Quiero invitar a mis amigos a cenar en mi casa.

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Breakdown of Quiero invitar a mis amigos a cenar en mi casa.

• querer: to want
• la casa: the house
• en: in
• mi: my
• a: to
• mis: my
• invitar: to invite
• cenar: to dine

Questions & Answers about Quiero invitar a mis amigos a cenar en mi casa.

Why do we use a before mis amigos in this sentence?

In Spanish, when you talk about a person (or people) who receives the action directly, you use the “a personal”. This is the preposition a that introduces direct objects who are people (or even pets). So, “Invitar a mis amigos” is correct because you are inviting persons, and it emphasizes that they are the direct object.

Why is it a cenar instead of something like para cenar?

When you use the verb invitar in Spanish, you typically follow it with a plus the infinitive: “invitar a + infinitivo”. It’s a standard structure meaning you are inviting someone to do something. If you said “invitar para cenar”, it would not follow the usual pattern and would sound odd to native speakers.

Could I change Quiero invitar a mis amigos a cenar en mi casa to Quiero invitar a mis amigos a cenar a mi casa?

You could say “en mi casa” or “a mi casa” in some contexts. However, “en mi casa” focuses on the idea that the dinner will take place at your home. “A mi casa” would hint more at inviting them to come over to your home specifically—like directing them to that location. “En mi casa” is more natural if you’re emphasizing that the dinner is happening in your house.

What is the difference between Quiero invitar and Me gustaría invitar?

“Quiero invitar” translates to “I want to invite” and sounds more direct and personal. “Me gustaría invitar” means “I would like to invite” and is generally more polite or softer. Both are correct; it’s just a difference in tone.

Why do we say cenar (to have dinner) and not la cena (the dinner) in this sentence?

In Spanish, it's very common to use the verb form (cenar) after expressions like “invitar a”, because you are specifying the action (eating dinner). If you say “la cena,” you make it sound like you’re inviting someone to the specific event (a dinner), but it’s more idiomatic to use the infinitive of the verb after invitar a.