"A" and "de"

Question

Many Spanish verbs must be followed by either "de" or "a". Does anyone have a fairly simple way of remembering which verbs have this property? Or is it really a matter of memorization? Thanks

Answer 1

My 501 Spanish Verbs book has a list of the verbs that take prepositions. The list is long and I think the only way to know is to memorize them. The prepositions in play are "a", "de", "en", "con" and "por". There are also a few that never take a preposition. Then just to confuse us even more it changes depending on whether the verb + preposition is followed by an infinitive verb or a noun.

Loads and loads of fun.

That's what Iwas afraid of. Sometimes you just have to grind it out! Thanks! - Noetol, Apr 11, 2012

LOL...and the fun never ends!!! - HowardO, Apr 11, 2012

Answer 2

Okay, here we go. From the Barron's 501 Spanish Verbs, Sixth Edition.

Verbs of motion take the preposition "a" + infinitive:

• apresurarse a
• dirigirse a
• ir a
• regresar a
• salir a
• venir a
• volver a

The following verbs take the preposition "a" + infinitive:

• acertar a
• acostumbrarse a
• aficionarse a (hacer algo)
• alcanzar a
• aprender a
• aspirar a
• atreverse a
• ayudar a (hacer algo)
• comenzar a
• condenar a
• convidar a
• decidirse a
• dedicarse a
• detenerse a
• disponerse a
• echarse a
• empezar a
• enseñar a
• exponerse a
• invitar a
• negarse a
• obligar a
• ponerse a
• prepararse a
• principiarse a
• principiar a
• resignarse a
• resolverse a
• someter a
• venir a
• volver a

The following verbs take the preposition "a" + noun (or pronoun if that is the required dependent element):

• acercarse a
• acostumbrarse a
• aficionarse a
• asemejarse a
• asistir a
• asomarse a
• cuidar a (alguien)
• dar a
• dedicarsea
• echar una carta al correo
• echar la culpa a (alguien)
• jugar a
• llegar a ser
• llevar a cabo
• oler a
• parecerse a
• querer a
• saber a
• ser aficionado a
• sonar a
• subir a
• tocarle a una persona

The following verbs take the preposition "con" + infinitive:

• amenazar con
• contar con
• contentarse con
• soñar con

The following verbs take the preposition "con" + noun (or pronoun if that is the required dependent element):

• acabar con
• casarse con
• conformarse con
• contar con
• contentarse con
• cumplir con
• dar con
• encontrarse con
• entenderse con
• meterse con
• quedarse con
• soñar con
• tropezar con

The following verbs take the preposition "de" + infinitive:

• acabar de
• acordarse de
• alegrarse de
• arrepentirse de
• cansarse de
• cesar de
• dejar de
• encargarse de
• haber de
• ocuparse de
• olvidarse de
• tratar de
• tratarse de

The following verbs take the preposition "de" + noun (or pronoun if that is the required dependent element):

• abusar de
• acordarse de
• alejarse de
• apartarse de
• apoderarse de
• aprovecharse de
• bajar de
• burlarse de
• cambiar de
• cansarse de
• carecer de
• compadecerse de
• constar de
• cuidar de (algo)
• depender de
• despedirse de
• despojarse de
• disfrutar de
• enomararse de
• encogerse de hombros
• enterarse de
• fiarse de (alguien)
• gozar de (algo)
• ocuparse de
• oir hablar de
• olvidarse de
• pensar de
• perder de vista
• ponerse de acuerdo
• preocuparse de
• quejarse de
• reírse de
• saber de memoria
• salir de
• servir de
• servirse de
• tratarse de

The following verbs GENERALLY take the preposition "en" + infinitive:

• acabar en
• complacerse en
• consentir en
• convenir en
• empeñarse en
• esforzarse en
• insistir en
• quedar en
• tardar en

The following verbs GENERALLY take the preposition "en" + noun (or pronoun if that is the required dependent element):

• apoyarse en
• confiar en
• consistir en
• convertirse en
• entrar en
• fijarse en
• meterse en
• pensar en
• ponerse en camino
• reparar en
• volver en sí

The following verbs GENERALLY take the preposition "por" + infinitive, noun, pronoun, adjective if that is the required dependent element:

• acabar por
• dar por
• darse por
• estar por
• interesarse por
• pasar por
• preguntar por
• tener por
• tomar por

Verb + NO PREPOSITION + infinitive. The following verbs do not ORDINARILY take a prepostion when followed by an infinitive:

• deber + inf.
• dejar + inf.
• desear + inf.
• esperar+ inf.
• hacer + inf.
• necesitar + inf.
• oír + inf.
• pensar + inf.
• poder + inf.
• preferir + inf.
• prometer + inf.
• querer + inf.
• saber + inf.
• ver + inf.

The following verbs do not ORDINARILY require a preposition, whereas in English a preposition is used.

• agradecer
• aprovechar
• buscar
• escuchar
• esperar
• guardar cama
• lograr
• mirar
• pagar
• pedir
• soler + inf.

Well that is the list. It is probably not complete but it is a good starting point. Note that some verbs are in more than one category and the meaning changes for each category. I did not include the definitions as that would have required far too much typing. Any typos are my fault and please feel free to make corrections.

Oh my God. Thanks for putting all the time in on this! ¡Muchisimas gracias! - Noetol, Apr 11, 2012

De nada. It was a good review for me. I don't look at this list anywhere near often enough. - gringojrf, Apr 11, 2012

Answer 3

Sounds like a good premise for a game.

Answer 4

Noetol: you are right in that you might have some memorizing to do. Some of these verbs can be tricky because they just "go" with certain prepositions, and they aren´t always the same as in English.

I married him.=Me casé con él.

I am thinking about you. =Pienso en ti.

She depends on him. = Depende en él.

Are you going to the store? = ¿Vas a la tienda?

She is looking for her keys. = Busca sus llaves.

If I had my grammar book in front of me, I would totally help you out by writing a whole list. But I don´t have my grammar book here, so I can´t help you :(

Answer 5

Good question....I would like to know that myself.