The Use of "a que" in This Sentence

Question

Hi team,

Here is the sentence that got me wondering why it uses "a que":

La estrategia es un ataque coordinado para obligar a que los yihadistas salgan de varios distritos en el este de la ciudad.

Why can't we leave out "a que"? Or at least leave it as "a", without the "que"?

I'm trying to create a more simplified sentence as an example, so that maybe someone could help me understand the use of "a que":

Él los obligó a que los yihadistas salgan su ciudad. Él los obligó a que ellos salgan su ciudad.

I'm not sure if that was grammatically correct, what I just wrote.

Couldn't we just say: Él los obligó a ellos salgan su ciudad?

Thanks in advance.

Welcome to spanishdict. We ask that all new members complete their profiles with their native language, and what level of Spanish you feel you are, like, beginner, intermediate, etc. as well as gender. - ray76, Nov 6, 2016

He has a complete profile, Ray. - rac1, Nov 6, 2016

Thank you for completing your profile , that is well worth a vote from me mate.. - ray76, Nov 6, 2016

Answer 1

You have imbedded enough questions in this that is somewhat difficult, and I chose not to answer it up to now in hopes someone else would. Since no one is, I will give my opinion to start things off, in hopes that will make it easier for others to add on.

La estrategia es un ataque coordinado para obligar a que los yihadistas salgan de varios distritos en el este de la ciudad.

Why can't we leave out "a que"? Or at least leave it as "a", without the "que"?

The grammar of obligar is such that you have to have to "a". In Spanish as in English sometimes you just have to use a certain preposition with a verb in certain situations, with no explanation other than that is the way it is, that is how that verb works. If you can explain why we listen to things, but hear them, watch things but have to look at them, or for them or search for them instead of seeking them, beyond that is how those verbs are used, I will be impressed.

Here is the formula:

http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/obligar

obligar a algn a hacer algo to force sb to do sth;

I will agree, it does not seem necessary to go to the que phrase. But you have to choose between an infinitive (where the subject is obvious from the sentence) or a que phrase- conjugated to the subject, required if the subject is not obvious, but still can be done otherwise. Unlike the propensity in English where we drop "that" frequently, "que" is required in Spanish in a phrase following a preposition that has a conjugated verb.

So I will agree it seems to me that "para obligar a los yihadistas a salir de varios dirstritos.." would be possible. This is my opinion as a fellow learner. I am not a native speaker.

Again, you must use an infiintive, salir, not salgan in such a case. And like obligar a, you need the de with salir.

Well you have covered that quite well mate , no need for any more . Thanks . - ray76, Nov 6, 2016

Thanks very much bosquederoble, that cleared up the confusion for me. As you said, "obligar a" is usually necessary in much the same way we use "listen to" or "look at". You're right - in English we do drop the "that" often. - TryNewLangs77, Nov 6, 2016

Answer 2

I'm going to try to simplify this a little.

This is a classical case in which you have two clauses with a "subjunctive trigger" in the first one.

Bosquederoble pointed out that "obligar" is usually followed by "a" and is a subjunctive trigger---(the change in behavior) the conjunction is "que"

The English would be "The strategy is an attack coordinated to "obligate that the Jihadists leave various districts of the city. (This construction follows Spanish grammar.)

Or in more usual English construction: "The strategy is an attack coordinated to obligate (or "make") the Jihadists to leave the various districts of the city."