Great lesson! I started learn Spanish by cultural immersion 60 yrs ago & then taught it. By now, i just use what "feels" right regarding "a". I got 100% on your quiz! Bravo, maestro.
I hoped you would also address the strange start of a sentence with A. In Duolingo, the English sentence that needs to be translated, for example "My mother has ..": If I translate it into "Mi madre tiene", it is an error according to Duolingo. It should start with "A mi madre tiene ...", without any explanation. I have no idea if they are right because they don't teach Spanish-Spanish but Latin-Spanish. And their Engish is loaded with sentence construction mistakes. They use American English. It's clear that it's all about the other side of the Atlantic ocean. In lessons, money is always Pesos or Dólares. Never Euros. And cities, countries, people, always on that side of the ocean. Very irritating. And football in English: they call it soccer. They are not for the European market.
I think this is a pretty difficult lesson to teach, even though it seems so simple. I, as a native speaker, don't know how to use “a,” I just use it and that's it.
¡Me gusta much tu ejemplo! Pero hay que tener cuidado. Intenta pensar en una posible respuesta a esta pregunta (mi profesor puede ayudarnos, ella puede ayudarnos etc.)
Entiendo, pero hay momentos en los que la persona A todavía se usa, incluso cuando el destinatario no es la persona en la oración. Me gusta: a alguien le gusto tu comentario.. A Carlos le gustó tu estado.. Esto me confunde
Thank you so much - you explain things in such a very well-structured, calm and friendly way, and it is amazing how you make the deeper meaning of the grammatical structures, like the underlying situations, relations an emotions, transparent. So your videos are really helpful for my Spanish, even for me being German and watching them in English. I have one tiny question: What if the object is an animal or pet? "Yo veo a un gato/mi perro/ un cerdo..." , or "yo veo un gato?" Can anyone tell me? Saludos!
@@realfastspanish I've got to say, you are one of those who teach my language in a way that everyone who speaks English can understand. And for that, I appreciate you so much. And yes, we sometimes use “a,” but I don't even know how, when or where I use it. I guess you're right in saying that we use it for loved ones.
When you begin with a name like Isabel, when do you have to put an "a" in front of it? For example, "Maria le gusta el carro". OR "A Maria le gusta el carro". Are they both correct? Is one of them correct and why?
On the question scenario, if you ask "Quien necesita agua?" Why would you not use the personal a to reply "she needs it" with "A ella necesita."? Your talking about a specific girl, she, this one that I am pointing at, like In the firefighter sentence, it is specific so why not use the a?
In the question and in the response in your example, the person to whom you are referring is the subject, not the object, of the verb. She (the subject) needs water (the object). The personal A is used when the person is the object of the verb, such as "The company needs her."
I have a "tricky question" concerning the lack of a personal "a" in the following lesson sentence: "Yo mantengo el gato en mi dormitorio." Let me clarify the rules I think I understand and why I think there is no "a" in that sentence: 1. Pets, especially kept inside, would normally take the personal "a". But, 2. "Mantener" contains the verb "tener", so it, too, does not take the personal "a". But, 3. When someone or something is held in a particular space, the personal "a" is used after "tener". But, 4. If a person does not feel affection toward the cat, they don't use the personal "a". Is all that correct? Is that why there is no "a" in this sentence?
@@itsgiag Yes, Thanks. I thought there should be a personal "a", too, because it seemed like a cat someone keeps would be a pet and thus require the "a". But, there wasn't one in that sentence in a lesson I took online. So, my post was about understanding the various reasons why someone might drop the "a", and the grammatical reasons that would be okay.
Your videos are so clear and to the point! I try to get all of my Spanish instruction in Spanish, but I make an exception for Andrew, because his explanations are so clear. Well done!
If you flick on these videos before you're really ready, it can give you a sense that it's just too difficult to pick up. By this, I don't mean your videos specifically, I mean the complexity of the topic
How do you know where to place the personal A. In some of the examples it went after the verb but one example it was in the beginning of the sentence ( a quien)
I'm at the point where I understand how I should use it. But I still don't reach for it. Also, I'm still all about "a mi" instead of "para mi" also. LOL
Love your lessons. I lived in Mexico 60 years ago your series helps me keep up with my Spanish. I live in the Southwest so I have lots of opportunities to speak Spanish and I know that what I say in incorrect some of the time.
hi there.. could you also list the movies you're referencing so we can watch them too. Thank you for all the lessons as you're one of my favorite places to learn. As for the spanish movie, I was referring to the very last one where you had quoted, pero, a quien tenemos aqui. =)
How else can we use the Spanish personal A? Can you think of more tricky examples?
Great lesson! I started learn Spanish by cultural immersion 60 yrs ago & then taught it. By now, i just use what "feels" right regarding "a". I got 100% on your quiz! Bravo, maestro.
Excellent and clear
I hoped you would also address the strange start of a sentence with A. In Duolingo, the English sentence that needs to be translated, for example "My mother has ..": If I translate it into "Mi madre tiene", it is an error according to Duolingo. It should start with "A mi madre tiene ...", without any explanation. I have no idea if they are right because they don't teach Spanish-Spanish but Latin-Spanish. And their Engish is loaded with sentence construction mistakes. They use American English. It's clear that it's all about the other side of the Atlantic ocean. In lessons, money is always Pesos or Dólares. Never Euros. And cities, countries, people, always on that side of the ocean. Very irritating. And football in English: they call it soccer. They are not for the European market.
Having the same problem right now, glad to know I'm not alone. We'll figure it out 😅
I think this is a pretty difficult lesson to teach, even though it seems so simple. I, as a native speaker, don't know how to use “a,” I just use it and that's it.
I literally knew all these answers, despite not having been able to explain _why_ on my own... 😅
So basically, 'a' means _specifically?_ 😄
I really get overwhelmed and think there’s no way I can possibly learn the entire language but your videos help
Milion Gracias! I'm learning Spanish and this is the hardest thing for me to understand but you've explained it so effortlessly.
Este video (y muchos otros) es increíble.
Me encanta tu voz, es tan agradable de escuchar.
Yeah, when you see 2 Spanish speaking dudes using "A", you know it is personal
Are there any movies or shows I can watch in Spanish with English subtitles? Where can I find these 🙏🏾
¿A quién puede ayudarnos con este tema? Ahora, lo sé
¡Me gusta much tu ejemplo! Pero hay que tener cuidado. Intenta pensar en una posible respuesta a esta pregunta (mi profesor puede ayudarnos, ella puede ayudarnos etc.)
Entiendo, pero hay momentos en los que la persona A todavía se usa, incluso cuando el destinatario no es la persona en la oración. Me gusta: a alguien le gusto tu comentario.. A Carlos le gustó tu estado.. Esto me confunde
Very good. I was recently grappling with the personal A is a lesson. So hard to understand!
Glad it was helpful Kathy! 😊
why is it that A comes first before quien and not after quieres? is there exceptions when it's why questions?
I'm a native Spanish speaker, and let me tell you that there's nothing wrong with saying, Veo un bombero en la esquina.
Thank you so much - you explain things in such a very well-structured, calm and friendly way, and it is amazing how you make the deeper meaning of the grammatical structures, like the underlying situations, relations an emotions, transparent. So your videos are really helpful for my Spanish, even for me being German and watching them in English. I have one tiny question: What if the object is an animal or pet? "Yo veo a un gato/mi perro/ un cerdo..." , or "yo veo un gato?" Can anyone tell me? Saludos!
Thanks Mareke!! 😊 Yes, Spanish natives will sometimes refer to their pets like loved ones using the personal A!
@@realfastspanish I've got to say, you are one of those who teach my language in a way that everyone who speaks English can understand. And for that, I appreciate you so much.
And yes, we sometimes use “a,” but I don't even know how, when or where I use it. I guess you're right in saying that we use it for loved ones.
Useful y helpful content as always!!!!
Sus videos me han ayudado a hacer un gran cambio en mi español. ¡Muchisimas gracias!
¡Muchas gracias Joe! 😊
When they are speaking fast, such as in that last example, who is going to hear the personal “a” anyway?
Practicing on Duolingo alone is not enough for this one. Cussing out the entire spanish language relieves a lot of stress for me.
When you begin with a name like Isabel, when do you have to put an "a" in front of it?
For example,
"Maria le gusta el carro".
OR
"A Maria le gusta el carro".
Are they both correct? Is one of them correct and why?
The second option "A Maria" works best in this situation.
On the question scenario, if you ask "Quien necesita agua?" Why would you not use the personal a to reply "she needs it" with "A ella necesita."? Your talking about a specific girl, she, this one that I am pointing at, like In the firefighter sentence, it is specific so why not use the a?
In the question and in the response in your example, the person to whom you are referring is the subject, not the object, of the verb. She (the subject) needs water (the object). The personal A is used when the person is the object of the verb, such as "The company needs her."
Hi, which city in 3:20? Beautiful.
I have a "tricky question" concerning the lack of a personal "a" in the following lesson sentence: "Yo mantengo el gato en mi dormitorio."
Let me clarify the rules I think I understand and why I think there is no "a" in that sentence:
1. Pets, especially kept inside, would normally take the personal "a". But,
2. "Mantener" contains the verb "tener", so it, too, does not take the personal "a". But,
3. When someone or something is held in a particular space, the personal "a" is used after "tener". But,
4. If a person does not feel affection toward the cat, they don't use the personal "a".
Is all that correct? Is that why there is no "a" in this sentence?
Yes, that works! 😊
You can say “Yo mantengo el gato en mi dormitorio,” but we use more commonly “Yo mantengo al gato en mi dormitorio.” Al = a + el.
@@itsgiag Yes, Thanks. I thought there should be a personal "a", too, because it seemed like a cat someone keeps would be a pet and thus require the "a". But, there wasn't one in that sentence in a lesson I took online. So, my post was about understanding the various reasons why someone might drop the "a", and the grammatical reasons that would be okay.
Your videos are so clear and to the point! I try to get all of my Spanish instruction in Spanish, but I make an exception for Andrew, because his explanations are so clear. Well done!
If you flick on these videos before you're really ready, it can give you a sense that it's just too difficult to pick up. By this, I don't mean your videos specifically, I mean the complexity of the topic
How do you know where to place the personal A. In some of the examples it went after the verb but one example it was in the beginning of the sentence ( a quien)
Your short videos are so helpful . I just start to learn espanol . Tks so much mi amigo. Un amigo de Vietnam.
I'm at the point where I understand how I should use it. But I still don't reach for it. Also, I'm still all about "a mi" instead of "para mi" also. LOL
Love your lessons. I lived in Mexico 60 years ago your series helps me keep up with my Spanish. I live in the Southwest so I have lots of opportunities to speak Spanish and I know that what I say in incorrect some of the time.
This felt to me like the "calmness" following the storm.
I see it every now and then to refresh my mind ❤❤❤❤
Muchísimas gracias!! Necesitaba una explicación así
¡Gracias Dana! 😊
Oh this was a very good video. I had already learnt saber vs conocer and just didnt understand why we were using a! gracias!
I just want to thank you for your UA-cam lessons!
Thank you! 😊
Thank you for addressing questions with personal A.
#preposición #preposition #preposition_a #preposición_a #a_personal #personal_a
"Voy a hablar con a mi jefe" is a mistake that second language learners never make.
Actually, one could also say “veo un bombero por allí”.
Very informative. Excellent
¡Perfecto! ¡Muchas gracias!
What is “pau”?
A name
Excellent explanations
hi there.. could you also list the movies you're referencing so we can watch them too. Thank you for all the lessons as you're one of my favorite places to learn. As for the spanish movie, I was referring to the very last one where you had quoted, pero, a quien tenemos aqui. =)
!Gracias!