crash course on when to use ti rather than tu

Question

I sometimes here the phrase "para ti". I just wanted to know what the difference is between this and "para tu". Or when do we use ti instead of tu. I asked my professor this before but she said it needed a whole session. So I never really got to know the answer. That's all! Gracias!

Answer 1

In English, if you were to say "to you", "for you", etc., you would be using "you" as the object of a preposition. In these instance, in Spanish you would use "ti". (Not to make it more complicated, but "with you" has its own twist: "contigo".)

"contigo" should make it easy to remember when to use "ti". You would never say "contugo" :) - pesta, Nov 20, 2011

At pesta: thanks! I know about contigo, conmigo, consigo, etc. So does that mean that when I say "This cake is for her/him" then I can say "El pastel es para si"? Wow, information overload. LOL - elfredborja, Nov 20, 2011

Answer 2

Short answer: It is para ti... As the object of the preposition para, you would never use tú.

Tú is a subject pronoun and is generally only used as the subject of a sentence. Ti is used as the object of a prepostion. There are some exceptions, though. Here is one where tú is used as an object of a preposition instead of ti:

Es la diferencia entre tú y yo. It's the difference between you and me.

For a good summary of these prepositions, go to:

Subject Pronouns

Prep Obj Pronouns

Good answer, Jeremias! - territurtle, Nov 20, 2011

I think so too, Jeremias. - annierats, Nov 20, 2011

Thanks Terri and Annie... I just fixed the links so Prep Obj Pronoun goes to the right link... - Jeremias, Nov 20, 2011

Answer 3

ti is a pronoun that is the object of a prepostion

tu is a possessive pronoun

tú is a subject pronoun

Answer 4

you = tú or ti

You have to have money to buy things = Tú tienes que ...

This gift is for you = Este regalo es para ti

Is in English "you" the same in both instances?

Yes, Chileno, "you" is the same in both instances. - territurtle, Nov 20, 2011

No it isn't. :) I don't know grammar, so I can't tell you the proper name for those. :) - chileno, Nov 20, 2011

It is Chileno. I'm fluent in english. =) - elfredborja, Nov 20, 2011

The first is a subject pronoun, the second is the object of a preposition. They are grammatically different, but spelled the same. - lorenzo9, Nov 21, 2011

elfredborja, lorenzo9 gave you the answer. :) - chileno, Nov 21, 2011

Oh, i see. I thought you were simply referring to the spelling. =) - elfredborja, Nov 21, 2011

Answer 5

Another version of the usage of subject pronouns as objects of prepositions:

In certain situations, subject pronouns are used instead of prepositional pronouns:

•After the prepositions como (like), entre (between), excepto (except), incluso (including), menos (except), salvo (except), and según (according to).

•When paired with another pronoun:
- para tú y yo
- por ella o yo

link

Love it. Exceptions with exceptions. - 0074b507, Nov 21, 2011

Answer 6

Just to confuse things even more there are 6 prepositions which you use the subject pronoun with and not the prepositional pronoun.

por ejemplo

entre tú y yo (not ti)

The exceptions: Finally, note that yo and tú are used with the following six prepositions instead of with mí and ti, respectively: entre (between), excepto (usually translated as "except"), incluso ("including" or "even"), menos ("except"), salvo ("except") and según ("according to"). Also, hasta is used with the subject pronouns when it is used in the same way as incluso.

Spanish personal pronouns

What's wrong with you guys? haha. I already forgot what prepositions are.Nooooooo - elfredborja, Nov 21, 2011

Answer 7

So does that mean that when I say "This cake is for her/him" then I can say "El pastel es para si"?

No, sí is reflexive. dudas

. . .also read the link "pronombres personales tónicos" in section 3.2 which makes this clearer.