Spanish Grammar Test: Spanish Quiz: Prepositions
Use of the Preposition A
Useful Grammar
The preposition a is generally used before the indirect object* in Spanish, that is, before the person to whom or for whom something was done.
The preposition a is also used in Spanish before the direct object if the direct object is a person, proper name, or intelligent animal.
NOTE: After the verb tener the preposition a is not used before the direct object.
*In order to understand Spanish grammar, especially the use of the various pronouns, the student must be able to distinguish between a direct and an indirect object. Some verbs such as give, send, tell, bring, often take two objects after them, one the name of a thing and the other the name of some person or animal. The thing which is named is called the direct object, the person or animal named is the indirect object.
Example:
