when to use a in a beginning of a sentence

Question

what is the difference between:
a mi madre le encanta leer revistas
and
mi madre le encanta leer revistas

or

mi padre quiere darle un traje
as correct as
a mi padre quiere darle un traje

What is the difference? In what grammar section do I find more details in spanishdict?

Always begin a sentence with a capital letter. - rac1, Apr 12, 2016

Answer 1

Your examples do not illustrate your question because as JulianChivi pointed out, in each of your pairs of examples, one is correct and one is not.

Simply: When the sentence (including questions) begins with the indirect object of the verb or the preposition a used to indicate the direction of the verb, you begin with A.

Examples: A mi madre le encanta leer revistas (literally: to my mother [her] delights reading magazines; less literally Reading delights [her] my mother; proper translation: My mother really enjoys reading magazines).

¿A dónde vas? (to)Where are you going?

¿A quién hablas? Who (To whom) are you speaking to?

I've focused my answer to a very narrow set of usages because I hope it will clarify what you find difficult.

You might check a grammar section that deals with using the preposition a.

Answer 2

It´s simple. the "a" appears at the beginning of the sentence when you start the sentence with an indirect object,because the indirect object (I.O) is preceded by "a" .be carefull if the structure that seems to be the I.O is prededed by para it isn´t a I.O. it´s a circustancial complement..

take note that the indirect object can be duplicated with the pronouns me , te , le .......it can give you a reference.

when the subject is present in the sentence the indirect object doesn¨t appears at the beginning of the sentence, it used to appears at the end

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the verbs gustar, encantar doler ... and other verbs introduce a passive person or thing . this cause a little diference . with this type of verbs the I:O is often placed at the beginning of the sentence.

Subject not exist.

mi madre (i.o)

leer revistas (direct object).

A mi madre LE encanta leer revistas

correct.

mi madre LE encanta leer revistas

wrong

----------------------------------ooooo-----------------------------------

subject mi padre

(I.O) referred by LE but not defined, then the "a" is not needed.

(DO) un traje.

mi padre quiere darLE un traje

with a defined (IO) for example john. (remember subject present)

mi padre quiere darLE un traje A john

both ok

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the verb dar foesn´t introduce a pasive thing or person this cause this diference with the first example

subject doesn´t exist

(I.O) mi padre

(D.O) un traje

A mi padre quiere darLE un traje.,

worng.

with an indefined subject but that exist in the context.

A mi padre quiere darLE un traje (el)

gramatically correct but sounds weird because exist a subject.

(el ) quiere darle un traje a mi padre

correct.

with a subject for example jhon (remember subject exists

john quiere darLE un traje A mi padre

ok

A mi padre quiere darle un traje jhon (remember subject jhon present)

gramatically correct but sounds weird. weird weird

..

I like your posts amigo, so please continue. - 00cc0117, Apr 12, 2016

I like this, too, very precise! - Jubilado, Apr 12, 2016

Answer 3

A mi madre le encanta leer revistas .... Correct

Mi madre le encanta leer revistas ... Incorrect

Mi padre quiere darle un traje ... Correct

A mi padre quiere darle un traje ... Incorrect

The reason is a long discussion, but someone here with more time than I have will explain it, or at least give you the link.