Breakdown of Voy a la farmacia a comprar la medicina.
comprar
to buy
la farmacia
pharmacy
ir
to go
a
to
la medicina
medicine
Questions & Answers about Voy a la farmacia a comprar la medicina.
Why do we use a before comprar instead of para?
In Spanish, when you use a verb of motion like ir (to go), you connect it to the next action with the preposition a. Even though English speakers often want to use para to mean "in order to," after a motion verb you must use a. That's why it is Voy a la farmacia a comprar... (I am going to the pharmacy to buy...).
How would I change this sentence to say "I must go to the pharmacy" using deber?
Could voy a comprar just mean "I am going to buy" as a future plan?
Exactly! The formula ir + a + infinitive is the most common way to talk about future plans in Spanish. While this specific sentence highlights a physical trip because of a la farmacia, the phrase voy a comprar by itself naturally translates as "I am going to buy" meaning you plan to do it soon.
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