Spanish language Q&A Forum

In the example, the direct object was being called for. Why use the "le" form, then?   

I wonder if the chosen translation depends on the context? 

Why isn't this en EL verano?

From the quiz:

Ben ________ la alarma.

Write ''Ben had been woken up by the alarm.

había sido despertado por

Could I also say, "A Ben le había despertado la alarma."?

Thank you.

The sound stops halfway through this example:

Yo voy al gimnasio, no porque me gusta, sino porque debo perder peso.I go to the gym, not because I like it, but because I must lose weight.

Why isn't the personal "a" used, "hacia A sus padres"?

¿Tienen el mismo significado "está por llover" y "está para llover"? ¿Hay algún matiz?

Que tal,

How interchangeable are tras and detrás? Is one preferred over another, and if so, does it vary by country or age or context?

I'm think about basic use meaning 'behind,' such as "El niño se escondía tras (detrás) las cortinas."

Thanks!

The reading exercise translates estadounidense as North American. Is this usage more common in Spain? I thought estadounidense meant American, and norteamericano = North American. 

If I want to say:  "You bought more than enough"

Is there any significant difference between:

Compraste más que suficiente

and 

Compraste más que bastante

or are they essentially synonymous?