After temer can you use a or de both?

Question

I see both. Our dictionary indicates that a is the correct word, but de makes more sense to me. No le temas a él. No temas de ellos.

Answer 1

Hi Jezzle! Your dictionary is right in this occasion. It is temer a

With"tener miedo" you can use both.

How come google shows 517,000 hits for "no temas de" and only 494,000 hits for "no temas a". Is the majority of the world just using it incorrectly?...... or can you use both? Gracias. - jeezzle, Sep 19, 2010

Answer 2

Jeezle, my google matchs:

15.500.000 entries for "no temas a"

Anyway, google is not the most appropriate source to consult something like this.

That's because you didn't quote it. If you don't quote that phrase it will search for any combination of the words....not the phrase. - jeezzle, Sep 19, 2010

Well, you can use "no hay nada que temer de una central nuclear", and ¿qué debes temer de un hombre?, but never "temo de los fantasmas" - cogumela, Sep 19, 2010

Wow I wonder how to memorize all the many rules of when and how to use what. Seems like such a lot to learn. - jeezzle, Sep 19, 2010