Usage of ‘a qué’

Stuart M.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Usage of ‘a qué’

Hola,

Not sure I’m entirely clear on this usage...

I get the ‘to what’... but I was surprised that it also means ‘at what’ in the mini-quiz (thinking that was more naturally ‘en qué’). Don’t think I saw this referenced in the lesson?

Is that the extent of it? - use ‘a qué’ for:

- To what

- At what

Gracias,

Asked 3 years ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hola Stuart

I'm not sure which question you are referring to. The only question that needs "¿A qué...? is this one:

What are you playing at?

With correct answer: ¿A qué juegas?

The translation of the "a" used in these questions in Spanish could be "at what...?", "to what...?" or simply "what...?" where there is no use of preposition in English. For example:

¿A qué te dedicas? 

What do you do for a living?

¿A qué playa te gusta ir? 

What/which beach do you like going to?

¿A qué hora quedamos?

What time shall we meet?

I don't think there is a "in what"? translation for any case of "¿a qué...? in Spanish. For "In what?" we'd say "en qué...?

What position was the body in?

¿En qué posición estaba el cuerpo?

Saludos

Inma

Stuart M.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Bang on, thanks Inma

Stuart M. asked:

Usage of ‘a qué’

Hola,

Not sure I’m entirely clear on this usage...

I get the ‘to what’... but I was surprised that it also means ‘at what’ in the mini-quiz (thinking that was more naturally ‘en qué’). Don’t think I saw this referenced in the lesson?

Is that the extent of it? - use ‘a qué’ for:

- To what

- At what

Gracias,

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