1. The preposition a
The preposition a can mean to, at, for, upon, within, of, from, or by, depending on the context. Sometimes it has no direct translation in English.
Terminó a las doce.
Le compré un pájaro exótico a Juan.
It ended at midnight.
I bought an exotic bird from/for Juan.
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2. The preposition a introduces indirect objects.
The preposition a can be used to give commands or make suggestions.
Hoy, en el zoo, le di de comer a un conejo.
Today, in the zoo, I fed (gave food to) a rabbit.
¡A comer!
¡A dormir!
Let’s eat!
Time for bed!
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3. Some verbs require a when used with an infinitive, such as ir a, comenzar a, volver a, enseñar a, aprender a, and ayudar a.
Aprendí a manejar.
I learned to drive.
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4. “Who or What got VERBED?”
Find the direct object by asking __________
“Who or What got VERBED?”
When a direct object noun is a person (or a pet), it is preceded by the personal a, which has no equivalent in English.
The personal a is also used with the words alguien, nadie, and alguno and ninguno.
¿Viste a tus amigos en el parque?
No, no he visto a nadie.
Did you see your friends in the park?
No, I haven’t seen anyone.
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5. The personal a is not used when the person in question is not specific.
La organización ambiental busca voluntarios.
Sí, necesitan voluntarios para limpiar la costa.
The environmental organization is looking for volunteers.
Yes, they need volunteers to clean the coast.
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6. With movement, either literal or figurative, hacia means toward or to.
The preposition hacia
With movement, either literal or figurative, hacia means toward or to.
La actitud de Manuel hacia mí fue negativa.
Manuel’s attitude toward me was negative.
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7. With time, hacia means approximately, around, about, or toward.
La televisión se hizo popular hacia la segunda mitad del siglo XX.
Television became popular toward the second half of the twentieth century.
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8. The word hacía is a form of the verb hacer.
There is no accent mark on the i in the preposition hacia. The stress falls on the first a.
The word hacía is a form of the verb hacer.
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9. The preposition con means with.
Me gustaría hablar con el director del departamento.
I would like to speak with the director of the department.
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10. With care instead of carefully
Many English adverbs can be expressed in Spanish with con + [noun].
With care instead of carefully
Habló del tema con cuidado.
Hablaba con cariño.
She spoke about the issue carefully.
He spoke affectionately.
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11. The preposition con is also used rhetorically to emphasize the value or the quality of something or someone. (Because of, therefore)
It can also indicate the value or quality contrary to a given fact or situation.
In this case, con conveys surprise at an apparent conflict between two known facts. In English, the words but, even though, and in spite of are used.
Los turistas tiraron los envoltorios al suelo.
¡Con lo limpio que estaba todo!
The tourists threw wrappers on the ground.
But the place was so clean!
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12. If con is followed by mí or ti, it forms a contraction: conmigo, contigo. With me or with you
¿Quieres venir conmigo al campo?
Por supuesto que quiero ir contigo.
Do you want to come with me to the countryside?
Of course I want to go with you.
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13. Consigo is the contraction of con + usted/ustedes or con + él/ella/ellos/ellas.
Consigo is equivalent to the English with himself /herself/yourself or with themselves/yourselves, and is commonly followed by mismo.
It is only used when the subject of the sentence is the same person referred to after con.
Están satisfechos consigo mismos.
Fui al cine con él.
La sequía trajo consigo muchos problemas.
Prefiero ir al parque con usted.
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14. 2. He promised his son they would go (irían) sailing (to sail).
1. I don’t like your attitude toward the animals.
2. He promised his son they would go (irían) sailing (to sail).
3. Lucy was on (to) my right.
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15. 5. The Caribbean Sea is within two hundred and fifty miles of here.
4. Upon returning (to)home, I felt happy.
5. The Caribbean Sea is within two hundred and fifty miles of here.
6. I went to my parents’ house to help them after the flood.
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16. 8. The biologist is headed toward Puerto Rico for the interview.
7. He helped me (to) fix the car.
8. The biologist is headed toward Puerto Rico for the interview.
9. The show that we want to watch will begin around 8:00.
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17. 11. Do you want to go with me to the movies?
10. It’s an environmental organization with lots of members.
11. Do you want to go with me to the movies?
12. Ana will go by herself to Prom this year.
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