Using the 'a' when beginning a sentence about someone

Question

Hola! I would like to know when it is necessary/unnecessary to use an 'a' to begin a sentence that involves talking about someone else. For example I believe this sentence is correct: "A Miguel le gustaba cuando Nina le llamo la otra noche." So how would starting the sentence with just "Miguel le gustaba cuando..." be any different? Gracias! Katherine

Answer 1

In shorter sentences it would be correct with or without the "a", but it would change the meaning of the sentence.

Miguel le gustaba.

Here Miguel is the subject and the le is whom was being pleased.

Miguel was pleasing to him/her. or She/he liked Miguel.

A Miguel le gustaba.

Now Miguel is the one that was pleased (same as the le)

He/she/it was pleasing to Miguel. Miguel liked him/her/it.

So the "A" is needed before Miguel if he is the receiver of the pleasing (indirect object) and not used if Miguel is the one doing the pleasing (subject)

Oh no ! just when i thought i was getting a handle on things i am now back in the woodshed. - ray76, Jul 28, 2011

Not to worry, I already embarrassed myself mightily on this point before Q squared me away. - territurtle, Jul 28, 2011

Wow. Great response. this simple "a" provides emphasis as to Whom was indeed pleased (in this case gustar). - Kat617, Jul 30, 2011

Answer 2

Just like "yo" or any other subject pronoun, this can be used to be emphatic.

If my wife and I went to see a movie and someone asked if we liked it, I could simply say:

Sí, nos gustó.

Or, if I wanted to be emphatic to state that I liked it, but she didn't, I could say:

A mí me gustó, pero a mi esposa no le gustó.

Thank you Tosh! A mí me encanta tu programa "Tosh.O", pero a mi mama no le encanta. :-/ - Kat617, Jul 30, 2011

Answer 3

Hi Katherine.

As far as I know 'a' is necessary when you have verbs like gustar and you want to mention the name (Miguel here).

You can say for example: A Miguel le gusta... or Le gusta... (here you don't mention Miguel's name)

You can read this thread about gustar and verbs like gustar. I think it's very helpful.

link text

Gracias ianta, y que rapido ! - Kat617, Jul 28, 2011

de nada :) - ianta, Jul 28, 2011

Answer 4

think of it as saying

to miguel it is pleasing or to him it is pleasing... rather than miguel likes it or he likes it as we would say in english

or

to miguel reading is pleasing or to him reading is pleasing

a mi me guesto....

"guesto"?? - Please use proper capitalization, according to forum rules. - pesta, Jul 28, 2011