A: After Verbs

Many Spanish verbs require the preposition a before a following noun or infinitive. These combinations are fixed, and they rarely line up with the prepositions used in English. Learning them as pairs — ir a, aprender a, invitar a — is the fastest way to sound natural.

Verbs of motion + infinitive

When a verb of motion is followed by another action, Spanish connects them with a. English usually just uses to.

VerbMeaning
ir ato go to (do something)
venir ato come to (do something)
volver ato (do something) again
llegar ato manage to, to reach
salir ato go out to

Voy a estudiar español esta tarde.

I am going to study Spanish this afternoon.

Volvimos a ver la película porque nos encantó.

We watched the movie again because we loved it.

Note that volver a + infinitive is a special structure. It does not mean to return to do something; it means to do something again.

Verbs of beginning

When an action starts, Spanish connects the beginning verb to the new action with a.

VerbMeaning
empezar ato start to
comenzar ato begin to
ponerse ato set about doing
echarse ato burst out (crying, laughing)

Empecé a aprender francés el año pasado.

I started to learn French last year.

Cuando oyó la noticia, se puso a llorar.

When he heard the news, he started to cry.

Verbs of learning and teaching

VerbMeaning
aprender ato learn to
enseñar ato teach to
acostumbrarse ato get used to

Aprendí a manejar cuando tenía dieciséis años.

I learned to drive when I was sixteen.

Mi abuela me enseñó a preparar tamales.

My grandmother taught me to make tamales.

Verbs of influence

These verbs involve one person causing or encouraging another to do something, and they all take a before the infinitive.

VerbMeaning
ayudar ato help to
invitar ato invite to
obligar ato force to
animar ato encourage to

Los invitamos a cenar con nosotros el sábado.

We invited them to have dinner with us on Saturday.

Mis padres me obligaron a terminar mis tareas.

My parents made me finish my homework.

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Notice how English sometimes uses the bare infinitive (made me finish), but Spanish always keeps the a.

Reflexive verbs with a

Several reflexive verbs are completed by a, especially ones that describe getting used to something.

Todavía no me acostumbro al clima de esta ciudad.

I still have not gotten used to this city's climate.

A short memorization strategy

When you learn a new Spanish verb, always note whether it requires a preposition. Write it in your notes as empezar a, aprender a, invitar a — with the a attached. Over time, the preposition becomes part of the verb in your mind, and you stop forgetting it.

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A good mental trick: almost every verb of motion, beginning, or learning takes a. When in doubt with these verb types, a is usually the right choice.

Compare this page with verbs that take de to see how the two main prepositions divide the verb world.

Related Topics

  • Prepositions OverviewA1 — An introduction to Spanish prepositions and the main words used to connect ideas.
  • A: Direction and DestinationA1 — How to use the preposition a to express movement toward a place or person.
  • A: The Personal AB1 — The rule that requires a before a specific human direct object in Spanish.
  • De: After VerbsB1 — Common Spanish verbs that require the preposition de before a noun or infinitive.