When learning Spanish, prepositions can be quite tricky. A common trap for English speakers is assuming that Spanish verbs use the exact same prepositions as their English equivalents. Very often, they do not.
Several common Spanish verbs are permanently paired with the preposition de to link to a noun object or an infinitive. Because the English translation might use a different preposition like on, about, or with, or perhaps no preposition at all, learners frequently drop the de or translate the English word literally. To build natural-sounding sentences, you need to learn these verb-preposition combinations as a single unit.
Word list
acordarseA1to rememberacordarse de = to rememberbajarA2to get offbajar de = to get offbajarA2to get outbajar de = to get out of (a car)bajarseA2to get offbajarse de = to get offbajarseA2to get outbajarse de = to get out of (a car)irse deA2to leaveirse de = to leaveolvidarseA2to forgetolvidarse de = to forget to / aboutsalirA2to get outsalir de = to get out ofsalir deA2to leavesalir de = to leavetratarA2to trytratar de = to try toacabar deB1to have just doneacabar de = to have justalejarseB1to move awayalejarse de = to move away fromavergonzarseB1to be ashamedavergonzarse de = to be ashamed ofburlarseB1to make fun ofburlarse de = to make fun ofdarse cuentaB1to noticedarse cuenta de = to noticedarse cuentaB1to realizedarse cuenta de = to realizedejarB1to stopdejar de = to stop doingdependerB1to dependdepender de = to depend ondespedirseB1to say goodbyedespedirse de = to say goodbye toenamorarseB1to fall in loveenamorarse de = to fall in love withencargarseB1to deal withencargarse de = to handleenterarseB1to find outenterarse de = to find out aboutfiarseB1to trustfiarse de = to trustgozarB1to enjoygozar de = to enjoymarcharse deB1to leavemarcharse de = to leaveocuparseB1to take care ofocuparse de = to look afterocuparseB1to deal withocuparse de = to deal withpararB1to stopparar de = to stop doingquejarseB1to complainquejarse de = to complain aboutreírseB1to make fun ofreírse de = to make fun ofsentir ganasB1to feel likesentir ganas de = to feel liketener ganasB1to feel liketener ganas de = to feel liketirarB1to pulltirar de = to pull (on)apartarseB2to move awayapartarse de = to move away fromapearseB2to get offapearse de = to get off (formal)aprovecharseB2to take advantage ofaprovecharse de = to take advantage ofarrepentirseB2to regretarrepentirse de = to regretcarecerB2to lackcarecer de = to lackcomponerse deB2to consist ofcomponerse de = to consist ofconstar deB2to consist ofconstar de = to consist ofdeshacerse deB2to get rid ofdeshacerse de = to get rid ofdivorciarseB2to divorcedivorciarse de = to divorce (someone)librarse deB2to get rid oflibrarse de = to get rid of, to escapesacar provechoB2to take advantage ofsacar provecho de = to take advantage ofsentirse con ganasB2to feel likesentirse con ganas de = to feel liketener la intenciónB2to intendtener la intención de = to intend todesistirC1to give updesistir de = to give up (on)hacer caso omisoC1to ignorehacer caso omiso de = to ignorepercatarseC1to noticepercatarse de = to noticerebosarC1to aboundrebosar de = to brim/teem withvengarseC1to avengevengarse de = to take revenge on
When English uses no preposition
Some Spanish verbs require de before their object, even though the English equivalent connects directly to the noun. This is very common with verbs related to mental states, memory, or noticing things.
For example, to say you remember or forget something, you must use acordarse or olvidarse followed by de. Another essential phrase is darse cuenta, which means to notice or to realize. You cannot just place the object right after it, you must link it with de. The same rule applies to arrepentirse (to regret) and enterarse (to find out).
No me acuerdo de su nombre.
(I do not remember his name.)
Ella se dio cuenta del error inmediatamente.
(She realized the mistake immediately.)
Nosotros nos arrepentimos de esa decisión.
(We regret that decision.)
When English uses a different preposition
In other cases, both languages use a preposition, but they do not match. When you want to say something depends on something else, Spanish uses depender de. If you fall in love with someone, you use enamorarse de.
You will also see this with verbs of communication and interaction. If you complain about something, you use quejarse de. When you say goodbye to someone, you use despedirse de, and when making fun of someone or something, you need burlarse de.
Todo depende del clima.
(Everything depends on the weather.)
Me enamoré de esta ciudad.
(I fell in love with this city.)
Siempre se queja de la comida.
(He always complains about the food.)
No te burles de él.
(Do not make fun of him.)
Linking to another verb
The preposition de is also required when certain verbs are followed by an infinitive verb instead of a noun. For instance, when you try or attempt to do something, you must use tratar de followed by the infinitive. Likewise, if you forget to do a task, use olvidarse de.
Trata de dormir un poco.
(Try to sleep a little.)
Me olvidé de comprar leche.
(I forgot to buy milk.)
Summary
Because prepositions do not always translate directly between English and Spanish, the safest strategy is to memorize verbs along with the preposition they use. Whenever you learn a new verb like enamorarse or darse cuenta, memorize it as enamorarse de and darse cuenta de to ensure you always use it correctly in a sentence.
Verbs that require the preposition 'de'