'a' vs. 'en' confusion!!

Question

Hello, could someone help explain the difference between using 'a' and 'en' in simple sentences such as the two seen below:

Soy bueno a Inglés

Soy bueno en Inglés

If i am not mistaken, both of these sentences mean "I am good at english," but I am not quite sure why or if one is better to use than the other.

Thanks!!

Answer 1

"Soy bueno en/a Ingles" sounds to me like an over-literal translation from English and I'd never use either. I'd go for "Hablo bueno el Ingles" or some such.

But this doesn't answer the underlying question except to say, perhaps that the whole "soy bueno" construction is flawed. "I'm good at" just sounds wrong to me in Spanish so, as above, I'd use something more specific.

Am I being too picky?

no you aren't being too picky, I was playing with the translator with this sentence because the main question I have is about the difference between "a" and "en" in a sentence. both of these sentences i put down show up the same on the translator - voeglerd, Apr 22, 2010

Answer 2

Soy bueno para el Inglés (lenguaje). O para el hombre inglés? Soy bueno en inglés (lenguaje o idioma). This sentence souns better to me.