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The personal a: when talking about meeting a new person

The personal a: when talking about meeting a new person

1
vote

Would you use the personal a when saying "she meets a new person"

Conoce a gente nueva or conoce gente nueva

It is a specific and general person so I am unsure.

Thanks!

1921 views
updated Jun 24, 2011
posted by ajeash1

5 Answers

1
vote

Conoce a gente nueva or conoce gente nueva

It is a specific and general person so I am unsure.

Good question. Both are correct depending on how specific you want to present the information. Only if you know he or she is going to meet a definite group of people later on, would "a" be required.

updated Jun 24, 2011
posted by lazarus1907
1
vote

She meets a new person (gente or persona) does not sound personal (specific) to me. It does not imply that she knows the person or has any personal feelings about them.

If the direct object is an indefinite person, the personal "a" is not used. The result is that the person becomes "depersonalized."

another

The key to the personal a is that it is typically used only with specific, known or identified human beings (or animals or other things that have been personified).

updated Jun 14, 2011
edited by 0074b507
posted by 0074b507
0
votes

Personal "A" is used when the object of a verb is a person.

updated Jun 24, 2011
posted by Dandelion
0
votes

gente means people, not person--> you would say--> Ellla conoce nueva persona

updated Jun 14, 2011
posted by eltennis97
There was probably a more tactful way to say that, Lazarus. - vivalafuriaroja, Jun 14, 2011
I'm afraid the original sentences were perfect. Try to avoid that "ella", by the way. - lazarus1907, Jun 14, 2011
:) - vivalafuriaroja, Jun 14, 2011
0
votes

Ella conoce una persona nueva.

updated Jun 14, 2011
posted by snowycards