Fun with Infinitives
Infinitives in Spanish are unassigned actions that when translated into English always start with the word “to”.
Spanish- CANTAR
English- “to sing”
Fun with Infinitives
The infinitive is very versatile because you can combine it with conjugated verbs and verb phrases to say a variety of statements and expressions in Spanish. These expressions are called:
Plus (+) Infinitive expressions
Plus (+) Infinitive expressions
In the “plus (+) infinitive” expressions you have an auxiliary verb or auxiliary verb phrase PLUS an infinitive.
How to use these expressions is simple:
the auxiliary verb is the first verb in the phrase and the infinitive usually follows.
The infinitive DOES NOT change, it stays in the infinitive form.
Plus (+) Infinitive expressions
TENER + que + infinitive
to have to do something
Tengo que estudiar. → I have to study
IR + a + infinitive
to plan to do something
Voy a estudiar. → I am going to study.
Plus (+) Infinitive expressions
NECESITAR + infinitive
to need to do something
Necesito estudiar. → I need to study.
DESEAR + infinitive
to desire to do something
Deseo estudiar. → I desire to study.
Plus (+) Infinitive expressions
ACABAR + de + infinitive
to have just done something
Acabo de estudiar. → I just finished studying.
QUEDAR + en + infinitive
to agree to do something
Quedo en estudiar. → I agree to study.
Plus (+) Infinitive expressions
TRATAR + de + infinitive
to try to do something
Trato de estudiar. → I try to study.
DEBER + infinitive
to ought to do something
Debo estudiar. → I should study.
Plus (+) Infinitive expressions
*PREFERIR + infinitive
to prefer to do something
Prefiero estudiar. → I prefer to study.
*PODER + infinitive
to be able to do something
Puedo estudiar. → I am able to (can) study.
*QUERER + infinitive
to want to do something
Quiero estudiar. → I want to study.
Plus (+) Infinitive expressions
*PENSAR + infinitive
to think about doing something
Pienso estudiar. → I am thinking about studying.
*SOLER + infinitive
To usually do something
Suelo estudiar por la tarde. → I usually study in
the afternoon.
Para entender mejor
As you can see in the preceding examples they only verbs you will need to know how to conjugate are the auxiliary verbs.
On the following slides you will find the conjugations of the auxiliary verbs.
Conjugations
NECESITAR
Necesito Necesitamos
Necesitas Necesitáis
Necesita necesitan
DESEAR
Deseo Deseamos
Deseas Deseáis
Desea desean
Conjugations
ACABAR
Acabo Acabamos
Acabas Acabáis
Acaba Acaban
QUEDAR
Quedo Quedamos
Quedas Quedáis
Queda quedan
Conjugations
DEBER
debo Debemos
debes Debéis
debe deben
TRATAR
Trato Tratamos
Tratas Tratáis
Trata tratan
Conjugations
PODER
o ue
Puedo Podemos
Puedes Podéis
Puede Pueden
PENSAR
i ie
pienso pensamos
piensas pensáis
piensa piensan
Conjugations
SOLER
o ue
suelo solemos
sueles soléis
suele suelen
PREFERIR
QUERER
i ie
Prefiero
Quiero
Preferimos
Queremos
Prefieres
Quieres
Preferís
Queréis
Prefiere
Quiere
Prefieren
Quieren
Other “+ infinitives”
There are a few other phrases that are followed by infinitives but they do not express a future action.
Nevertheless they are useful because they help you express yourself in Spanish.
GUSTAR + infinitive
GUSTAR and similar verbs can be used to express feeling about doing certain activities.
Me gusta nadar.
Swimming is pleasing to me. (literal)
I like swimming.
In this case, the infinitive translates to an “-ing” (gerund) in English.
Using GUSTAR + infinitive
*object pronoun + gusta + infinitive verb
Me gusta leer el libro. I like to read the book.
(Reading the book is pleasing to me.)
Te gusta leer el libro. You like to read the book. (inf.)
A él le gusta leer el libro. He likes to read the book.
A ella le gusta leer el libro. She likes to read the book.
A Ud. le gusta leer el libro. You like to read the book. (for.)
Using GUSTAR + infinitive
*object pronoun + gusta + infinitive verb
Nos gusta leer el libro. We like to read the book.
Os gusta leer el libro. Y’all like to read the book. (inf.)
A ellos les gusta leer el libro. They like to read the book.
A ellas les gusta leer el libro. They like to read the book. (f.)
A Uds. Les gusta leer el libro. You all like to read the book. (for.)
Using GUSTAR + infinitive
You can use any amount of infinitives in this construction as well.
Me gusta aprender y leer.
I like to learn and read.
Me gusta cocinar, beber y comer.
I like to cook, drink and eat.
Keep in mind that “gusta” NEVER changes. We will go into this more later.
SABER + infinitive
When you use the above construction it describes knowledge and capability to perform a certain action or actions.
Yo sé cocinar paella.
I know how to cook paella.
Ella sabe coser y tejer.
She knows how to sew and knit.
In both cases, the construction indicates that they know how to do something by heart.
Before & After
When you want to express a timeline you can use the following constructions:
antes de + infinitive
Antes de ducharme, me cepillo los dientes.
Before showering, I brush my teeth.
después de + infinitive
Después de cocinar la cena, lavo los platos.
After cooking dinner, I wash the dishes.
Notice how the English gerund appears in the translation? This is one aspect of the functionality of certain “+ infinitive phrases”
PARA + infinitive
When you use the above construction it gives the connotation of in order to do an action.
Para viajar a Chicago, debes tomar un avión.
In order to travel to Chicago, you should take a plane.
Para poder hacer las galletas, necesitas mantequilla.
In order to be able to make cookies, you need butter.
Para comprar por internet, necesitas una tarjeta de
crédito.
In order to shop on the internet, you need a credit card.
Notice in the second example the PARA is followed by two infinitives? This is possible when using PODER.
Conclusion
The “+ infinitive” phrase: Can be used to express future actions
Can be used to express a recent past action
(acabar de + infinitive)
Can be used to express routine actions
(soler + infinitive)
Can be used to express preferences GUSTAR & PREFERIR
Can be used to express the English gerund
Can be used to express timelines.
May be used with more than one infinitive with PODER as one of the infinitives.
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