Personal a or how to use the a with verbs?

Question

I have practice homework on the a and when and how to use it and I miss most of the questions since I really do not understand how the a works. Is there a web site that can help explain this? I sort of get using the A with gustar but not when you use it with ir a or a va or a la or al or to leave it off entirely. The personal a seems to be simple but then you do the homework and miss most of them so I guess I don't even understand that.

Thanks mucho! or Gracias!

Answer 1

Foxluv:

Here is some information taken from one of our reference pages about the preposotion "a".

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In most cases, prepositions are used the same way in Spanish as they are used in English and you will find their placements fairly logical. There are a few, however, that warrant a little extra attention. For each preposition you will find the occasions it is used most commonly as well as several examples with translations.

1. a (to, at, by, for)

to indicate motion (to)

• Fuimos a España. (We went to Spain.)

• Irémos al museo el martes. (We will go to the museum on Tuesday.)

to connect one verb to an infinitive (not translated directly)

• Vamos a bailar. (We are going to dance.)

• Empezé a leer. (I began to read.)

to indicate manner, how something is done (on, by, with)

• Vamos a pie. (We went on foot.)

• Lo hice a mano. (He did it by hand.)

• Escribe a lápiz. (He writes with a pencil.

"Personal a" - to introduce a person as a direct object (not translated directly)

• ¿Conoces a Isabela? (Do you know Isabela?)

• Veo a mi madre. (I see my mother.)

to introduce an indirect object (to, for)

• Le di el regalo a Celia. (I gave the gift to Celia.)

• Compré los tomates a Anita. (I bought the tomatoes for Anita.)

to express time (at, is)

Cenamos a las seis. (We eat dinner at six o´clock.) Estamos a martes. (It is Tuesday.)

A + EL = AL

Notice that when a is immediately followed by the definite article el, the two >combine to become al.

• Vamos [a el] cafe -> Vamos al cafe. (a + el = al)

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You might find the whole Reference Page about prepositions useful. You will find it Here. Prepositions

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I hope this is the information you need.

Recuerdos/Regards,

Moe

1st, let me thank you Moe, this is very good and just what I need. As I study the information I find a some confusion on the definite article las. One sentance says a las seis, why not say a las martes where I see the article has be excluded? - foxluv, Oct 27, 2009

Answer 2

You´ll find a list of such verbs here, under the heading La Preposición “A”.