Introduction
Learning how to use Spanish infinitives after common verbs is one of the most important foundational skills for anyone beginning their journey with the Spanish language. The infinitive form is the base form of a verb that you find in the dictionary, such as hablar (to speak), comer (to eat), or vivir (to live). Understanding when and how to use infinitives after other verbs will dramatically improve your ability to construct sentences and communicate naturally in Spanish. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential rules, common verb patterns, and practical examples that will help you master this critical grammar concept.
What is a Spanish Infinitive?
Before diving into the rules, it is essential to understand what a Spanish infinitive actually is. The infinitive is the unconjugated, base form of a verb. In English, we typically recognize infinitives by the word to in front of them: to run, to sleep, to study. In Spanish, all infinitives end in one of three ways: -ar, -er, or -ir.
Here are some common examples of infinitives in their base forms:
hablar (to speak)
comer (to eat)
escribir (to write)
viajar (to travel)
aprender (to learn)
vivir (to live)
The infinitive form does not change based on who is performing the action. Whether you, I, they, or anyone else is doing the action, the infinitive remains the same. This consistency makes it one of the most reliable and easy-to-use verb forms in Spanish.
When Do You Use Infinitives After Verbs?
In Spanish, many verbs are naturally followed by an infinitive. This construction allows you to express actions, desires, needs, and obligations. Understanding which verbs take infinitives directly (without a preposition) and which require a preposition is the key to mastering this grammar structure.
There are three main patterns when it comes to using infinitives after verbs:
1. Verbs followed directly by an infinitive (no preposition)
2. Verbs followed by a preposition, then an infinitive
3. Special cases and less common patterns
Verbs Followed Directly by Infinitives
The most common pattern involves verbs that are followed immediately by an infinitive without any preposition in between. These verbs are among the most frequently used in Spanish, so learning them should be your priority.
Modal Verbs and Common Direct Infinitive Verbs
The modal verbs are perhaps the most important group. These verbs express ability, possibility, obligation, or desire. They are followed directly by an infinitive with no preposition required.
Poder (can, to be able to)
Deber (must, should, ought to)
Querer (to want)
Saber (to know how to)
Here are practical examples of these modal verbs used with infinitives:
Yo puedo hablar español. (I can speak Spanish.)
Nosotros debemos estudiar más. (We should study more.)
Ella quiere viajar a México. (She wants to travel to Mexico.)
¿Sabes nadar? (Do you know how to swim?)
Notice how the modal verb is conjugated to match the subject, while the infinitive that follows remains unchanged. This pattern is consistent and straightforward.
Other Common Verbs Followed by Infinitives
Beyond modal verbs, many other verbs are followed directly by infinitives. Some of the most common include:
Desear (to desire, to wish)
Esperar (to hope, to wait for)
Pensar (to think, to plan)
Preferir (to prefer)
Intentar (to try)
Empezar (to begin)
Comenzar (to start)
Let’s see these infinitive-taking verbs in action:
Yo deseo aprender francés. (I wish to learn French.)
Ellos esperan ganar el partido. (They hope to win the game.)
Nosotros pensamos salir mañana. (We plan to leave tomorrow.)
Ella prefiere comer pizza. (She prefers to eat pizza.)
Él intentó resolver el problema. (He tried to solve the problem.)
Verbs Followed by a Preposition Plus Infinitive
Not all verbs that are followed by infinitives use them directly. Many require a preposition to bridge the gap between the conjugated verb and the infinitive. The most common prepositions used are a, de, and en.
Verbs Requiring the Preposition A
The preposition a is the most commonly used preposition before infinitives. Many verbs require this preposition before they can take an infinitive.
Aprender a (to learn to)
Atreverse a (to dare to)
Ayudar a (to help to)
Comenzar a (to begin to)
Empezar a (to start to)
Enseñar a (to teach to)
Ir a (to be going to)
Invitar a (to invite to)
Llegar a (to manage to)
Obligar a (to force to)
Oponersse a (to object to)
Volver a (to do again)
Here are examples showing these verbs with the a preposition:
Yo aprendí a cocinar en la universidad. (I learned to cook at the university.)
¿Te atreves a hablar en público? (Do you dare to speak in public?)
Mi padre me ayudó a reparar el coche. (My father helped me to fix the car.)
Ellos van a visitar a sus abuelos. (They are going to visit their grandparents.)
La profesora enseña a sus estudiantes a escribir bien. (The teacher teaches her students to write well.)
Verbs Requiring the Preposition DE
The preposition de is used with a smaller but important group of verbs. These verbs typically express emotions, advice, or cessation of an action.
Acordarse de (to remember to)
Arrepentirse de (to regret)
Cesar de (to cease)
Dejar de (to stop)
Olvidarse de (to forget to)
Tener miedo de (to be afraid of)
Tratar de (to try to)
Consider these examples of verbs using the de preposition:
Me acordé de llamar a mi madre. (I remembered to call my mother.)
Él se arrepintió de vender su casa. (He regretted selling his house.)
El humo cesó de subir. (The smoke stopped rising.)
Debes dejar de preocuparte. (You must stop worrying.)
¿Te olvidaste de enviar el correo? (Did you forget to send the email?)
Verbs Requiring the Preposition EN
The preposition en is less common than a or de, but several important verbs use it before an infinitive.
Consentir en (to consent to)
Consistir en (to consist of)
Empeñarse en (to insist on)
Insistir en (to insist on)
Perseverar en (to persevere in)
Quedar en (to agree to)
Tardar en (to take time to)
Here are examples of these verbs with en:
Ella insistió en ir sola. (She insisted on going alone.)
¿En qué consiste el trabajo? (What does the work consist of?)
Ellos quedan en reunirse mañana. (They agree to meet tomorrow.)
El proyecto tardó en completarse. (The project took time to be completed.)
Infinitives in Different Tenses and Contexts
It is important to remember that the infinitive form itself never changes based on tense. The conjugated verb that precedes it is what indicates the tense of the sentence. The infinitive always remains in its base form.
Present: Quiero comer pizza. (I want to eat pizza.)
Past: Quería comer pizza. (I wanted to eat pizza.)
Future: Querré comer pizza. (I will want to eat pizza.)
The infinitive comer stays the same in all three examples, while the conjugated verb quiero, quería, and querré changes to show the different time frames.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One of the most frequent mistakes Spanish learners make is forgetting to include the necessary preposition before an infinitive. For example, it is incorrect to say insisto hablar español. Instead, you must say insisto en hablar español. Similarly, learners sometimes use the wrong preposition, such as insisto a hablar español, which is also incorrect.
Another common error is conjugating the infinitive when it should remain in its base form. Remember that only the first verb in the phrase should be conjugated; the infinitive that follows should always be in its base form, regardless of who the subject is.
Practical Exercises and Applications
To solidify your understanding of these rules, practice creating sentences using different verbs followed by infinitives. Start with simple sentences using modal verbs like poder and querer, then progress to more complex structures using prepositions.
Try translating sentences from English to Spanish, focusing on correctly identifying which preposition (if any) is needed. For instance, translate sentences like He tried to understand the lesson or They forgot to bring their books, paying careful attention to the correct preposition.
Reading Spanish texts, listening to Spanish audio, and engaging in conversation will help reinforce these patterns naturally, as your brain will absorb the correct structures through repeated exposure.
Conclusion
Mastering Spanish infinitive rules is a crucial step toward fluency and confident communication. By understanding which verbs take infinitives directly and which require prepositions, you will significantly improve your ability to construct grammatically correct sentences. Remember that modal verbs like poder, deber, and querer are used directly with infinitives, while many other verbs require the prepositions a, de, or en. Practice regularly with authentic Spanish materials, and these patterns will become second nature to you. With patience and consistent effort, you will soon find yourself using infinitives naturally and correctly in your Spanish communication.
