The Personal A in Spanish

[@natebrubaker3269]

This guy tought me more in 5 minutes than my 90 year old spanish teacher did in 3 quarters

[@zest1627]

hard facts

[@brutalmadness9099]

@@zest1627 I met someone in Italki and her mindset is that " You can only learn from professionals with academic degrees". I am like , so you are saying that you can't learn from native speakers who are not professionals but can understand English? She is really standing on a glass pedestal.

[@jamesvaneaton206]

I can't believe it's that easy. I've been struggling with this on Duolingo for MONTHS! Thank you for the concept of picturing faces. That will help so much.

[@elspanishdude]

You're welcome. Glad it was helpful!

[@NipomoBeach]

Me too. Drove me up the wall. Thanks Mr. Spanish Dude!

[@ian_snyder]

I just came here from Duolingo because I had no idea where this was coming from. I love the idea of "if I am seeing a face", that helps me a lot :) Subbed!

[@jae1757]

@@elspanishdudedo you use this with people only?

[@callmecrimsonpls]

Duolingo teaches you this in section 2

[@elisahalliday]

This lesson TOTALLY helps me with my confusion over using 'a'. I even learned it in a class that a should be used in front of a person with the verb conoce but nothing more. My son asked me why it's "Dame a Cristo" and not "Dame Cristo" in a song and I showed him this video. He totally got it too. He's 10 years old. Thank you so much!

[@elspanishdude]

That's awesome!!! Thank you so much for this great message. I'm so glad to hear it helped you and it's wonderful to hear that your 10 year old son understood. Make me feel great!!!

[@jayjasperjp]

Wow I'm a native Spanish speaker and I never knew this "Personal A". It just comes naturally to me when speaking

[@elspanishdude]

+Jasper Paolo This surprises me! Good to know though. Thanks.

[@jayjasperjp]

+Gringo Español Hey Jordan I just noticed that you never made the video "How Prepositions Work" that you mentioned at 0:43. Or maybe you forgot to post it on the channel? Anyway, just thought I'd let you know.

[@renoleevans]

+Jasper Paolo Jasper Sí es lo que me han enseñado en clase de español. también es igual que aprender por escuchar. Se entiende porque es la manera en la que fue escuchado.

[@catbus2760]

I know right? I'm a native spanish speaker too, and I was blown away at how hard our language is! And how naturally it comes to us.

[@shawdaniel3881]

hey Jasper, I've came across a sentence with an "a" that I find hard to understand. Esta oración " A las vacas les gusta comer hierba." why there is an "a" at the beginning of a sentence?

[@multitieredinvestor183]

I knew one had to use the personal a at times. This clarified 51 years of trying to mejorar lo.

[@nikimajsa9824]

When I used to study Spanish through Hungarian (mother language), I never understood this completely and now you just explained it in 5 minutes in English. :"D Let me add, you are definitely better than my previous Spanish teachers.

[@hanusweihe5372]

Your an awesome teacher keep up the good job

[@elspanishdude]

Thank you!

[@EP-bx6xk]

Where have you been my whole Spanish life?!? This helped so much thank you omg ❤

[@kacey_donner]

Thank you for making this video available to Spanish learners. I am grateful to be able to educate myself despite not having the money to. Your effort is appreciated.

[@jessicavsbridget]

thanks so much! I've got an exam tomorrow and this was the one thing I wish my professor would've explained one more time. Your "picturing a face" rule really helped me.

[@prokofievchambers8603]

I am in love with this guy's approach. I am having such a great time with your approach. You are great!

[@TheBreadPirate]

Super handy!! Thanks for explaining it so clearly.

[@crippsy15]

Just wanted to say that you are a brilliant teacher. Cheers for the content!

[@lynnolsen1498]

Veo a Manuel y a Susi! Gracias un monton!! For some reason I did not learn this lesson well in Spanish class... Its getting clearer now!

[@coltrowell956]

dude you dont blink.

[@elspanishdude]

I do not.

[@headshotnation921]

haha

[@IcouldBNE1]

I think he must edit out the blinks which is why there are a lot of edit breaks in his videos.

[@elisahalliday]

LOL! He's intense that's why! Intense about Spanish that is.

[@benjaminisation]

I think Jordan blink in between those quick and small pauses in his videos. LOL

[@tanyarenaissance8829]

This is the first I heard of the personal 'A'. I will definitely use it in my sentences when speaking Spanish!

[@AeliosArt]

4:11 So what if I wanted to say “I need MY friend”? Would I say “Necesito *a* mi amigo”?

[@selectat2751]

Yes

[@non-applicable.]

Thank you! that was tripping me up for sure! I kept wondering why with the same verb you would use "a" and in other cases you wouldn't. Now I know! Yay

[@polymathematics5837]

I was really struggling with how to use the personal "a". This video really cleared up for me! Muchas gracias!

[@barryjude451]

Thank you so much, for explaining the persona "A".

[@alieidi5148]

Thanks, still using your videos 6 years after they are posted =) (Corona Virus period :( )

[@tonyhinkley255]

Brilliant Jordan. So clear. So concise. Estaba estupendo.

[@johannerichard3746]

I FINALLY got it!! Great job on that explanation! i was stuck and extremely frustrated with thi, and never found anything that helped! Extremely well done …À MI amigo 😁

[@elspanishdude]

Glad it helped!

[@KC-mj6eu]

Brilliant. Spanish Dude, you rule!

[@G8torBrent]

Gracias, Gracias, GRACIAS. I have been so confused about this. One Spanish course taught me to use "a" with verbs of movement (pasar, venir, ir, etc.). Another mentioned the personal "a" but never taught it.

[@EliCook-j1z]

Awesome as always. You are really good at this. Thank you, Jordan.

[@Undisclosed86467]

¡Finalmente lo entiendo! Muchas gracias Jordan!

[@EmpoweredADHD]

Yo this was such a fun way to learn! I kept being like "ooh! Interesting!" out loud. To myself. But also to you? Idk. It was fun. I wish more teachers were this useful lol

[@lorifoley1855]

Thank you so much for making this so clear! I get it now! Also, I love how all your videos have a different color background and different color shirts so it’s real easy to find what you’re looking for! Brilliant idea!

[@cactuscactus6069]

It is much clearer right now as you explained it! Muchas gracias! 😊

[@psmithphil]

Wow! This helps a lot. Now it makes sense and I just need to practice to internalize it.

[@pydiboy]

I'm an upper intermediate Spanish speaker and I forget this rule all the time. This is a great refresher! Gracias

[@raelynn75]

I should just drop my college Spanish class because your videos are easier to understand and you are much more likable.

[@Maxwellthemaltese]

The fact that you got an F in Spanish but you teach Spanish so well is unbelievable P.S. I have a B in Spanish. BTW those graphics are unclickable.

[@susieq984]

I was finished studying my Spanish and tried to think of another thing I could look over just so I could watch more of you 😂😂

[@e.j.f8349]

GREAT lesson. I always wondered why the "A" came before a person who is the direct object. Thanks!

[@nathandmello2646]

This is great mate!!! keep up the tips and im looking forward to working though your programs

[@ironictea]

Thanks! Everything's so clear now! ♥

[@josephincorvaja4336]

Very interesting and informative!

[@ivankaangelovskakutner7485]

Love this guy. He is great tutor ❤

[@lotionsandlipsticks]

This is so helpful as a beginner, thank you!

[@tabithafroehlich]

mille mille gracias !! your explanations are just perfect !! 5 stars to your videos- to all of them !

[@twanger6857]

I imagine it as "I look at Manuel", means the same as "I see manuel"

[@tristanrujano]

They weren’t clickable lol, I love this video

[@zaidshaikh1064]

4:06 Busco or Buscando a mi amigo? Which one is correct? You said Busco but according to the grammar it says buscando? Please clarify...

[@beadrury3988]

Super helpful, thank you so much!! Great explanation, and love your delivery!

[@lyzabethlopez]

Thank you... okay now a vid on when to use Nos vs Nosotros ... ;-)

[@ronaldsitopro3938]

"A nosotros nos gustaría comer pizza” In spanish u can omit “nosotros" cause the words “nos” would already be involving you with other people “Nos gustaría comer pizza” NOS = US NOSOTROS = WE

[@kylekuhling7793]

Super good video. Thank you!

[@mickuljatheseagull]

You explained that really great.

[@jakejohnson5909]

This was actually very helpful! Thanyou

[@elspanishdude]

I'm glad! My pleasure.

[@pmaz-11]

Thank you sir. Perfect info!!!

[@jackfitton336]

This "a" has been confusing me for weeks! 😁 gracias!

[@raymondravinsky6478]

Gracias. Spanishdude, you're the best👍😊❗

[@rhllnm]

Was wondering about this mystery today and stumbled on your channel. Awesome, just subscribed for more.

[@qusaimurad2152]

Dude .... this is amazing. Thank you so much

[@antoinelavosier9620]

Thank you! The "a" has been driving me crazy. Now I understand. Jack

[@opfer1555]

yeah you understand how to use the a right? Pause, don't watch this video again and try to explain how to use it. Let's see if you'd be able to explain it, without looking it up again.

[@antoinelavosier9620]

@@opfer1555 Are you an asshole looking for a fight?

[@ingenide]

@@opfer1555 damn, who shit in your cereal?

[@jpod4237]

%

[@drsamuel]

Thank you. Helped me immensely. It's pretty clear now.

[@Kenikex]

As a native speaker, I had NEVER paused to think about this, the personal A. It just comes natural, and had never thought about it.

[@MissFlint4U]

Great lesson!

[@dimwitsadvocate6264]

Great video! Subscribed.

[@ByDortexDesign]

Yo en verdad soy español y hablo perfectamente español, y me meto a tus vídeos para aprender ingles :) Like :D

[@ezioblazesit9017]

Yo no hablo espanol. Tu hablas espanol muy bien.

[@shannonwilmore4631]

Thank you so much for EVERYTHING!! Question: I read the personal A is not used with the verb tener. Por ejemplo: Tengo que invitar Ashley a la fiesta. What do you think about this?

[@tylerstoddard5076]

Great video and you sound like Schmidt from New Girl.

[@alicenjanesings4131]

Hola Thank you for the great video! Question: in your quiz, question 8 seems to be about an unspecific person - a nice friend (any nice friend). Why then would I need the “a”? Thanks

[@HelenBradley]

AlicenJaneSings I had that question too. To me it didn’t seem that a specific enough person was being referred to. But maybe it was the fact that they were a nice person that tipped it over into needing the “a“.

[@cpcoach]

I laughed out loud when you said "if you'd let it in your house use the personal "a". If you wouldn't let it in your house don't use the personal "a". I'll remember that for both people AND pets. 🤣😂

[@WilliamAshleyOnline]

whoa that voy thing is mind blowing... the little personal thing was awesome.. . :)

[@WilliamAshleyOnline]

+William Ashley Gringo is awsome.

[@jpod4237]

DiD respond to self???

[@doginboat]

thank you, this really helped

[@AustinAdams]

Thanks Jordan for your experience and expertise awesomeness. Even the little things like this "A" video is helping me understand and cleared a lot of confusion. You made Spanish learning my bitch. Gringo forever! Señor Austin A.

[@rachel-iu4dc]

thanks for another great video

[@eternalsunshine9726]

Great video!

[@robertpreston7272]

This is wonderfully explained... however. The first thing I try in Google Translate is "yo quierro a Maria", which turned out to be incorrect because of the 'personal a'. Is there a rule for exceptions such as 'wanting' someone?

[@arnabkumarghosh4279]

just mindblowing stuff..gracious

[@pandrewp419]

"If you let it in your house..." 😂

[@anthonyshropshire7279]

A Super easy one to get under the belt. I was already saying things like Busco mi hijo. Now that I have an A super easy to slide in. Thinking of it like ... A person? .. Personal A; ...When someones talking to you ... Person A? ... A person. Super easy, who would have known that an A makes all the difference ... Now: Busco a mi hijo.... or in progressive; Estoy buscando a mi hijo ... Thanks Gringo ....

[@cwtckness]

Thank you Jordan

[@paulgordon1553]

Thank you, very helpful

[@anasmm9190]

thank you so much , you made it so easy

[@elspanishdude]

Glad it helped! My pleasure. Thanks!

[@Jstallings-g2d]

You explain this well

[@erinslack5405]

thank you, I have been struggling for a month with this personal "A"

[@nukumtilltheyglow]

So have I

[@sarahicarlee625]

Thank you for saving my grade:)

[@bubblegumisevil9007]

Gracias Señor Renner 😊

[@ІраГолубець-м4ю]

Dude, you're awesome. Thank you for great job!

[@beckyharding1309]

Excellent and so helpful! Picturing a face (even one with fur! lol) is so clear and understandable. But I confess, I'm still stuck on many phrases when the A comes at the beginning of a sentence. *SIGH*

[@beckyharding1309]

I just had Duolingo tell me I need the personal A in this sentence that is marked wrong: Yo conozco muchas personas famosas. Is it because I know or am familiar with them? I wasn't picturing a specific face, lol!

[@adventureawaits3918]

So helpful!!!! Thanks 😊

[@saishkarmali2423]

Iam going is present continuous right the it should ido comer un bocadillo? Confused between that

[@Nandinandito]

Huh. Never thought about this. Using "a" like that sounds like a new concept to me. I think I tend to switch, between using it and not using it, at random. I can't even recreate the sentences in my head. I think it's because the "a" is kind of hidden behind the word before it, that I don't really notice it.

[@elspanishdude]

Fernando Carbajal I agree Fernando. Also sometimes we learn something, then go use it a lot, or don't learn it and naturally use it a lot and don't even know what the rule is. But we still use it right. Just like with our native languages. Or maybe you're just using it wrong =) Either way, I get your sentiment and I feel the same sometimes. But in this case, it will never stop you from being understood.

[@Nandinandito]

Gringo Español I was born with the language and never took any languages. Adding to that, I only spoke it with my mom. I'm fairly sure I'm using it completely wrong. 😅

[@elspanishdude]

Fernando Carbajal LOL. Well, hopefully not anymore!

[@SquishyBob]

Thank you so much Gringo Person. This is so going to help me with my Quiz :)

[@parkerlaube616]

you are so helpful

[@malikashafa3590]

Instant subscribe!

[@mickyrox5141]

is there a video on the use of subjunctives ?

[@mel150]

Brilliant! Thanks!

[@jamesmitchell3422]

Gracias,I like your graphic thoughts.(see Manuel etc.)

[@firstlast9731]

Thanks bro. I was trippin over this A thing

[@andrewgriffin8849]

Two quick questions about the personal "a". 1) In the beginning of your videos for example, when you say "Soy Jordan"...I'm assuming that this must be an exception to the rule because you're referring to yourself? I mean...you ARE a specific person and you do have a face. And 2) I've heard that the personal "a" could be necessary when referring to occupations. If I am an engineer would it be proper to say "Soy a ingeniero" or is it okay to just say "Soy ingeniero"? Perhaps again it depends on if you're referring to a specific person, like "He is an engineer" versus "I'm studying to become an engineer." Thanks!!

[@alex333ccc]

1) You don't use the personal a in the first case because "ser" is not a verb that goes along a direct object pronoun. It's called a copula and as such, it does not require the personal a. 2) it's something similar with your other question: when talking about jobs, you don't use the personal a because no one is receiving the action. Hope it helps!

[@andrewgriffin8849]

Great explanation. Thanks!

[@pyrodracoaureus8469]

I have a quick question. If a person is doing an indirect action on another person (For example: I see my brother and my mother in the photo), should you use personal a?

[@TheMaru666]

Yes , you should . " Veo a mi madre y a mi hermano en la foto "

[@gilliand7903]

you're a godsend

[@urarevolution]

This is very helpful. So if I were to translate “My mother sings very well” should I give the personal A because this person has a relationship with me? “A mi madre canta muy bien” or no because she is not the object? So confusing but I think to your point, it’s just getting the hang of it. 🤨

[@commanderaugustus7882]

Great explanation, this has been annoying me on duo lingo for some time.

[@Tia_Tonae]

Someone added this link on Duo lingo and I'm so glad they did! Hopefully now I can start getting answers right.... without just guessing.

[@arizonawut]

Did you go to college to teach? Great course.

[@OldConorWasGreat]

Thank you, that help a lot!