Realidades

The Personal “a”

Direct Objects

You know that the direct object is the person or thing that receives the action of a verb.

Direct Objects

For example…I bought the shirt.Which word is the direct

object?Right! The shirt.

The Personal “a”

In Spanish, when the direct object is a specific person or group of people, we use an “a” before it. That’s why it’s called the personal “a."

The Personal “a”

Which one of these sentences needs an “a” ?

Quiero visitar el museo.Quiero visitar mis abuelos.Quiero visitar a mis abuelos.

The Personal “a”

The “a” doesn’t mean anything.It simply is correct grammatically

to put the personal “a” before a direct object that is a person or a pet.

The Personal “a”

What’s wrong with the following sentence?

Quiero visitar a el señor López.

Quiero visitar al señor López.

The Personal “a”

To ask who receives the action of a verb, we use A quién?

A quién quieres visitar?Quiero visitar a mis primos.

The Personal “a”

We can also use the personal a when the direct object is a pet.

Busco a mi perro.

The Personal “a”

We usually do not use the personal “a” after the verb tener.

Tengo muchos tíos.

To Review…Use “a”

Before the……when the…..is a …….or a…..

Not after the verb……