SP 107 - Sr. Ocana NOMBRE:
"A" PERSONAL
In Spanish, the direct object of a sentence determines whether the personal a is necessary.
The direct object is the word that answers the questions "whom?" or "what?" after the verb. Ex.:
Pepe is watching TV --> What is Pepe watching --> the TV is the direct object
I see Maria --> Who(m) do I see --> Maria is the direct object
Grammar rule for personal A in Spanish:
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If the direct object is a person, an animal, or a group of people, it is preceded by the preposition a (commonly referred to as the personal a): Yo veo a Maria Yo conozco a Nacho
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If the direct object is a thing, an object or a place, the personal a is not used: Yo veo la television Yo conozco Madrid
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Two Notes:
1. When ALGUIEN and NADIE are direct objects, they are preceded by the personal A: ¿Tu ves a alguien? No veo a nadie.
2. With names of cities, towns, countries, do not confuse personal a with the preposition A used with verbs expressing movement (such as IR A, LLEGAR A, VIAJAR A, etc.) when telling where are you heading to: Yo voy a Madrid; el llega a Nueva York, etc.