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Note on Gustar Structure: Partial A Phrases
  • Question
  • I see that sometime partial A phrases like ¿Y a ti? (And you?) and A ella no (...she doesn't) appear in the examples. How do those work?
  • Answer
  • The A phrase minus the matching indirect object pronoun and the gustar form is often used in a gustar context, simply because repeating those elements is not necessary. But the A still can't be left out.
  • If a pronoun is used, it must be the prepositional pronoun form (same as subject except for mí, ti).
  • In a non-gustar structure, no A appears, and subject* pronouns are used; compare:
    • Yo* no como manzanas, pero * las comes. I don't eat apples, but you eat them.
    • (A mí) no me gustan las manzanas, pero a ti te gustan. I don't like apples, but you like them.
  • Note also the use of sí, no, también or tampoco at the end of the phrase to compare and contrast likes and dislikes:
    • A ella le gusta nadar, pero a mí no. She likes to swim, but I don't.
    • A ella le gusta nadar. A Susana también. She likes to swim. Susana does, too.
    • A Juana no le gusta el golf, pero a Susana sí. Juana doesn't like golf, but Susana does.
    • A Juana no le gusta el golf. A mí tampoco. Juana doesn't like golf. I don't either.
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