Personal "a" or no personal "a"?

Question

¿Cuál es correcto? Ella tiene a muchos amigos. O Ella tiene muchos amigos.

Welcome to the forum , we want to help you so fill out your profile If you have a problem PM a mod Bienvenido al foro. Queremos ayudarle, entonces hay que llenar su perfil. Si hay un problema, envíe un mensaje personal (PM) - ray76, Jun 25, 2015

Answer 1

Ella tiene muchos amigos is correct because there is nothing specific. To use the personal A in this case we would say , ie: Ella tiene a sus amigos Gerardo y Consuelo en casa.

Answer 2

The a is not necessary in your case because as JC pointed out its purpose is to introduce a specific, known person or people as the direct object of a sentence - usually done with a name but could also be a title.

Vi la casa. I saw the house. (Not a specific or known person, no personal a).

Vi a Maria. I saw Maria. (Specific, known person needs the a.)

Vi a mi abuela. (Specific, known person needs the a).

Answer 3

Ella tiene muchos amigos.

This question is from 2015, Polenta. :) - rac1, Sep 22, 2017

Answer 4

Most textbooks that I work with state that you usually don't use personal "a" with the verb tener.

Julián Chivi brought up an excellent exception, however.

This question is from 2015, amiga. jeje - rac1, Sep 22, 2017

why is it an exception? - goospanish, Sep 23, 2017

Answer 5

more about tener this is from thought.co EXCEPTIONS TO AN EXCEPTION After tener: The personal a is used after tener when it is used in the sense to physically hold someone or to have someone somewhere. Tengo a mi hijo en los brazos, I have my son in my arms. Tengo a mi hija en el pesebre, I have my daughter in the crib.

The personal a can also be used after tener when its usage suggests a particularly close or emotional relationship. Cuando estoy triste y necesito hablar, tengo a mis amigos, when I am sad and need to talk, I have my friends. But tengo amigos, I have friends.