a (personal)

Restricted Personal a

Level 4

Human direct objects usually appear without a; personal pronouns and certain marked contexts allow or require it.

How It Works

Do not insert a before every person mentioned as a direct object. Ordinary noun phrases follow the verb directly: veig la professora. Indirect objects are different: escric a la professora names a recipient and therefore takes a.

A normally introduces stressed personal pronouns functioning as direct objects: em miraven a mi. It also occurs in particular structures that distinguish a subject from an object or emphasize a contrast. These are conditioned uses, not permission to copy Spanish personal a before every name.

Identify the verb's object and the kind of noun phrase before choosing the preposition. A clitic may repeat a stressed personal pronoun because that pronoun supplies emphasis.

Examples (3)

  1. He saludat la professora.

    I greeted the teacher.

  2. Em buscaven a mi.

    They were looking for me.

  3. Us han convidat a vosaltres.

    They invited you.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

a (personal)Level 4Restricted Personal a

Learn This First

Identify the ordinary unmarked human direct object before learning restricted personal a. Identify the recipient and its number before combining it with another object.

Words in This Pattern