Ir + a + que

Question

I understand the periphrasis "ir + a + infinitive" like voy a estudiar" means "I am going to study." and "Vamos a comprar la casa" means "I am going to buy a house."

But I don't understand the use of "ir + a + que" in sentences like "Voy a que me presten un libro de la biblioteca" and "Voy a que el cura Uribe es un tartufo que invoca el nombre de Dios en público ". I think that the "que" indicates a change of subject from "I" to "they" in the first and from "I" to "Uribe" in the second.

I don't think it fits the "I am going to ..." pattern but can't find anything anywhere that explains this construct.

Am really lost on this one.

Answer 1

"Voy a que me presten un libro de la biblioteca"

Your research on this sentence construction is correct - you are physically going somewhere to have something done for you. This is a very common construction; I don´t think I would call it idiomatic.

"Voy a que el cura Uribe es un tartufo que invoca el nombre de Dios en público ".

This is a completely different construction. Voy a que .... is another way of saying of saying A lo que voy es esto: (What I´m saying / mean is this What I am saying is that the priest Uribe is ..............................

Thanks for going that extra step and clarifying the differences between the two example statements. What you explained makes total sense to me!!! - cdunn3, Jun 10, 2013

Nice explanation and examples. - katydew, Jun 10, 2013

Answer 2

Thanks for the insightful responses. Did a little more research and found an answer that satisfies my curiosity. I believe "ir+a+que+subj" can be loosely translated as " going to have/get someone to do something for the original subject"

Voy a que me reparen el coche - I am going to have them repair the car for me. (I am going to have my car repaired.) Voy a que me corten el pelo - I am going to have them cut my hair. (I am getting my hair cut.) Voy a que me hagan un chequeo – I am going to have them do a checkup on me. (I am getting a checkup.) Voy a que me presten un libro de la biblioteca - I am going to have them lend me a book from the library. (I am going to borrow a library book.) Voy a que parchen la llanta - I am going to have them patch the tire (I am going to have the tire patched.)

Again, thanks for quick responses from all!

nice work, I've just had that confirmed by a native speaker, it's something along the lines of - going to a place for a purpose, to have someone there do someting for you. - Kiwi-Girl, Jun 10, 2013

pretty much the same as 'para que' :) Btw where did you find your info - Google gave me nothing! lol - Kiwi-Girl, Jun 10, 2013

You had me stumped, how did you find the answer, what source. I couldn't find the similarity to "para que" in the source I checked although I thought that was what it was saying. - Jubilado, Jun 10, 2013

Answer 3

Hmmm good question, i cant say that ive noticed that combination before, but perhaps it's not so much a case of ir+ a que and its just a+ que. Often those kinds of constructions happen because a word is missed out, for example 'a que' can often mean 'I bet' but it really stands for 'apuesto a que' - that particular phrase might not fit your examples (at a push it might for the second one je je) but perhaps there is a different verb missing (instead of apostar) that would solve the puzzle.

Having said that, this is purely a guess on my part and I'm not a native speaker so do wait for a more informed answer.

Answer 4

Would the following be of help?

Voy a que... I am going (to) (so that)...

Answer 5

Ah yes, the utter neglect of the diachronic toward the increasing incompetence and imbecility of the synchronic.

Nice couple of antonyms, not sure of the relevance but ill give u a vote just because I like the words lol :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jun 10, 2013

Answer 6

What it looks like at first glance, so:

"Voy a que me presten un libro de la biblioteca"

"I go so [for the purpose] that they might lend me a book from the library"

Translation: "I am going to the library to borrow a book".

This almost looks like a survival of a very ancient usage of AD.

yes I was wondering if it was synonymous with 'para que' - Kiwi-Girl, Jun 10, 2013

Answer 7

On the other hand, if it is some sort of idiom, all bets are off.