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Spanish Prepositions
Uses of the Preposition "a"
©RCAguilar
OBJECTIVE:
Really get down on the prepositions and their usages.
TASK:
Associatea concept of to with the sound a.
PERPLEXED?

¿ ... a quién ?

What's a "preposition?"
A preposition seems to be one of those little sounds that you make to designate a specific direction, location, area, etc. that doesn't have any other way of being described.
Prepositions are the hardest part of a language to get down, so work them to death by just repeating the phrases over and over again. They'll ingrain by themselves.
This preposition most often means "to"
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Simple Prepostions
a
ante
bajo
con
contra
de
desde
durante
en
entre
excepto
hacia
hasta
mediante
para
por
salvo
según
sin
so
sobre
tras
Compound Prepositions
a causa de
acerca de
además de
adversamente a
a excepción de
a fuerza de
alrededor de
al través de
a menos de
antes de
a pesar de
cerca de
concerniente a
conforme a
congruamente a
contrario a
correspondiente a
debajo de
delante de
dentro de
después de
detrás de
en cuanto a
en frente de
en vez de
en virtud de
frente a
fuera de
junto a
lejos de
por causa de
por parte de
por razón de
relativamente a
respeto a
sin embargo de
tocante a

 
Basic questions using a:
¿A dónde?
 Where to?
¿A qué?
 For what? To what end?
¿A quién?
 To whom? singular
¿A quiénes?
 To whom? plural
¿A qué hora?
 At what time?
The preposition a is an over-worked term in Spanish. Just pick one usage to study, and work on it for a while with other vocabulary. Come back later and study another usage. You'll find that it's a lot easier to pick up piece by piece, word by word, step by step, and that it'll all add up pretty quickly.
Explanations for the uses of the preposition "a" ...
   
I.
... meaning "to" in most senses of the word.
II.
... "in order to" ...
III.
... toward a given direction.
IV.
... upon (something happening) ...
V.
... "at" a given time on the clock
VI.
... (in a given manner) ...
VII.
@
VIII.
... (in somebody's style) ...
IX.
... head to head, face to face, man to man, ...
X.
[Direct object in a sentence (when it's a person)]
XI.
[Indirect object in a sentence (to or for someone)]
XII.
[Indirect object in a sentence (away from someone)]
XIII.
Figurative Expressions for English in
XIV.
Figurative Expressions for English on
 
I.
A functions as TO in most senses of the word.
In these instances A designates the point (time or place) that is to be reached..
Where to?
... to New York
... to Acapulco
¿Adónde?
... a Nueva York
... a Acapulco
... from when to when?
... from 3:00 to 5:00
¿De qué hora a qué hora?
... de las 3:00 a las 5:00
II.
A functions as an introductory word for the purpose of a movement or motion (before an infinitive):
... in order to what?
We're going (in order) to work.
They're coming to see.
¿ ... a qué ?
Vamos a trabajar.
Vienen a ver.
This construction includes any verb conveying a beginning point to the second verb (its objective):
aprender a
enseñar a
empezar a
comenzar a
llegar a
Aprendo a hablar.
Le enseño a escribir.
Empieza a llorar.
Comienza a llover.
Llega a graduar.
III.
A functions as TO leading in any direction from a given point, hence implying at.
... in which direction ?
... to the south of the forest.
... to the right.
¿ ... a dónde?
... al sur de la selva.
... a la derecha.
IV.
A functions as UPON, when indicating a certain event happening.
When?
... upon her crying out ...
... upon his entrance ...
¿ Cuándo ?
... a sus gritos ...
... a su entrada ...
This use is in reference to time. It points to the event as causal for other information.
V.
A functions as the word AT in English ONLY WHEN YOU'RE TELLING TIME.
When asked the question "When?" --- a usual response is "... AT a certain time ... "
When?
... at what time?
¿ Cuándo ?
¿ A qué hora ... ?
This preposition is NEVER used to indicate a location: "... at a place."
a
 at a certain time (NEVER at a place!)
... a la una de la mañana ... ... at 1:00 am ...
... a la una y quince ... ... at 1:15 ...
... a las dos y veinte ... ... at 2:20 ...
... a las dos y treinta y dos ... ... at 2:32 ...
... a las tres y cuarto de la tarde ... ... at 3:15 pm ...
... a las cuatro y tres ... ... at 4:03 ...
... a las cuatro y media ... ... at 4:30 ...
... a las cinco menos diez ... ... at 4:50 ...
... a las cinco y doce ... ... at 5:12 ...
... a las seis ... ... at 6:00 ...
... a las seis y cuarenta ... ... at 6:40 ...
... a las siete y cuarto ... ... at 7:15 ...
... a las ocho y ocho ... ... at 8:08 ...
... a las nueve y quince ... ... at 9:15 ...
... a las diez y media ... ... at 10:30 ...
... a las once menos cinco de la noche ... ... at 10:55 pm ...
... al mediodía ... ... at noon ...
... a medianoche ... ... at midnight ...
 
"a" only means "at" ON THE CLOCK !!!
 
It never means "at" as in "... at my house."
... or at the bank, or at the store, or at anyplace !!!
VI.
A is used to indicate the manner, position, or means in which an activity or event occurs.
on all fours
in cold blood
kneeling
squatting
a gatas
a sangre fría
a rodilla
a cuclilla
Notice that this meaning does not imply the use of by in English.
VII.
A is used to express rate, price, or ratio:
How much?
at $5 a gallon
at 80 mph
2 to 1
¿A cuánto ...?
a $5 por galón
a 80 millas por hora
dos a uno
VIII.
A is used to indicate style:
... a la francesa.
... as a gentleman.
... as a clown.
... like a sailor.
... like the French.
... a caballero.
... a payaso.
... a lo marinero.
IX.
A is used between the same noun twice to indicate rate, fashion, order, etc.
step by step
drop by drop
hand to hand
one by one
face to face
paso a paso
gota a gota
mano a mano
uno a uno
cara a cara
X.
A is used to indicate the direct object in a sentence, when the direct object is a person or personified object.
Dad sees Mom.
The child pets the cat.
Papá ve a Mamá
El niño caricia a su gato.
Notice that the verb is acting upon the person or personified object, and the a divides the direct object from the action.
XI.
A is used to indicate the indirect object in a sentence, usually implying the direct object as to or for the indirect object.
You´'re buying it for whom?
I'm buying it for my brother.
¿A quién se lo compras?
A mi hermano se lo compro.
More examples follow for clarity's sake:
subject
verb
direct object
indirect object
Dad
builds
a house
for Mom.
Papá
construye
una casa
a Mamá.
subject
verb
direct object
indirect object
The man
sends
flowers
to his wife.
El señor (le)
manda
flores
a su esposa.
XII.
A is used to indicate deprivation or motion away from someone.
She stole the old lady's money.
We couldn't get a word from the child.
Robó el dinero a la vieja.
Al niño no sacamos ninguna palabra.
XIII.
A is used in many figurative expressions where in is used in English:
... in time ...
... in sight of land.
... in care of ...
... a tiempo ...
... a vista de tierra.
... a cuidado de ...
XIV.
A is used in many figurative expressions where on is used in English:
... on the contrary.
... on account of ...
... on the other side ...
... al contrario.
... a causa de ...
... al otro lado ...