Why do I need to put "a" before certain infinitives?

Question

In this sentence "Me gusta ir al parque a jugar al fútbol"

Why is it necessary to say "a jugar" and not just "jugar"

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, Dec 28, 2015

You need to edit your heading mate. - ray76, Dec 28, 2015

Even though you already chose bosquederoble's answer as best, I hope you will check out mine and study the link I provided. - Jubilado, Dec 28, 2015

Answer 1

Don't look for a rule for prepositions, there is none. It is just how we speak.

In English:

Why do I look for things, but seek them, why not look things but seek for them.

Why do I look at things but view them- why not look things but view at them.

Why do I listen to things but hear them, why not listen things and hear to them.

Spanish is equally challenging. Certain prepositions are just needed with certain verbs to give them the meaning you are looking for.

It is the way it is. "Ir a".

You of course asked why it was ir a jugar, not why it was jugar al fútbol, which might give a little different spin, but not enough to have me put it in. It is how it is.

You apparently type faster than me! - Jubilado, Dec 28, 2015

Answer 2

The key is not in jugar it is in ir. Grammatically certain verbs require a preposition (sometimes a) after them if they are used in connection with an infinitive.

English examples would include: going to do (something), beginning to learn, learning to speak, wanting to leave, etc. All the second nouns are infinitives in English which means the word "to" is part of the infinitive not the preceding verb. The whole construction is call verbal periphrasis.

There is a whole list of Spanish verbs that take a preposition on this site in the Grammar. Here is a direct link to it:

Verbal periphrasis

So that is why you will see a (or en, de, que, or por) before some infinitives.

Thanks, this helps a lot - nickmarks10, Dec 28, 2015

Thank you old friend , I have posted that reference for all to see . - ray76, Dec 28, 2015

Answer 3

We can say: "Me gusta jugar", but we have to say"Me gusta ir al parque" because the A in this case provides direction of action as in going where? Going to the park. I am sure there is a better grammatical explanation of this, but it has escaped me.

Answer 4

Okay mate the letter "a" in Spanish means "to" so it would be:

Without "a" It means: I like to go to the Park play football (or soccer)

if you include "a" It means: I like to go to the Park to play football (or soccer).

So basically you add them to direct what you or something is doing.

Hope this helps you out mate.

What about this sentence, "Quiero jugar un partido." We dont need "a" here and it still translates normally meaning "I want to play a game." - nickmarks10, Dec 28, 2015

Well I would say because it is not being directed towards anything in general ,like when you said "I like to go to the park" you are directing it to the park.But when you say I want to play a game,you aren't being specific with what you are directing it - Nickelbackfan1, Dec 28, 2015

to but I am not fluent nor do I know the language very well but it is something my teacher taught me about a week ago. - Nickelbackfan1, Dec 28, 2015

Thanks mate - nickmarks10, Dec 28, 2015