Prepositions between nouns and infinitives

Question

Recently I keep running into a problem but I don't know how to solve it. After a noun I never know whether I should use "a" or "de" before a verb in the infinitive form, for example:

Inmigrantes tienen el derecho "de/a" buscar una vida mejor.

I don't know if there is a specific rule that you have to a apply after a noun or it varies.

Any help will be useful. Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi. That's a good question. I have reading through the previous responses and much you should basically know is there. Actually both prepositions, "a" and "de" can be used in this case.

I know it's not the focus of this question but I'd like to say that the article 'Los" must be used before "inmigrantes", and although it is strictly correct to also use an article, in this case "el" before "derecho", it's not absolutely necessary for conveying this idea. "Los inmigrantes tienen el derecho a/de buscar una vida mejor".

Thanks, I sometimes forget to add the article. - joshuabinfor, Apr 26, 2017

Answer 2

In this case it's "tener el derecho de." There is no rule that I know of. Each expression is different.

I know no rule either, and unlike native speakers I tend to know the rules if there are ones. My instinct was de, but then I looked in our dictionary: tener derecho a hacer algo to have a o the right to do sth. - bosquederoble, Apr 25, 2017

And it's not just between a and de, "preocupación por tener..." comes to mind. :) - bosquederoble, Apr 25, 2017

Maybe Ken will come with a rule for us. But of course it is just instinct for native speakers. :) - bosquederoble, Apr 25, 2017

Okay I thought so because it seemed to vary so much. Thank you. - joshuabinfor, Apr 25, 2017

Interesting "el derecho de hacer" has close to 2 million hits, "el derecho a hacer" about 700k less, so most seem to go with "de". But plenty do use "a". :) - bosquederoble, Apr 25, 2017

Answer 3

This question made me think of the many uses of:

Indirect Object Pronoun + conjugated dar + noun

Which can easily be followed by an infinitive without any preposition,

For example:

Me da pena ver esto - I'm sorry to see this or it pains me to see this.

Me da miedo hablar en público - I'm afraid of talking in public.

Me daba tristeza oír esa noticia - I was saddened to hear that news.

I think the reason that there is no preposition in these cases is that what follows dar is really the subject of the sentence, which can be more easily seen (by English speakers) if we move it to the front of the sentence.

Ver esto............me...........da..........pena.

Subject.............IOP..........verb........DO

Seeing this........gives........me.........pain / sadness.

Subject............ verb.........IOP.........DO

So, it's not much of a "rule" but one might be able to say that if the clause with the infinitive is acting as the subject of the sentence, then no preposition is needed. I don't know if the reverse is also true: .... if the infinitive clause cannot be interpreted as the subject of the sentence then a preposition IS needed, but I would guess it is. All we need of course, is one counter-example to disprove this hypothesis.

And I couldn't think of any verbs other than dar where this type of structure (IOP + verb + noun) is common. And it doesn't help to choose between de, a, por when one is needed. The only other verb that came to mind is the rather limited use of llevar + time period + gerundio (without any preposition)

P.S. note that:

Tengo miedo de hablar en público.

This "says the same thing" as one of the sentences above, but "I" is clearly the subject here, not the infinitive clause "SO?" the preposition is required.

Answer 4

An interesting post, saying it varies between tener derecho and tener el derecho:

https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/tener-el-derecho-de-a.1908826/

cbrenaSenior Member Madrid (Spain)

Tienes que elegir entre tener el derecho de y tener ( ) derecho a

Creo que no son siempre intercambiables.

Normalmente se usa tener derecho a para derechos legales y generales.

Tienes derecho a solicitar un abogado. Tienes derecho a pedir asilo político. Tienes derecho a impugnar una sentencia.

Se utiliza tener el derecho de para ideas más subjetivas, o pequeños derechos.

Tienes el derecho de solicitar una copia por escrito. Tienes el derecho de revisar cada examen con tu examinador. Simpre tienes el derecho de reclamación de 15 días.

No sé si existe una norma concreta, ésta es la idea que me sugieren estos ejemplos.

Sin embargo, hay expresiones casi establecidas (aquí no incluyo tener) como:

El derecho a la vida. El derecho a una muerte digna. El derecho a la huelga.

Siento no poder ofrecerte normas de utilización concretas.

Thanks, it seems like there is not a set rule. Is it possible with a sentence like this "Tienes derecho a solicitar un abogado." to completely leave out the "a"? - joshuabinfor, Apr 26, 2017

No. It needs the a. :) - bosquederoble, Apr 26, 2017