The Spanish Preposition “en” (Continued)

It is also used to express manner and in this case it may translate the English prepositions in, by, at, on and sometimes it does not translate at all.

Some examples:

En voz alta/En voz baja = In a loud voice/ In a soft voice
En pijama = In pyjamas
En mangas de camisa = In shirt sleeves
En paños menores = In his/her underwear/undies
Niño en pañales = Baby in nappies
Juan habla en verso = Juan speaks in verse
Escribir en inglés = To write in English
Ir en avión/en tren/en bicicleta = To go by plain/by train/by bicycle
El policía lo reconoció en el andar = The policeman recognized him by his gait
Incrementar la producción en un veinte por ciento = To increase production by twenty per cent
Lo digo en broma = I say it as a joke/jokingly
Lo digo en serio = I say it seriously
En paz y en guerra = At peace and at war/In peace and at war
El escritor es hábil en manejar la pluma = The writer is skillful at handling the pen
Lento/lenta en reaccionar = Slow in reacting
Ponerse en fila = To form a line
La bolsa de patatas se vende en cinco euros = The potato bag sells for five euros
El desempleo está en aumento = Unemployment is on the increase
Estar en baja = To be dropping, or falling, or going down in value

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