Using ¿a que...? to seek confirmation / threaten / predict

We use this structure in Spanish:

with three different meanings.

"A que" to seek confirmation/reassurance

When we have just said something and we want our listener to confirm/reassure us about something specific in that statement, we can use this structure in order to elicit confirmation.

Have a look at the following examples: 

"A que" to express a threat to someone

Have a look:

In the examples above, the threats are a strong warning of what may happen (if the situation doesn't change).

Using this structure as a threat is very common among children:

"A que" to express a prediction

We also use this structure when we foresee something happening, especially if it is something negative.

For example:

This structure has a similar effect to the question tags ¿verdad? and ¿no? when we simply add the tag at the end of the sentence meaning: isn't it?, doesn't it?, aren't you? etc. To revise this see How to use Spanish question tags: ¿no? ¿verdad?

We also use a simplified version in affirmative and negative using ¿A que...?:

We use these short versions when we want a direct reassurance of what we have stated, for example:

• In an affirmative statement

• In a negative statement