Personal "a"

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

I'm just now seeing this thread, also I should have posted my other question about "tener" here.

I have another question about the "a". I am looking at the following sample sentence in a section on indirect objects: "El chico comprará ese libro a su padre." Why is it "a" and not "para"?

I understand that phrase in two way, and that's how it is used, generally.

The kid is going to buy the book from his father.
The kid is going to buy the book for his father.

It is ambiguous, so I am not sure if the meaning of "for" should be there.

Originally Posted by laepelba

And another: "La bolsa de valores disminuyó el capital a los inversores." Why "a" instead of "para"?

In this last phrase, more context is needed before answering, because it isn't clear if by "capital" is referring to the investors capital or the capital being asked...

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by chileno

I understand that phrase in two way, and that's how it is used, generally.

The kid is going to buy the book from his father.
The kid is going to buy the book for his father.

It is ambiguous, so I am not sure if the meaning of "for" should be there.

In this one, they were translating from the English to the Spanish, so they wanted it to be "FOR his father".

In this last phrase, more context is needed before answering, because it isn't clear if by "capital" is referring to the investors capital or the capital being asked...

The English they gave for that sentence was "The stock market decreased the wealth for the investors."

Thanks!

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by bobjenkins

Hola , sé que se usa sin falta la "a" personal cuando el objeto directo es un humano, ya estoy casi completamente seguro de las pandas de humanos como "el equipo", "la panda", "ejército de tierra", ect. necesitan la "a" personal, no?

No se lo digas al ejército de tierra
No le gustan los gatos a esa panda
ect.

The word A is used when you need address you to someone.
For example.

A ella le di dinero ayer.
I gave her money yesterday.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Thanks!

Originally Posted by chileno
I understand that phrase in two ways, and that's how it is used, generally.

The kid is going to buy the book from his father.
The kid is going to buy the book for his father.

It is ambiguous, so I am not sure if the meaning of "for" should be there.

In this one, they were translating from the English to the Spanish, so they wanted it to be "FOR his father".

Then "para" should be used.

In this last phrase, more context is needed before answering, because it isn't clear if by "capital" is referring to the investors capital or the capital being asked...

The English they gave for that sentence was "The stock market decreased the wealth for the investors."

Same thing. "para" should be used.

Now, I am not sure, but the word "inversor" I heard of it starting from mid eighties or later. I would use "inversionista"