📝 In Action
Este regalo es para ti.
A1This gift is for you.
No puedo vivir sin ti.
A1I can't live without you.
Están hablando de ti.
A2They are talking about you.
A ti te encanta la música, ¿verdad?
A2YOU love music, right?
💡 Grammar Points
The 'After-Preposition' Pronoun
'Ti' is the special form of 'tú' (you) that you must use after small connecting words like 'para' (for), 'de' (of), 'a' (to), and 'sin' (without).
Special Word: 'Contigo'
To say 'with you', Spanish combines 'con' (with) and 'ti' into one single word: 'contigo'. Always use 'contigo', never 'con ti'.
Using 'A ti' for Emphasis
You can add 'a ti' to a sentence to really emphasize the 'you'. For example, 'A ti te lo digo' means 'I'm telling YOU (specifically)'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
The Accent Mark Dilemma
Mistake: "Este regalo es para tí."
Correction: The officially correct spelling is 'ti' (without an accent). Although you might see 'tí' written, modern rules say it doesn't need an accent because there's no other word 'ti' to confuse it with. Think of 'mí' (me), which needs an accent to tell it apart from 'mi' (my).
Confusing 'ti' and 'tú'
Mistake: "Esto es para tú."
Correction: Correct is 'Esto es para ti.' Remember, 'tú' is for who is doing the action ('Tú eres inteligente'), while 'ti' is used after prepositions ('Hablo de ti').
Forgetting 'contigo'
Mistake: "Quiero ir con ti."
Correction: Correct is 'Quiero ir contigo.' The words 'con' and 'ti' fuse together to make the special word 'contigo'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Your Go-To for 'You'
Anytime you use a preposition (like 'for', 'to', 'about', 'from', 'without') and the next word is 'you' (the informal, singular 'you'), your brain should immediately switch to using 'ti'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tí
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I see 'tí' written with an accent sometimes if 'ti' is correct?
Great question! It's a very common mistake, even for native speakers. People often add the accent because they see one on 'mí' (me) and think 'ti' should have one too. However, 'mí' needs the accent to distinguish it from 'mi' (my). Since there's no other word 'ti' to get confused with, it doesn't need an accent.
What's the difference between 'ti', 'te', and 'tú'?
They all mean 'you'! Use 'tú' when 'you' are the one doing the action ('Tú cocinas' - 'You cook'). Use 'te' when 'you' are receiving the action ('Te veo' - 'I see you'). Use 'ti' after prepositions like 'para', 'de', 'a', etc. ('para ti' - 'for you').
Is there a formal version of 'ti'?
Yes! When you're speaking formally to someone using 'usted', the equivalent of 'ti' is 'usted'. For example, 'Este regalo es para usted' (This gift is for you, formal).