t worry about the money, I’ll pay with credit card.

Córtalo con este cuchillo. El resto no están afilados.

Cut it with this knife. The others are not sharp.

3. To make descriptions

Me gusta la casa con balcones.

I like the house with balconies.

Es bonita la camisa con botones cuadrados.

The shirt with square buttons is beautiful.

4. To express how an action is done

Lee con atención las instrucciones.

Read the instructions carefully.

El deportista entrenó con éxito.

The athlete trained successfully.

Phrases using con to express how an action is done are usually translated using the English adverbs –ly.

5 Verbs with Con

There are many verb combinations with con. Let’s see some of them to continue reviewing when to use con in Spanish.

1. Amenazar con (to threaten to)

El ladrón amenazó con confesarlo todo.

The thief threatened to confess everything.

El jefe le amenazó con bajarle el sueldo.

The boss threatened him to lower his salary.

2. Comparar con (to compare to)

No compares mi vestido con el tuyo. Los dos son bonitos.

Don’t compare my dress with yours. Both are beautiful.

Compara la bici roja con la verde. ¿Cuál prefieres?

Compare the red bike with the green one. Which one do you prefer?

3. Confundir con (to mix up)

La profesora confundió mi examen con el de Laura.

The teacher mixes up my exam with Laura’s.

Ten cuidado. No confundas el azúcar con la sal.

Be careful. Don’t get sugar and salt mixed up.

4. Contar con (to rely on)

Cuento con un diseñador para decorar la casa.

I rely on a designer to decorate the house.

No podemos contar con él para resolver este problema.

We can’t rely on him to solve this problem.

5. Soñar con (to dream of)

Sueño con vender la casa y mudarme a Australia.

I dream of selling the house and moving to Australia.

Mi hija sueña con bailar en un famoso teatro.

My daughter dreams of dancing in a famous theater.

5 Adjectives with Con

Con is also used after some adjectives. Remember that adjectives should agree in gender and number with the noun they are referring to. Let’s see some examples of when to use con in Spanish.

1. Contento con (happy with)

Isabel está contenta con el resultado de su examen.

Isabel is happy with her exam result.

Los jugadores no están contentos con el entrenador.

The players are not happy with the coach.

2. Disgustado con (upset with)

Luis está disgustado con su hijo porque no quiere ser periodista.

Luis is upset with his son because he doesn’t want to become a journalist.

Pensaba que ibas a venir, pero no estoy disgustada contigo.

I thought you were coming, but I am not upset with you.

3. Encantado con (pleased with)

Estamos encantados con la oficina. Está en el mejor sitio de la ciudad.

We are pleased with the office. It is in the best place in the city.

Nuestros clientes se fueron encantados con la experiencia.

Our clients left pleased with the experience

4. Relacionado con (related to)

Publiqué varias noticias relacionadas con el robo.

I published several news related to the robbery.

Estos problemas no están relacionados con el reciclaje.

These issues are not related to recycling.

5. Satisfecho con (satisfied with)

Pilar no está satisfecha con tu respuesta.

Pilar is not satisfied with your answer.

Estamos muy satisfechos con el servicio prestado.

We are very satisfied with the service provided.

5 Phrases with Con

Finally, to better know when to use con in Spanish, it is also important to review some phrases that are formed using this preposition. Let’s see a few examples.

1. Con estilo (in style, stylishly)

Creo que Carlos viste con estilo.

I think Carlos dresses in style.

Decoró el dormitorio con estilo.

She decorated the bedroom stylishly.

2. Con frecuencia (often)

No hago ejercicio con frecuencia.

I don’t often do exercise.

Con frecuencia bailaba en la playa.

She often danced on the beach.

3. Con gusto (with pleasure)

Le daremos con gusto la información que necesita.

We will give you with pleasure the information you need.

Le atenderé con gusto en cinco minutos.

I will assist you with pleasure in five minutes.

4. Con permiso (excuse me, if I may)

Con permiso, ¿me deja pasar?

Excuse me, would you let me in?

Con permiso, ¿puedo pasar por aquí?

Excuse me, could I pass through here?

5. Con tal de que (as long as)

Te lo daré con tal de que lo uses con cabeza.

I will give it to you as long as you use it wisely.

Os regalaré una entrada con tal de que me ayudéis.

I will give you a ticket as long as you help me.

Exercises

This article was written to help you understand how and when to use con in Spanish. Now you can do some exercises to practice when to use con in Spanish. In our blog, you can also review when to use a, por or para.

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Categorized in:

PrepositionsGrammar