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Five-minute Spanish Lessons - Lesson 23.Prepositions (3)Spanish Personal "a" and English translations.Peculiar to Spanish is the use of the preposition "a" before direct objects when they are: a) people who are known or identified (ie. not simply "a man"); b) our pets or pets known to us; c) animals when referred to in a sentimental way. eg.: in the zoo. Hoy vimos a los Sánchez en el centro comercial. We saw the Sanchez family today in the shopping centre. Recuérdame que llame a Pedro esta tarde. Remind me to phone Pedro this afternoon. Voy a llevar a mi madre a la peluquería. I'm going to take my mother to the hairdresser's. La policía ha arrestado al asesino en serie. The police have arrested the serial killer. Oye, saca al perro ya. Está meando en el suelo! Hey, take the dog out right now. He's peeing on the floor! Venga, Quique. Vamos a ver a los leones. Están en la jaula por allí Come on, Quique. Let's go and see the lions. They're in the cage over there. But personal "a" is often omitted in sentences, where people aren't identified such as: Vi una mujer en la peluquería. I saw a woman in the hairdresser's. La policía ha arrestado un hombre. The police arrested a man. No conozco ese pájaro. Parece un alcaudón. I don't know that bird. It looks like a shrike. Neither is it used with the verb to have (tener): Tengo dos hijos. I've got two children. However, do not get confused here with the "a" used before indirect objects when they are people. In an example like the one below, the preposition "a" is always grammatically necessary. It doesn't matter if the indirect object is a person or not. This is not personal "a": Voy a dar un plátano / a mi madre / al hombre / al mono / a un alcaudón / a la tele. I'm going to give a banana / to my mother / to the man / to the monkey / to a shrike / to the TV. But back to the subject of personal "a". This is also used before pronouns when direct objects referring to people. It doesn't matter if they are known or identified or not. The pronouns are: alguien, alguno, ambos, uno, cualquiera, nadie, otro, éste, ése, aquel, quien, ella, él, usted, todo el mundo. ¿Conoces a alguien en este barrio? Do you know anybody in this area? Él no quiere a nadie. He doesn't love anybody. - ¿A quién va a despedir? - Pues, ¡a usted! Well, you! Also, before relative pronouns when they refer to people and are the direct object: Tengo un amigo / al que / a quien / van a nombrar socio. I have a friend who they are going to elect as a member.
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