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Tener and the personal "a"

 

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  #1  
Old March 27, 2010, 09:38 PM
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Question Tener and the personal "a"

Is "tener" the only verb that does not use the personal "a" for direct objects?
- Tengo dos tíos.
- Ella tiene amigas en Perú.

Is there a specific reason for "tener" not using the personal "a", or is it "just one of those things"?
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  #2  
Old March 28, 2010, 02:19 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by laepelba View Post
Is "tener" the only verb that does not use the personal "a" for direct objects?
- Tengo dos tíos.
- Ella tiene amigas en Perú.

Is there a specific reason for "tener" not using the personal "a", or is it "just one of those things"?
I think it has something to do with avoiding ownership of other people. Without the personal A I think it depersonifies the person so it doesn´t seem like they´re your property, but it´s just a guess

Hay excepciones a la regla ,,
Quote:
After tener: The personal a is used after tener when it is used in the sense to hold someone or to have someone somewhere. Tengo a mi hijo en los brazos, I have my son in my arms. Tengo a mi hija en el pesebre, I have my daughter in the crib.
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  #3  
Old March 28, 2010, 02:33 AM
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¿Tienes a tu hija en el pesebre, donde comen los animales?

Sometimes "a" is required:

Tengo dos tíos, but
Sólo tengo a mi tío (I don't have another relative).

With a CCL (complemento circunstancial de lugar - en) you'll use "a", as in Bob's examples:

Tengo a mi hija en el pesebre (espero que no se la coma una vaca).
Tengo a mi madre en la clínica.

Another ones:

Tengo un profesor de inglés, but
Tengo a un vecino como profesor de inglés (tengo a alguien como) or
Tengo a alguien que me da clases de inglés .

Tengo a Lou Ann como una buena profesora.
Tengo a Bob por un estudiante divertido.

Tengo a X como/por are my opinions about them.

I hope it helps.
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  #4  
Old March 28, 2010, 03:07 AM
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Por eso es algo así?

Tener alguien.

Tener a alguien por/como.
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Old March 28, 2010, 05:37 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by irmamar View Post
¿Tienes a tu hija en el pesebre, donde comen los animales?

Sometimes "a" is required:

Tengo dos tíos, but
Sólo tengo a mi tío (I don't have another relative).

With a CCL (complemento circunstancial de lugar - en) you'll use "a", as in Bob's examples:

Tengo a mi hija en el pesebre (espero que no se la coma una vaca).
Tengo a mi madre en la clínica.

Another ones:

Tengo un profesor de inglés, but
Tengo a un vecino como profesor de inglés (tengo a alguien como) or
Tengo a alguien que me da clases de inglés .

Tengo a Lou Ann como una buena profesora.
Tengo a Bob por un estudiante divertido.

Tengo a X como/por are my opinions about them.

I hope it helps.
Sorry, Irmamar - remember that I don't get enough Spanish to understand examples without translations. Can you please give me translations of your examples? Thanks! Also, I don't get why an animal or cow is going to eat the baby!!??
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  #6  
Old March 28, 2010, 01:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by irmamar View Post
¿Tienes a tu hija en el pesebre, donde comen los animales?

Sometimes "a" is required:

Tengo dos tíos, but
Sólo tengo a mi tío (I don't have another relative).

With a CCL (complemento circunstancial de lugar - en) you'll use "a", as in Bob's examples:

Tengo a mi hija en el pesebre (espero que no se la coma una vaca).
Tengo a mi madre en la clínica.

Other ones:

Tengo un profesor de inglés.
I have an English teacher.

Tengo a un vecino como profesor de inglés. (tengo a alguien como)
I have an neighbor whose an English teacher.
or

Tengo a alguien que me da clases de inglés .
I have someone that gives me English lessons.

Tengo a Lou Ann como una buena profesora.
I have Lou Ann as a good teacher.
Tengo a Bob por un estudiante divertido.
I have bob as a fun student.

Tengo a X como/por are my opinions about them.

I hope it helps.
Trato de traducirlas, espero que no te molesten

I think the rule Irma´s explaining is that the personal A is used with tener in the cases that have "como / por / que". I think those cases are considered sentences with secondary clauses

Tener a chica que me gusta
Tener chica buena


@Irma , [other ones] or [another one (singular)]
ya el español práctico
[Yo creo que Irma explicó que se usa la persona A en los casos cuando la frase tiene una cláusula secundaria]
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  #7  
Old March 28, 2010, 04:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by laepelba View Post
Also, I don't get why an animal or cow is going to eat the baby!!??
Because it's in a manger.
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  #8  
Old March 28, 2010, 09:46 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pjt33 View Post
Because it's in a manger.
So he's talking about baby Jesus?

Can someone verify that Bob's English translations of Irma's sentences are on the right track?
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  #9  
Old March 29, 2010, 12:49 AM
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Quote:
Escrito originalmente por irmamar
¿Tienes a tu hija en el pesebre, donde comen los animales?

Sometimes "a" is required:

Tengo dos tíos, but - I have two oncles.
Sólo tengo a mi tío (I don't have another relative). - I just have my oncle.

With a CCL (complemento circunstancial de lugar - en) you'll use "a", as in Bob's examples:

Tengo a mi hija en el pesebre (espero que no se la coma una vaca). - My daughter is in the manger.
Tengo a mi madre en la clínica. - My mother is in the hospital.

Other ones:

Tengo un profesor de inglés.
I have an English teacher.

Tengo a un vecino como profesor de inglés. (tengo a alguien como)
I have an neighbor whose an English teacher.
I have a neighbour who is my English teacher

or

Tengo a alguien que me da clases de inglés .
I have someone that gives me English lessons.

Tengo a Lou Ann como una buena profesora.
I have Lou Ann as a good teacher.
Tengo a Bob por un estudiante divertido.
I have bob as a fun student.

Tengo a X como/por are my opinions about them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by laepelba View Post
So he's talking about baby Jesus?

I think Bob wanted to translate "crib", with the meaning of "pesebre de Navidad", and he wrote "pesebre" instead of "cuna". But she's talking about "mi hija" (my daughter), so she can't be baby Jesus.

Can someone verify that Bob's English translations of Irma's sentences are on the right track?
I've tried to translate them, but surely there are mistakes.

Thanks Bob.
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  #10  
Old March 29, 2010, 06:27 AM
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Thanks - between yours and Bob's translations, I understand most of them. I'm not sure about a couple, but I'll keep working on them. THANKS!
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