Spanish · B1 · Everyday language
Details after with in Spanish
In Spanish, adding descriptive details after the preposition 'con' (with) helps specify exactly which tool or method is being used. Unlike English, descriptive adjectives almost always follow the noun and must match its gender and number.
What you'll learn
- Use 'con' to provide more precise descriptions of tools or methods.
- Correctly place adjectives after the noun in prepositional phrases.
- Apply gender and number agreement to adjectives following 'con'.
Spanish phrases for details after with
Escribo más prolijamente con el lápiz grueso.
I write more neatly with the thick pencil.
'Grueso' (thick) follows the masculine noun 'lápiz'.
¿Puedes dibujar un círculo con un bolígrafo fino?
Can you draw a circle with a thin pen?
'Fino' agrees with the masculine 'bolígrafo'.
Con el pincel suave, las líneas se ven diferentes.
With the soft brush, the lines look different.
'Suave' is a neutral adjective ending in -e, used for both genders.
Puedo terminar esto con un poco de ayuda.
I can finish this with a little help.
'Un poco de' is a common way to express 'a little'.
El dibujo se ve más brillante con los crayones nuevos.
The picture looks brighter with the new crayons.
'Nuevos' is plural to match 'crayones'.
Con una mano firme, puedes trazar el borde.
With a steady hand, you can trace the edge.
'Firme' agrees with the feminine noun 'mano'.
Intenta marcar la ruta con una flecha de color.
Try marking the route with a coloured arrow.
'De color' is a common phrase for 'coloured'.
Podemos revisar la respuesta con la calculadora pequeña.
We can check the answer with the small calculator.
'Pequeña' is feminine to match 'calculadora'.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
grueso
thick
Refers to width or diameter, like a pencil or rope.
fino
thin / fine
Used for delicate points or slender objects.
prolijamente
neatly / tidily
An adverb derived from the adjective 'prolijo'.
pincel
paintbrush
Specifically a small brush for art, not for painting walls.
Adjective Agreement after 'con'
When you describe a noun after 'con', the adjective must match the noun in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural). Adjectives usually follow the noun.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine Singular | con el [noun] -o | con el lápiz rojo |
| Feminine Singular | con la [noun] -a | con la regla larga |
| Plural | con los/las [noun] -os/-as | con las tijeras pequeñas |
More examples
Corta el papel con las tijeras grandes.
Cut the paper with the big scissors.
Plural agreement for 'tijeras'.
Pinta el cielo con un color claro.
Paint the sky with a light color.
Using an indefinite article 'un'.