|
 Spanish
Infinitive ~ Infinitivo
The infinitive is the basic, unconjugated form of a
verb, sometimes called the name of the verb. In English the
infinitive is to + verb: to talk, to eat, to leave, etc. The
Spanish infinitive is a
single word with one of the following endings: -ar, -er, or -ir: hablar, comer,
salir, etc. We usually learn Spanish verbs in the infinitive, since that is what you start with in order to conjugate them.
The Spanish infinitive is often translated
to the English present participle, as you'll see in the
examples below.
El infinitivo can be used several different ways without any conjugation.
| I. |
As a noun - the subject or object of a sentence |
|
Mentir no es buena idea. |
Lying is not a good idea. |
|
Aprender es importante. |
Learning is important. |
| |
| II. |
After a conjugated verb,
the infinitive can be used |
|
A. |
With a preposition |
|
|
Vamos a estudiar. |
We're going to study. |
|
|
Acabo de salir. |
I just left. |
|
|
Salgamos depués de comer. |
Let's leave after eating. |
|
|
La biblioteca es perfecta para estudiar. |
The library is perfect for studying. |
|
B. |
Without a preposition |
|
|
Me gusta bailar. |
I like dancing. |
|
|
Prefieren venir con nosotros. |
They prefer coming with us. |
|
|
Los vi jugar. |
I saw them play. |
|
C. |
With que |
|
|
Tienes que comer. |
You have to eat. |
|
|
Hay mucho que hacer. |
There's a lot to do. |
| |
| III. |
In place of the subjunctive
when the main clause has |
|
A. |
the same
subject as the subordinate clause |
|
|
Tiene miedo que llegué tarde* ==> Tiene miedo de llegar tarde. |
He's afraid of arriving late. |
|
|
Estoy contenta que tenga razón* ==> Estoy contenta de tener razón. |
I'm happy to be right. |
|
|
*These are grammatically incorrect. When the subject is
the same, you *must* use the infinitive. |
|
B. |
an impersonal
subject (if the subject is implied) |
|
|
Es importante que trabajes ==> Es importante trabajar. |
It's important to work. |
|
|
No es necesario que vengan ==> No es necesario venir. |
It's not necessary that they come (They don't need to come). |
Infinitives
with Object Pronouns
Perfect Infinitive
Spanish Verb Lessons
Subscribe to the free
e Learn Spanish Language
weekly newsletter |
 |
© Laura K. Lawless All rights reserved.
About Me ~ About This Site
|
|
