Is personal 'a' correct here

[BobRitter]

LearnWithOliver.com daily phrase has:

A los perros les encanta jugar.
Dogs love to play.

Since "Dogs" here refer to dogs in general not a pet is the "A" appropriate.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

The preposition "a" is appropriate here, because this is not a "personal a", but an indirect object, Bob. :)

In the sentence, the subject is "jugar", while the indirect object is "los perros".

A los perros les encanta jugar.

The verb "encantar" is just like "gustar". Although we tend to focus on the importance of the person or animal for whom a thing or an action is interesting, the actual subject is the thing.

Our fellow forum member, Poli, has a great tip: Treat the sentences with the verb "gustar/encantar/fascinar" as if they were like "this thing pleases me". In your sentence, "playing pleases the dogs".

This is a very difficult subject, Bob. Here are some links you might find useful to more conversations and examples about this topic, here (http://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=10261), here (http://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=23291), and here (http://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=17653). If you need clarification or more explanations let me know. :)

[poli]

In addition to what Angelica writes and for your information dogs and other creatures that are dear to us, can be given the personal a just like humans.

Example:¿Diste al perro su comida?

[Rusty]

@poli
While it's true that we may choose to personify a pet, and use a personal 'a' to introduce a personified direct object, the dog in your sentence is the indirect object, introduced with the preposition 'a'.

Here is an example where a dog is the direct object, and personified.
Vi al perro, Gazpacho.

Here, the direct object is a dog that is not personified.
Vi el perro.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I agree with Rusty. Some examples of "personal a" may be:

- ¿No oyes ladrar a los perros?
- Llevé a mi gato al veterinario.
- Nunca hay que cargar al conejo por las orejas.
- Durante todo mi gobierno trabajamos en impulsar al país hacia adelante.

[BobRitter]

Es complicado pero creo que entiendo.
Mas y mas me encanta la gramatica, me hace pensar y mantiene mi mente joven. Por lo menos espero que así!
Gracias.