canto a / en canto a
As for: Canto a
Canto a and en canto a mean as for or regarding: Canto ao prezo, falamos mañá (as for the price, we will talk tomorrow).
How It Works
Introducing a topic
Canto a and en canto a announce what you are going to talk about. They usually open the sentence, followed by a comma: En canto á música, a festa foi un éxito. They can also close a sentence: Non temos queixas en canto ao servizo.
The contraction with the article
The a combines with the article, as in a + o = ao:
- canto ao prezo, canto á data
- canto aos horarios, canto ás condicións
With a pronoun, use the forms that follow a preposition: canto a min (as for me), en canto a ti.
En canto a is not en canto
Without a, en canto is a time conjunction meaning as soon as, or sometimes while: En canto chegue, chámote. Keep the a, and the contraction, when you mean as for: En canto ao prezo...
Spelling
Write canto, not the Spanish cuanto.
Examples (5)
- Canto ao prezo, falamos mañá.
As for the price, we will talk tomorrow.
- En canto á música, a festa foi un éxito.
As for the music, the party was a success.
A + a contracts to á.
- Canto aos horarios, aínda non hai nada decidido.
As for the timetables, nothing has been decided yet.
- Canto a min, prefiro quedar na casa.
As for me, I prefer to stay at home.
After the preposition a, the pronoun is min.
- Non temos queixas en canto ao servizo.
We have no complaints about the service.
En canto a can also close the sentence.
Common Mistakes
Dropping the preposition a.
En canto o prezo, falamos mañá.En canto ao prezo, falamos mañá.En canto on its own is a time word meaning as soon as or while. As for needs the a, which contracts with the article.
Using the Spanish form cuanto.
En cuanto ao prezo, falamos mañá.En canto ao prezo, falamos mañá.The Galician form is canto.
Using the subject pronoun after a.
Canto a eu, prefiro quedar na casa.Canto a min, prefiro quedar na casa.After a preposition, use min, not eu.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Canto a and en canto a introduce a topic and retain the preposition a.
Related Patterns
- en canto + SubjunctiveAs Soon as: En Canto
En canto without a is a time conjunction, usually meaning as soon as.
Level 4 - min / ti After PrepositionsPronouns After Prepositions
Explains canto a min and en canto a ti.
Level 2 - o de / iso deReferring to a Known Matter: O De and Iso De
Another way to bring up a topic the listener already knows.
Level 4 - Topic Fronting With a Pronoun
Another way to put a topic at the front of the sentence.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice canto a / en canto a in Bubblegum
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