Spanish verbs requiring a preposition
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A number of Spanish verbs require the preposition a in front of a noun or infinitive.
Verbs + a + noun
acercarse a | to approach | |
acostumbrarse a | to get used to | |
aficionarse a | to become fond of | |
asemejarse a | to resemble, look like | |
asistir a | to attend | |
asomarse a | to appear at | |
cuidar a | to take care of | |
dar a | to face, overlook | |
dedicarse a | to devote oneself to | |
dirigirse a | to go toward, address | |
echar la culpa a | to blame | |
entrar a | to enter | |
equivaler a | to equal, be equivalent to | |
estar sentado a | to be seated at | |
ir a | to go to | |
jugar a | to play (a game, sport) | |
llamar a | to call, telephone | |
llegar a | to arrive at/in | |
oler a | to smell like | |
paracerse a | to look like | |
querer a | to love | |
resistirse a | to resist | |
responder a | to answer | |
saber a | to taste like | |
ser aficionado a | to be a fan of | |
sonar a | to sound like | |
subir a | to board, get on/into | |
tocar a | to knock on | |
tocarle a ___ | to be ___’s turn |
Note: Some of these are the personal a, included here because they are common verbs and English speakers don’t always remember that it’s required in front of people.
Verbs + a + infinitive
Note that this construction may be equivalent to an English infinitive (e.g., to do) or a gerund (doing).
acertar a | to manage to | |
acostumbrarse a | to be/get used to | |
alcanzar a | to manage to | |
animar a | to encourage to | |
aprender a | to learn to | |
atreverse a | to dare to | |
ayudar a | to help | |
bajar a | to go down to | |
comenzar a | to begin to | |
comprometerse a | to undertake to | |
conducir a | to lead to | |
contribuir a | to contribute to | |
convidar a | to invite to | |
decidirse a | to decide to | |
dedicarse a | to devote oneself to | |
desafiar a | to challenge to | |
disponerse a | to get ready to | |
echar(se) a | to begin to | |
empezar a | to begin to | |
enseñar a | to teach to, show how to | |
forzar a | to force to | |
impulsar a | to urge to | |
incitar a | to incite to | |
inclinar a | to incline to | |
invitar a | to invite to | |
ir a | to be going to | |
limitarse a | to limit oneself to | |
llegar a | to manage to, succeed in, end up | |
llegar a ser | to become | |
llevar a | to lead to | |
mandar a | to send to | |
meterse a | to start to | |
negarse a | to refuse to | |
obligar a | to force, compel to | |
pasar a | to go on to | |
persuadir a | to persuade to | |
ponerse a | to begin to, set about | |
prepararse a | to get ready to | |
renunciar a | to renounce | |
resignarse a | to resign oneself to | |
resistirse a | to resist | |
tender a | to tend to | |
volver a | to ___ again |
Related lessons
- Personal a
- Prepositions
- Indirect object pronouns
- Nouns
- Introduction to verbs
- Infinitives
- Verbs with other prepositions
En français
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