Specific use of personal "a"

Question

El joven de 24 años fue rodeado por la policía, reportan dos agentes heridos

In the news article title above, shouldn't there be a personal "a" after reportan? ...reportan a dos agentes heridos...

Answer 1

No, because the news story is basically saying "reported two wounded agents." The personal A is only used when the person is the object of the sentence, where they are receiving the action.

For example:

• A. Llamo a mi hermano.= I am calling my brother.

The personal A is there because (although oddly said in English) I am calling TO my brother. He is the one who is receiving my action.

• B. Das los libros a ella.= You are giving the books to her.

Who is getting the books? Her. She is receiving the action.

But in the example you provided, the agents aren´t recieving the action. They are actually the subject of the sentence, or the ones doing the action (verb).

In my above examples:

• A. Yo is the subject, because I am the one calling.
• B. Tú is the subject because YOU are the one giving the books.

So the verb "reportan" is done by the agents, so it is conjugated in 3rd person plural since they agents are the SUBJECT of the sentence.

Wow, thanks for the clarification missy8888 - cdunn3, Mar 21, 2012