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Spanish » Library » Prepositions & Conjunctions »
Use of preposition a with verbs ir,
salir, venir
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Inma Sánchez
2021Z10Z01
4 questions
When we use the verbs ir, salir, and venir
followed by the preposition a, we are
expressing a purpose, the same way we use the
preposition "para." For example:
Fui a su casa para hablar con él.
I went to his house to talk to him.
Here, we could have used the preposition "a"
with the same intention:
Fui a su casa a hablar con él.
I went to his house to talk to him.
This is possible because the verb "ir" implies
movement, the same way salir and venir do.
Here are more examples:
Salimos a tomar un poco el aire.
We went out to get a bit of fresh air.
Javier no está en casa. Ha salido a correr un
rato.
Javier is not home. He went out to run for
a bit.
Vengo a hablar con el Señor Ramírez. Tengo
una cita.
I've come to speak with Mr. Ramírez. I
have an appointment.
Tú solo has venido a empeorar la situación.
You only came to worsen the situation.
Using "a" is not correct in this context if the verb
is a static verb, not implying movement. For
example:
Estoy aquí para verte.
(I am here to see you.)
no movement - it doesn't allow "a"
He venido para/a verte.
(I came to see you.)
movement - it allows "a"
It can also be followed by "a que" to form a
subordinate clause, using the subjunctive:
He ido al médico a que me mirara la
garganta.
I've been to the doctor to have my throat
looked at.
Sal fuera a que te dé un poco el aire.
Go out so that you get some fresh air.
Vaya usted a la oficina a que le firmen ese
documento.
Go to the o!ce to get that document
signed (for you).
The sentences above also allow "para que" with
the same meaning. Using "a" instead of
"para" is more natural and slightly more
colloquial.
See also verbs using the preposition a
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Preposición
Examples and resources
Sal fuera a que te dé un poco el aire.
Go out so that you get some fresh air.
Tú solo has venido a empeorar la situación.
You only came to worsen the situation.
Salimos a tomar un poco el aire.
We went out to get a bit of fresh air.
Vengo a hablar con el Señor Ramírez. Tengo
una cita.
I've come to speak with Mr. Ramírez. I have
an appointment.
Javier no está en casa. Ha salido a correr un
rato.
Javier is not home. He went out to run for a
bit.
Fui a su casa a hablar con él.
I went to his house to talk to him.
Vaya usted a la oficina a que le firmen ese
documento.
Go to the o!ce to get that document signed
(for you).
Fui a su casa para hablar con él.
I went to his house to talk to him.
He ido al médico a que me mirara la garganta.
I've been to the doctor to have my throat
looked at.
Use of preposition a with
verbs ir, salir, venir
2 of 2
Choose any other correct sentence for
"Salió para pasear un rato." bHe went out to
walk for a bit.) Salió a pasear un rato.
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Doug C1
Kwiziq community member
Condicional o imperfecto de
subjuntivo?
Estoy seguro de que cuando abriste esta
tienda, no pensaste que llegaría el día en el
que un cliente te daría un billete de mil
dólares.
Despues de "no pensaba que" o "no pense
que". Condicional o imperfecto de subjuntivo?
Asked 9 months ago
Like 0
Answer 1
Inma Kwiziq team member
Correct answer
Hola Doug
You can use both:
No pensaba/pensé que llegara/llegaría el
día....
Inma
Like 0
9 months ago
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Jannice C1
Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Verbs ir, salir and venir followed by the
preposition a.
Hi, just a small error. Both examples are the
same.
Fui a su casa para hablar con él.I went to his
house to talk to him.
Here, we could have used the
preposition "a"with the same intention:
Fui a su casa a hablar con él.I went to his
house to talk to him.
Asked 1 year ago
Like 0
Answer 1
Inma Kwiziq team member
Correct answer
Hola Jannice
Those two nearly exact examples are there on
purpose. If you look at them again you can
see that in the second one we say the same
but using preposition "a" (a hablar vs para
hablar)
Saludos
Inma
Like 0
1 year ago
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