"His cousin was touching the cat."

Translation: Su primo estaba tocando al gato.

[FrankFox0]

In another sentence: "You were trying to drink water", Duolingo gave the translation: "Usted trataba de beber agua". Why is "Su primo tocaba al gato" not correct in this case?

[Bruce768614]

It is correct.

It's Duo trying to make us all mind readers.

[lucy.luc1a]

tocaba should be correct

[jpaxonreyes]

I know that "a el" turns into "al". Is this a very strict rule? For example, imagine someone is speaking very slowly (as if making up a story on the spot). He says "Su primo estaba tocando a..." and then he thinks that he could say "la lámpara" but changes his mind and wants to say "el gato". Would he forge ahead and say the "el"? Basically, how wrong is it to say "a el"? Thanks!

[Bamdorf]

I would guess that the speaker would just "back up" a bit and say "al gato". That's how I correct myself on occasion in English. But I am not sure!

[geoffreybdavies]

su prima estaba tocando al gato - so I can not have a female cousin, which is all I have