This doesn't seem okay..... a ahorrar

Question

...mantenerse saludable y a ahorrar dinero.

...maintain healthy and to save money.

I need the rule about two a's .... Thanks

Answer 1

The trick here is, as usual, context.

We can't be sure of what exactly was meant originally, with the phrase out of context.

For example, it the original meaning was: "Two important things in life are to stay healthy and save money", then the correct translation would be: "Dos cosas importantes en la vida son mantenerse saludable y ahorrar dinero" - just one "a".

Now, let's suppose that the original sentence was: "Well that's over, so now let's stay healthy, and start saving money!" In this case the translation would be: "Bueno, ya eso pasó, así que ahora, a manterse saludable, y a ahorrar dinero!" - two "a's". Both are correct. What you use, obviously, depends on what is meant.

I completely agree! - unMica, Oct 1, 2011

Yes but, the second sentence, is so rare, and sounds terrible - jeezzle, Oct 1, 2011

I edited the English version of the second sentence which, in retrospective was indeed horrible. Should be clearer now. - Gekkosan, Oct 2, 2011

For some extrange reason I thought that you cannot write two a's, that you have to put an "h" ha to the first a... but when doing that it seems even worse... I will make some adjustements, thanks so much for your comments it really helps to clear things - marilo63, Oct 3, 2011

Answer 2

The rule is: that's totally fine. You can say "a ahorrar." : )

edit: even though it's okay, I don't think you would want to say "a ahorrar" in this case. If I understand what the sentence is saying it's better to just have "mantenerse saludable y ahorrar dinero."

Why wouldn't you just ditch the a though and say "para mantenerse saludable y ahorrar dinero"? - jeezzle, Oct 1, 2011

I was typing that as you commented on this, so there ya go. good timing - unMica, Oct 1, 2011

the "a" is unecessary in this case! - drvicente, Oct 1, 2011