When does the verb "tocar" need "a" after it?

Question

I don't think you need the a when saying you play something, such as "toco la guitarra," so when do you need the "a"?

You can also go to More, then conjugations. When you type in your verb 'tocar' it will show you which one goes with what personal pronoun. - katydew, Oct 15, 2011

Answer 1

Well, the personal "a" would be used if the d.o. was a person. As Paralee says in her videos "Te toca a ti". [It is your turn.]

Look at these examples from the dictionary:

9) (en un reparto)

• le tocó la mitad -> he got half of it
• tocamos a dos trozos cada uno -> there's enough for two slices each
• tocamos a mil cada uno -> we're due a thousand each; (nos deben) it's a thousand each (debemos)
• te toca a ti hacerlo -> it's your turn to do it; (turno) it's up to you to do it (responsabilidad)
• a mí me toca fregar la cocina -> I've got to mop the kitchen

Here the uno refers to a person or the (a ...) can be considered prepositional phrase excluding others or emphasizing the recipient (i.o.p.). It is your turn/responsibility (no one elses).

Notice that the "uno" sentences don't have the "redundant" i.o.p. as the i.o. is not a personal pronoun.

Answer 2

If you are telling somebody (informally) to play the guitar, it would be:

¡Toca la guitarra!

Answer 3

Playing guitar : Tocar la guitarra

Touch someone : Tocar a alguien

It just differs in which action your are reffering to.

Answer 4

Hi Amy

Do you mean an "a" after the infinitive such as "Tocar a". If you do the "a" is normally placed before the infinitive of the verb, example,

Tú aprendes a hablar, a entender, a leer y a escribir el español.

O, voy a tocar la guitarra... I'm going to play the guitar... - Tosh, Oct 15, 2011

Answer 5

Take a look at this in the reference section of the SD website and you will understand it a little more.

link text

Answer 6

The verbs (actions) change depending on who is doing them.

Toca would be used if he, she, or you (formal) is used.

él toca ella toca usted toca