Translation question en o a
Hace poco leí la siguiente pregunta, “¿han estado en Nicaragua?” Esto fue traducido como “have you been to Nicaragua? ¿Es correcta esta traducción y, si es así, Cuándo puede "en" traducir a “to"?
Gracias por sus respuestas
2 Answers
In most cases in Spanish, a is used when there is a sense of motion, en when it is static. That being said they have other uses as well, see the lesson below.
The fault here seems to me more in the English:
¿Han estado en Nicaragua? Have you (all) been to in Nicaragua?
¿Han ido a Nicaragua? Have you (all) gone to Nicaragua?
Not in the lesson below- en coche= by car
Voy a México en avión- I am going to Mexico by (in an) airplane. I will be static in the airplane, but going to (motion) Mexico.
Just my opinion.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4524892_use-a-en-spanish.html
Phrases With "a"
• The "a" in many verb phrases conveys no specific meaning. For example, it's used with a form the verb "ir" to express an event in the future, like "Yo voy a estudiar." The "a" is also used before a direct object that is a person: "Yo voy a llamar a mi amiga." The "a" can also assume its common definition, "to," in sentences like "Yo voy a la escuela" or "Yo voy a San Antonio." Some expressions involving time also depend upon "a": "La fiesta es a las nueve."
Uses of "en"
• The "en" in Spanish sentences typically means "by," "on" or "in." It can convey location or place: "Yo estoy en el parque" or "El libro está en la mesa." Generalizations about subjects also use "en": "Mi amigo es bueno en matemáticas." With the verb "ir," "en" relays method of travel: "Yo voy en coche." In time expressions, "en" means "in": "Yo voy en el verano."
It's merely a difference in the usage of prepositions. In Spanish we say "Have you been in Nicaragua?" If you're going to NIcaragua, you say: Voy a Nicaragua.
It's like, in English you eat at a restaurant. In Spanish you eat in the restaurant.
Ayer comí espaguetis en el restaurante Olive Garden.
