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When we use the Spanish verbs ir, salir, and venir followed by the preposition a, we are expressinga purpose, the same way we use the preposition "para." For example:
Fui a su casa para hablar con él.I went to his house to talk to him.
Here, we could have used the preposition"a" with the same intention:
Fui a su casa a hablar con él.I went to his house to talk to him.
This is possible because the verb "ir" implies movement, the same waysalir andvenir do. Here are more examples:
Salimos a tomar un poco el aire.We went out toget a bit of fresh air.
Javier no está en casa. Ha salido a correr un rato.Javier is not home. He went out to run for a bit.
Vengo a hablar con el Señor Ramírez. Tengo una cita.I've come to speak with Mr. Ramírez. I have an appointment.
Tú solo has venido a empeorar la situación.You only came to worsen the situation.
Using "a" is not correct in this context if the verb is a static verb, not implying movement. For example:
Estoy aquí para verte.
(I am here to see you.)
no movement - it doesn'tallow "a"
He venido para/a verte.
(I came to see you.)
movement - it allows "a"
It can also be followed by "a que"toform a subordinate clause, using the subjunctive:
He ido al médico a que me mirara la garganta.I've been to the doctor to have my throat looked at.
Sal fueraa que te dé un poco el aire.Go out so that youget some fresh air.
Vaya usted a la oficina a que le firmen ese documento.Go to the officeto get that document signed (for you).
The sentences above alsoallow"para que" with the same meaning. Using "a" instead of "para"is more natural and slightly more colloquial.
See alsoverbs using the preposition a
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Tú solo has venido a empeorar la situación.You only came to worsen the situation.
He ido al médico a que me mirara la garganta.I've been to the doctor to have my throat looked at.
Vaya usted a la oficina a que le firmen ese documento.Go to the officeto get that document signed (for you).
Javier no está en casa. Ha salido a correr un rato.Javier is not home. He went out to run for a bit.
Salimos a tomar un poco el aire.We went out toget a bit of fresh air.
Sal fueraa que te dé un poco el aire.Go out so that youget some fresh air.
Fui a su casa para hablar con él.I went to his house to talk to him.
Fui a su casa a hablar con él.I went to his house to talk to him.
Vengo a hablar con el Señor Ramírez. Tengo una cita.I've come to speak with Mr. Ramírez. I have an appointment.
