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Spanish grammar lessons › Level A1 › Spanish object pronouns

The personal a: Veo a María

A before a person as the direct object: Veo a María, but Veo la playa

Part of the free A1 Spanish course. Press the speaker next to an example to hear it.

A little word with no English translation

When the direct object (the one who receives the action directly, see lo, la, los, las: the first object pronouns) is a specific person, Spanish puts a in front of it. It isn't translated into English.

  • Veo a María en la estación.I see María at the station.
  • Busco a mi hermano.I'm looking for my brother.
  • ¿Conoces a mi novia?Do you know my girlfriend?
  • Llamo a mis padres todos los domingos.I call my parents every Sunday.
  • Ayudamos a la vecina con la compra.We help the neighbour with the shopping.

With things and places, there is no a:

  • Veo la playa desde mi ventana.I can see the beach from my window.
  • Busco mis gafas.I'm looking for my glasses.

Compare: Escucho a la profesora (a person) but Escucho la radio (a thing).

Pets

Pets you care about are treated like people:

  • Quiero mucho a mi perro.I love my dog very much.

This also shows a change of meaning: querer a alguien is to love someone; querer algo is to want something. Quiero un perro means “I want a dog”.

Questions: ¿A quién?

When you ask who about the direct object, the a goes at the start:

  • ¿A quién esperas?Who are you waiting for?

A + el = al

Before el, the personal a contracts: Veo al profesor. See a + el = al, de + el = del.

When not to use it

  • After tener and hay: Tengo dos hermanas, Hay un chico en la puerta.
  • With a person who is not specific, someone you need or want but haven't identified: Necesito un fontanero (any plumber).
  • Alguien (someone) and nadie (nobody) always take a as direct objects: ¿Ves a alguien? No veo a nadie. (nada, nadie, nunca: the double negative)

Don't confuse the personal a with a meaning “to” for direction: Voy a Madrid (I'm going to Madrid) is a different use.

Common mistakes

  • Veo María → Veo a María.
  • Tengo a dos hermanos → Tengo dos hermanos. Tener doesn't take the personal a.
  • Busco a mi móvil → Busco mi móvil. Things don't take it.
  • Veo a el profesor → Veo al profesor.
  • ¿Quién buscas? → ¿A quién buscas?

Practice

  1. Hoy visito _____ mi abuela.
    Today I'm visiting my grandmother.
    Options: a · (nothing) · en
    Show the answer

    a — A specific person as direct object takes the personal a.

  2. Miramos _____ las montañas desde el tren.
    Options: (nothing) · a · al
    Show the answer

    (nothing) — Mountains are things: no personal a.

  3. Tengo _____ tres primos en Valencia.
    Options: (nothing) · a · al
    Show the answer

    (nothing) — Tener doesn't take the personal a, even with people.

  4. ¿Conoces _____ profesor de música?
    Do you know the music teacher?
    Show the answer

    al — Personal a + el = al.

In the app, this lesson is taught one idea at a time with the examples read aloud, followed by questions that explain the rule when you get one wrong. It then comes back for review on later days, until you've answered it correctly on three separate days.
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