Ask a Question(Create a thread) |
|
A este estudianteThis is the place for questions about conjugations, verb tenses, adverbs, adjectives, word order, syntax and other grammar questions for English or Spanish. |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
A este estudiante
I'm wondering why these sentences begin with "a" instead of just "este estudiante". Does anyone know?
A este estudiante le gusta la historia. Al niño no le gusta jugar de tenis. A las mujeres le gustan té. Thanks!
__________________
~ Brenda |
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
|
#2
|
||||
|
||||
The phrase that begins with 'a' clarifies (names/gives emphasis to) the indirect object pronoun. In each sentence you provided, the indirect object pronoun 'le' is used. This pronoun, by itself, could be transliterated as 'to him/to her/to you/to it'. The phrases that begin with 'a' are simply clarifying 'to whom' the pronoun referred.
This is why, when a native Spanish speaker is starting to learn English, she often says, "The women, they like tea," instead of, "The women like tea." In Spanish, both the indirect object pronoun AND the 'a' phrase are needed to make the sentence clear and grammatically correct. By the way, the second sentence should read: Al niño no le gusta jugar al tenis. The last sentence should read: A las mujeres les gusta el té." Last edited by Rusty; November 01, 2007 at 05:59 AM. |
Link to this thread | |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
¡hola! I need help with este, éste, etc. | bleitzow | Grammar | 5 | November 19, 2008 07:58 PM |
Mira este hongo | Tomisimo | General Chat | 1 | July 12, 2007 12:00 PM |
¿Alguien puede comprobar este para mi? | pogo | Practice & Homework | 4 | February 21, 2007 01:31 PM |
Esto, este, esta | Zach | Vocabulary | 5 | June 07, 2006 01:57 AM |