25 Prepositions
Although the common prepositions of Spanish are listed alphabetically here for ease of
reference, it is important to follow up the similarities and contrasts among them which
are indicated by cross-references.8.2.1 (p. 36)
25.1 Basic use of prepositions
25.1.1 A
25.1.1.1 Personala
‘Personal’ a, that is, the use of a before a direct object, is obligatory with proper
names actually denoting people (not, for example, when standing for an inanimate
notion such as a literary work or a make of car) and with pronouns denoting
people.
Vi ayer a Juan Fernández.
I saw Juan Fernández yesterday.
¿A quién viste anoche?
Who did you see last night?
No recordamos a nadie. (see 45.1)
We don’t remember anybody.
But:
Leí todo Cervantes en un año.
I read the whole of Cervantes in a year.
29.4 (p. 156)
Otherwise, there is some variation, in which a number of factors intervene:Favouring use of a Not favouring use of a1 Personal qualities or attribution of
person-like qualities (as with a
country or town or an abstract
quality)Viewing people impersonally, or as a
commodity