"a" vs "de"/ When something is starting vs. when something is ending?

Question

Example.

Estoy empezando a cenar. I am starting to eat dinner Estoy terminando de cenar. I am finishing dinner.

Estoy empezando a limpiar. I am starting to clean. Ya terminé de limpiar. I already finished cleaning.

Comienzo a trabajar antes de las 8 a.m. I start work before 8 a.m. Termino de trabajar después de las 7 p.m. I end work after 7. p.m.

Is the "a" always required after a verb that means to start? I know it is required after IR but I wonder what other verbs it is always required after....thanks.

Good, interesting question! I really don't know why it is that way! :-) - Gekkosan, May 3, 2010

Answer 1

Jeezzle:

I cut and pasted this out of one of Paralee Whitmire's Reference Pages. I suspect it bears on your question. In the quetion you have asked, the "a" follows a conjugated verb (in your examples, estoy or comienzo) and it precedes the verbs used in their infinitive form (in your examples, cenar, limpiar and trabajar). Read Paralee's stuff extracted below and see if it is the answer to your question.

If its any help, I extracted it from this Reference Page ----|> Prepositions .

Prepositions are used to indicate a relationship between two words, linking them together. These words usually show location, direction, or time. As preposition suggests, these words precede the word or words it links.

Uses

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.

--|> to connect one verb to a following verb in its infinitive
Vamos a bailar. (We are going to dance.)
Empezé a leer. (I began to read.)

I hope this is your answer.

Moe.

I know most of that but I willl give a thorough looksee anyhow. thanks. - jeezzle, Nov 19, 2009

Answer 2

Es por la forma que tú vas a utilizar en la oración el verbo. Es igual cuando tu escribes "to eat" "a comer" ------"to clean" "a limpiar" estás pronunciando el verbo pero cuando ustedes dicen: "finishing diner" "terminando de comer"------"finished cleaning""terminé de limpiar".

En el otro caso para que puedas comprender "Comienzo a trabajar" "I start work" sería "I am starting to work" si notas la diferencia, es por la forma del tiempo del verbo, si es presente perfecto, si es pasado, o si es futuro, al igual que en el Inglés es por la forma del tiempo de los verbos.

This is good stuff, and it helps. My question though is...what about "Termino de trabajar"...doesn't that mean "I finish work" (with no ing/ed) does de just mean end, and a means begin? sort of? - jeezzle, Nov 19, 2009

Answer 3

Jeezle:

I cannot help wondering if there is an unintended error in your examples in that you are using a verb where a noun should be used. Here, I'm looking at those exmples where something is completed. For example:

I am finishing dinner. What is finished is "la cena" and not "cenar".
That is to say "I am finishing dinner" and not "I am finishing to eat".

The same is true for cleaning and for working. consider:

"I am already finished the cleaning" and not "I am already finished to cleaning".
..................................la limpieza....................................................limpiar

"I end my(the) work after 7:00 PM" and not "I end to work after 7:00PM".
.............mi(el) trabajo..............................................trabajar

As I see it, the use of a verb in these situations is an error.

What do you think? How does it affect your question(s)?

Answer 4

jeezzle wrote:

This is good stuff, and it helps. My question though is...what about "Termino de trabajar"...doesn't that mean "I finish work" (with no ing/ed) does de just mean end, and a means begin? sort of?

I admire your curiosity. I have a lot of similar questions. Keep at it until you get a satisfying answer!

However one thing I have learned is that some things about language cannot be explained based on pure logic. For example, the phrase "tratar de (hacer algo)" means to "try to (do something)." Wouldn't this be more of a 'begin' rather than an 'end', according to your reasoning? But it uses 'de'.

Our best understanding of what is 'right' and 'wrong' in speaking Spanish will come from hearing and using it. We get to the point where we just know something sounds 'right' or 'wrong'. We just know that to say 'a magazine about cars' is not 'una revista acerca los coches' but instead 'una revista acerca de los coches.'

But until the inner voice starts speaking loud enough... Keep asking questions!

"A man that asks a question may be unhappy for five minutes, but a man who never asks a question may be unhappy for a lifetime." -Chinese proverb (or what I can remember of it)