Quote:
Originally Posted by supa-coopa
If the infinitive form "hacer" means "to make" then why must we add "a"? Can you explain this to give me a better understanding? Thanks!
Also, what is the difference in alguno and cualquier?
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The 'a' before an infinitive is a preposition. It can be interpreted as meaning 'to'. It serves as an introduction to the infinitive, but isn't required in every case. It looks blantantly redundant to us anglohablantes (English speakers) because we've been taught that an infinitive always starts with 'to' and we read this construction as 'to to make', but hispanoparlantes don't think that way. The infinitive in the instance you cited needs an introductory preposition. It cannot stand alone.
Que,
para and
por are other introductory prepositions you'll find before infinitives. Sometimes there is no need for a preposition. For example:
Tenemos muchas cosas que hacer mañana. (We have a lot of things to do tomorrow.)
Esto sirve para enseñarles a los niños a leer más rápido. (This is used to teach the children to read more quickly.)
No lo dejes por hacer otra cosa. (Don't put it aside to do another thing.)
You originally chose
alguna verbo. Adjectives must agree in gender with the noun, so
alguna is incorrect.
Alguno matches the gender, but when it precedes a noun the 'o' is dropped. The accented syllable remains, however, so it is written
algún.
Alguno means
some. When it appears in an interrogative,
algún verbo can be translated as
any verbs or
any verb. Look at this example:
¿Tocas algún instrumento? Usually translated as, "Do you play
any instrument
s?" this question is really asking "Do you play some kind of instrument?"
Cualquier means
any. This is the form the adjective takes when it precedes a noun of either gender. I chose to use
cualquier verbo because that is the meaning I believe you intended.
