Elizabeth Soto asked 18 Sep 11What is the difference between "a" & "per"
Can someone please help me understand when to use "a" and "per"
Answers
2
"A" and "Per" are both simple prepositions.
"A" (and the corresponding prepositional contractions) is used for:
- "Complemento di Termine":
"Francesco ha dato un libro _ad_ Anna."
[ "A" in front of words beginning with "a" becomes "Ad" ]
[ Francesco gave a book _to_ Anna. ]
"John ha dato un pugno _al_ muro."
[ John gave a punch _to_the_ wall. ]
- Time. In italian, the feminine plural is used, except for "one o'clock" (feminine singular):
"Tornerò/Torno _alle_ 4." / "Sarò di ritorno _alle_ 4."
[ I'll be back _at_ four" ]
"Tornerò/Torno _all'_ una in punto." / "Sarò di ritorno _all'_ una in punto."
[ I'll be back _at_ 1 o'clock" ]
- Certain "Complementi di luogo":
[ Complemento di Moto a Luogo ]
"Vado _a_ Roma"
"I'm going _to_ Rome."
[ Complemento di Stato in Luogo - For nations and few other things, "In" is used instead ]
"Sono _a_ Parigi"
"I'm _in_ Paris"
- Certain "Locuzioni Distributive":
"..._a_ due _a_ due"
"..._in_ twos"
"Per" is used for:
- Certain "Complementi di Moto a Luogo"
"Il treno parte _per_ Roma alle..."
"The train leaves _for_ Rome at...
- Certain "Complementi di Moto per Luogo"
"Siamo passati _per_ la foresta"
"We went _through_ the forest"
- Certain "Complementi di tempo continuato" [ "Per" can be omitted ]
"Ho studiato (_per_) tutto il giorno"
"I studied all day long"
- Certain "Complementi di fine o scopo"
"Gioco _per_ vincere."
"I play _to_ win."
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There are many other contexts in which these prepositions are used, but I can't write them all...
The subject is too vast to cover here...
But I'll be glad to answer to more specific questions about this topic. :)
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