Quote:
Originally Posted by Christoferus
I've seen it used both with the preposition "a" following it and without the preposition "a". My question is when should I use "a" after any form of "mirar"?
Sentences with "a" after "mirar"
They watch their children.
Miran a sus hijos.
He looks left and right.
Él mira a la izquierda y a la derecha.
Sentences without "a" after "mirar"
The cat watches the fish.
El gato mira el pez.
They are watching T.V.
Están mirando televisión.
So is there a rule?
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The first example doesn't really have a preposition after the verb
mirar. That's actually called a personal 'a', and it's used when the direct object is a person (or a pet that you treat as a person).
The second sentence has a preposition after
mirar, but it has nothing to do with the verb. It is there to begin a prepositional phrase - 'a la izquierda'.
Mirar is not followed by a preposition in the other examples you gave because neither of them fits the two cases when
mirar can be followed by 'a'.
Hope that helps.