The Spanish Personal A
English says "I see Maria." Spanish says Veo a María. That little a is the personal a. It has no translation. It simply marks that the person is the one receiving the action. Learn it as a habit: person after the verb, add a.
Quick answer
- A specific person as the direct object takes a: Veo a María.
- A thing does not: Veo la casa.
- Tener usually skips it: Tengo dos hermanos.
The basic rule: people get an a
When the direct object is a specific person, put a before it. When the direct object is a thing, do not.
Examples
- Veo a María.I see Maria.A person, so add a.
- Veo la casa.I see the house.A thing, no a.
- Conozco a tu hermano.I know your brother.A person again.
- Visito a mis abuelos los domingos.I visit my grandparents on Sundays.Always with family and friends.
With al, pets, and groups
A + el becomes al. Pets and animals you love are treated like people, so they take a too. Groups of people also take it.
Examples
- Llamo al doctor.I call the doctor.a + el = al.
- Quiero mucho a mi perro.I love my dog very much.A pet is treated like a person.
- Escucho a los niños.I listen to the kids.A group of people.
- Extraño a mi familia.I miss my family.Family is people.
Alguien, nadie, quién
Words that stand for people also take the personal a when they are the direct object: alguien, nadie, quién, alguno, ninguno.
Examples
- ¿Ves a alguien?Do you see anyone?Alguien stands for a person.
- No conozco a nadie aquí.I do not know anyone here.Nadie stands for a person.
- ¿A quién buscas?Who are you looking for?A comes first in the question.
When you do not use the personal a
Skip it with tener when you mean having family or friends, and after hay. Also skip it when the person is not specific, like a job you need to fill.
Examples
- Tengo dos hermanos.I have two siblings.Tener usually skips the a.
- Hay muchos estudiantes en la clase.There are many students in the class.After hay, no a.
- Necesitamos una secretaria.We need a secretary.Any secretary, not a specific one.
- Necesitamos a la secretaria.We need the secretary.A specific person, so add a.
Spanish around the world
- The personal a works the same in every Spanish-speaking country. In everyday Mexican speech people sometimes drop it with pets or with a loose group, but the standard rule above is always correct.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Veo María en la fiesta.
Correct: Veo a María en la fiesta.
A specific person needs a.
Incorrect: Veo a la casa.
Correct: Veo la casa.
Things do not take the personal a.
Incorrect: Tengo a dos hermanos.
Correct: Tengo dos hermanos.
Tener usually skips the personal a.
Incorrect: No conozco nadie.
Correct: No conozco a nadie.
Nadie is a person word and takes a.
Remember the rule
- Specific person after the verb: add a. Thing: do not.
- Alguien, nadie, quién take it too. Pets you care about usually do.
- Tener and hay skip it.
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the personal a in Spanish?
It is the word a placed before a direct object that is a specific person. It has no English equivalent.
Do I use the personal a with pets?
Usually yes, when the pet is like family: Quiero a mi perro.
Why does tener not take the personal a?
With tener the focus is on possession, not on a person receiving an action, so it usually skips it.
Is the personal a the same as the preposition a?
It looks the same, but it does not mean "to." It only marks a person as the object.
Ready to practice your Spanish?
The personal a becomes automatic with repetition. Try a short, free session.
Words from this lesson
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