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 | |
viajar a | to travel to (a place) |
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 | (near future) | |
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 | ||
venir a | to come (in order) to do something | ||
volver a | to ___ again |
Related lessons
- Personal a
- Preposition a
- Indirect object pronouns
- Nouns
- Introduction to verbs
- Infinitives
- Verbs with other prepositions
En français
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