Need for the personal ''a"

Question

If I want to say, "He bought a horse" in Spanish, I don't think a personal "a" needs to be included because the animal is not specifically referred to. "Compró un caballo"

But if a demo adjective is included to specify the animal, like "ese" then, maybe so. I think so. "Compró a ese caballo." Do have this correct?

If it's just a horse and not a pet, it doesn't matter how many or kind of adjectives come with it, the personal "a" is not required - 005faa61, Mar 21, 2011

Answer 1

But what about "I see that dog of the Smiths in the street again." ?

It's not my dog and don't have friendly feelings for it. It is a specific dog, but not "personified." from my point of view. So far as I'm concerned, it is just one all the dogs in the world. I take it I should not use the "a" and say "Veo ese perro de los Smith en la calle otra vez." But, if the owner is being told by his wife to call that same dog home, she would include the "a" and say, "Hay que llamar al perro." ¿Verdad o no?

It depends upon the person saying this. If in your senario the person is a dog-lover, you will hear the personal "a" especially since it's known that the dog is a neighbor's pet. If the same dog-lover sees a stray dog on the street, you will not hear the personal "a."

At the same time if the same person is a dog-hater, even though it's known that the dog is a pet, you will hear no personal "a."

And the minute you call an animal by a given name, you are personalizing it, so the "a" now becomes a requirement.

Answer 2

from personal a:

1. Pets as Person(s)

You also use the personal “a” with your own pets or the pets of other persons.

Do not use the personal “a” where there is no personal relationship as for insects, fish, birds etc.

Answer 3

As I understand it, the personal "a" is used with animals that one feels affection for (a domesticated pet) or sometimes when anthropomorphizing/personifying animals. It is not generally used for "wild" animals.

That makes a horse rather ambiguous. Is this horse a pet, or something that you rented at a stable for a day's ride?

This is somewhat analogous to the use with people. If you refer to a known person you use the personal "a". If the person is unknown, then you do not. see this article

Busco a María.

Busco médico. (any doctor, who he is is unknown)

I do not see how the inclusion of a demonstrative adjective effects the use of the personal "a". Concerning pronouns, read the following article.

The exceptions

With certain pronouns: This is really more of a clarification rather than an exception. When used as direct objects, the pronouns alguien (somebody), nadie (nobody) and quién (whom) require the personal a. So do alguno (some) and ninguno (none) when referring to people. No veo a nadie, I don't see anyone. Quiero golpear la pared, I want to hit the wall. Quiero golpear a alguien, I want to hit somebody. ¿A quién pertenece esta silla? Whose chair is this? ¿Taxis? No vi ningunos. Taxis? I didn't see any. ¿Taxistas? No vi a ningunos. Taxi drivers? I didn't see any.

Pets: Many pet owners think of their animals as people, and so does Spanish grammar, so the personal a is used. But the a isn't used with ordinary animals. Veo a mi perro, Ruff, I see my dog, Ruff. Veo tres elefantes, I see three elephants.

Answer 4

I'm not arguing with any of these explanations. Thanks to everyone who responded. But, if I may......

Looking at the example above......."Veo a mi perro, Ruff" but "Veo tres elefantes."

I understand both of those. But what about "I see that dog of the Smiths in the street again." ?

It's not my dog and don't have friendly feelings for it. It is a specific dog, but not "personified." from my point of view. So far as I'm concerned, it is just one all the dogs in the world. I take it I should not use the "a" and say "Veo ese perro de los Smith en la calle otra vez." But, if the owner is being told by his wife to call that same dog home, she would include the "a" and say, "Hay que llamar al perro." ¿Verdad o no?