Starting a sentence with 'A'

Question

Hola,

I was wondering if someone could explain what the significance of starting a sentence with 'a' is. For example,

Juan le detesta a los gatos. This is how I would write "Juan hates cats." However, I often see sentences that would be like this but begin with 'A.'

Example, A Juan le detesta a los gatos.

If someone could share some insight, I'd really appreciate. Thanks.

Hopefully that sheds a little light on it for you. - Ox-Y-Gen, Mar 22, 2012

Either that or i just threw you into the ocean with nothing but some arm floaties. :) - Ox-Y-Gen, Mar 22, 2012

the reason you can use gustarse is because its a reflexive verb. But Detestar is not. - Ox-Y-Gen, Mar 22, 2012

Answer 1

I'm not sure if this is correct but i would imagine it would have to do with nuance. In which case the sentence would be INCORRECT because this would mean that they detest TO him. However as far as sentence structure it should be correct. Just not the meaning. "A juan le detestan los gatos." . Which would mean that the cats detest TO juan. If this were the case, what happens is the direct object would now be juan and the subject would be the cats.

My understanding of this is that the verb "detestar" modifies the object directly and not indirectly like the verb "ayudar" would.

• A juan le ayudan los gatos. (Juan is receiving the help)

• A los gatos Juan les ayuda. (The cats are receiving the help)

In the sentence that you provided. "Example,- A Juan le detesta a los gatos." There would be a conflict because you structured the sentence as if they were both the indirect object. How do we know which one is affecting the other? (Imagine how confusing this sentence would be in english )""To him he does something to the other"(Who is him? and who is the other?) Likewise the "A" is being used to demonstrate who is being affected. Leaving the other party as the one who is doing the action.

• Another note is that the verb you chose directly conflicts with the sentence you were trying to make.(Notice my sentences with ayudar)

In this instance. My sentence would be. The cats hate Juan. Not the reverse. - Ox-Y-Gen, Mar 22, 2012

Carson, your traslation means "The cats hate to Juan". Yeah, the thing is about the Direct Object and the Subject.. - -cae-, Mar 22, 2012

Making the correct translation "Los gatos detestan a Juan"? - Ox-Y-Gen, Mar 22, 2012

Yes, because of that Farallon said it is incorrect. - -cae-, Mar 22, 2012

No es lo mismo "A los gatos no les gusta Juan" que decir "A juan no le gustan los gatos". - -cae-, Mar 22, 2012

Ni a mí tampoco me gustan los gatos, tienen mal sabor. - -cae-, Mar 22, 2012

That makes sense. However, if i'm not mistaken he was asking about the sentence structure and not the direct translation. - Ox-Y-Gen, Mar 22, 2012

Answer 2

• ¡A juán le detesta los gatos! Is incorrect!

The following examples are correct expressions

• ¡A Juán le detestan los gatos! (Maybe this is what you heard and it is correct! You just missed an "n")
• ¡A Juán no le gustan los gatos!
• ¡A Juán le desagradan los gatos!

• ¡Juán detesta los gatos!

  Now, you also wrote, "This is how I would write "Juan hates cats."". That's why I gave you the above examples.

• If what you wanted to say is that "Cats do not like Juan", then you should write something like this,

• ¡A Juán lo detestan los gatos! "Cats detest Juan!

• ¡Los gatos no quieren a Juán! or,

• ¡Los gatos detestan a Juán!

You are like the spanish side of my conscience. :D - Ox-Y-Gen, Mar 22, 2012

I guess I'm still confused. If 'A Juan' means "to Juan," then why would you say "¡A Juán no le gustan los gatos!"? That seems to translate to "To Juan he does not like cats." Or am I wrong again? :D - askantik, Mar 22, 2012

askantik. If you translate it directly, yes, it would sound weird, but that is the way we would say in Spanish that Juán does not like cats! Remember, you cannot always translate word by word from language to language! It is not that simple! - farallon7, Mar 22, 2012

because le gustan means something closer to " they are pleasing to him. - Ox-Y-Gen, Mar 22, 2012

Yes, so if you say "le detestan" is correct, but "le detesta"is not. You are missing an "n". I just made some more explanations in my answer! - farallon7, Mar 22, 2012

Answer 3

Here "a" is like an English "to":

"A juan los gatos le parecen despreciables" "To Juan cats are repelling"

"A Juan le detesta a los gatos" it's wrong. It's "Juan detesta a los gatos."

Answer 4

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I try to remember sentences related to "gustar, fascinar, encantar" like this....

To me apples are pleasing = A mi me gusta las manzanas.

To you the beach is enchanting = A ti te encanta la playa.

Answer 5

Great answers, farallon7

I also like to use two more sites spanish.about.com and studyspanish.com both have great grammer lessons on specific questions.