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Preposición a - modo, uso, costumbre e instrumento |
The preposition a is frequently used to indicate the manner or style in which something is done. Often these are fixed/semi-fixed expressions (semilexicalizadas) which must be learnt; the preposition a is not always possible, e.g. a caballo but en burro.1
1) When followed by a singular noun it indicates the means, manner or tool used to do something.2
-Fuimos a Granada a pie, a caballo, a nado — We went to Granada on foot, on horseback, swimming
-Una sentadilla a una pierna, dominadas a un brazo — A one-legged squat, a one-arm pull-up
-Pintado a lápiz, a brocha — Painted in pencil, by brush
-Cocinar a la parrilla, a la plancha, al horno, al vapor, a la brasa — To grill, to griddle, to oven-cook/bake, to steam(-cook), to barbecue
-Se hizo a mano, a máquina — It was made by hand, by machine
2) The preposition a is commonly seen with the noun in plural, denoting violent, abrupt or impetuous movements —especially common with blows of body parts.3
-Los autores terminaron a golpes — The authors came to blows
-Lo sacó del bar a patadas, a empujones — He kicked/pushed him out of the bar
-Lo mataron a cabezazos, a codazos, a mordiscos, a dentelladas — They head butted, elbowed, bit him to death
-Se liaron a guantazos, a puñetazos, a bofetadas — They slapped each other about / They got into a fist fight
3) The a + sustantivo en plural combination also forms a significant number of locuciones verbales that denote the way an action unfolds or is carried out, as well as the intensity or rate of flow or consumption.4
-El borracho avanzaba a trompicones/ a rastras/ a hurtadillas/ a ciegas/ a saltos/ a tientas —The drunkard staggered/ crawled/ tip-toed/ blindly marched on/ skipped along/ felt his way along
-Bebía su vermut a sorbos/ a tragos — He sipped away at/gulped down his vermouth
-La sangre salía a borbotones/ a chorros/ a raudales — The blood came gushing/pouring out
4) When followed by the adjective with the article (usually la), it usually indicates a customary way of doing something, especially with cooking styles.4
-Una tortilla a la francesa — A French-style omelette
-He cocinado gambas al ajillo — I have cooked garlic prawns
-Pulpo a la gallega — Galician-style octopus
-Rajoy contestó a la gallega ante el tribunal — Rajoy gave a typical Galician answer before the court [≈Responder pero sin aclarar nada]
-Fue una boda muy a la inglesa — It was a very English wedding
5) A lo is more common with names or common nouns, or adjectives expressing exaggerated, inappropriate or unusual behaviour. Many of these are fixed expressions (lexicalizadas), which must be learnt.4
-Unas elecciones a lo mexicano (a la mexicana) — Mexican-style elections
-Lo hizo a lo bestia, a lo loco —He did it like crazy, any old how
-Neymar lo celebró a lo Usain Bolt — Neymar did a Usain Bolt-esque celebration
En La Prensa
El entrenador considera que el cuadro valenciano no saldrá «a lo loco desde el inicio» y que «tendrá paciencia para buscar su oportunidad». ABC.es-Jun 24, 2017
Nuestra primera parada la hacemos con una ensaladilla rusa fiel a la vieja escuela, rodeada de unas patatas fritas a la inglesa siempre tan apetecibles, abcdesevilla.es-Jun 12, 2017
...cuando Tom Steels fue a la calle por lanzar un bidón a Frédéric Moncassin en pleno sprint, y en 2010, cuando Mark Renshaw, lanzador de Cavendish, apartó a cabezazos a Julian Dean. Diario Vasco-Jul 5, 2017
Los miembros de este partido votarán por el candidato que escoja su jefe, una especie de dedazo a lo mexicano . Las2orillas-Jul 10, 2017
In Español-Avanzado Articles
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-Preposición A - Modo-
