a la playa - we are going to the beach !! See also 'hacia' and 'para'
hacia la playa
para la playa
el regalo a Carmen
- he gives the present to Carmen
connect two verbs
a
- we will see
indicate how things are done
a
pie
- we go on foot
lo a mano
- I did it by hand !! See also 'con' and 'de'
lo con
mano
lo de
mano
indicate time
a las seis - at six o'clock
a la medianoche - at midnight
indicate speed
a
100 km por
hora - we were going 100 km per hour
indicate distance
un lago a 3 kilómetros
- there is a lake 3 kilometers away
indicate periodicity
dos veces a la semana
- twice a week !! See also 'por'
dos veces por la semana
express an order/demand (A + verb)
¡A ! - eat!
¡A ! - sleep!
Personal 'a'
If in Spanish the direct object is a person or pet, it is proceded by the preposition
‘a’. It's not used in English, and there's no direct translation for it.
Yo a Sonia
- I see Sonia
Yo
a ellas
- I see them
Yo
a mi hermano
- I see my brother
La mujer
a su perro
- The woman caresses her dog
Doesn't count with the verbs
(to have, to own) and (to have as auxiliary verb)
Yo un hermano
- I have a brother
Doesn't count if the direct object isn't a person or pet.