How to Use “Intentar” in Spanish with Infinitives

Introduction

Learning how to express intention and effort in Spanish is essential for any language learner. One of the most commonly used verbs for this purpose is intentar, which means to try or to attempt. Whether you’re expressing your plans, describing what someone is trying to do, or talking about failed attempts, understanding how to use intentar with infinitives is a fundamental skill that will significantly improve your Spanish communication. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about using intentar correctly in Spanish sentences.

What Does Intentar Mean?

Intentar is a regular Spanish verb that translates to try, attempt, or endeavor in English. The verb comes from the Latin intentare and is widely used in both formal and informal Spanish conversations. When you use intentar, you’re describing an action where someone makes an effort to do something, though the outcome may or may not be successful.

The beauty of intentar is that it doesn’t necessarily imply success. You can intentar something and fail, or you can intentar something and succeed. This makes it different from other Spanish verbs like lograr, which specifically means to achieve or accomplish. Understanding this distinction is crucial for using intentar appropriately in various contexts.

The Basic Structure: Intentar Plus Infinitive

The most common way to use intentar is to conjugate the verb according to the subject and then follow it directly with the infinitive form of another verb. The structure follows this pattern:

Subject + conjugated form of intentar + infinitive verb

For example, if you want to say someone is trying to learn Spanish, you would say: Intento aprender español. In this sentence, intento is the first-person singular conjugation of intentar, and aprender (to learn) is the infinitive that follows.

This structure is straightforward and consistent across all subjects and tenses. Once you understand the conjugation pattern of intentar, you can easily use it with any infinitive verb to express attempts or efforts.

Conjugating Intentar in Present Tense

To properly use intentar with infinitives, you first need to understand how to conjugate it. Since intentar is a regular verb ending in -ar, it follows the standard conjugation pattern for regular -ar verbs in the present tense.

Here is the present tense conjugation of intentar:

Yo intento (I try)

Tú intentas (You try)

Él/Ella/Usted intenta (He/She/You formal tries)

Nosotros/Nosotras intentamos (We try)

Vosotros/Vosotras intentáis (You all try)

Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes intentan (They/You all try)

Once you have the correct conjugation, simply add the infinitive form of the verb you want to use. For instance: Intentamos hacer un proyecto ambicioso (We try to do an ambitious project). Here, intentamos is conjugated for nosotros, and hacer is the infinitive that follows.

Using Intentar in Different Tenses

Intentar can be used in virtually any tense in Spanish, depending on when the action occurred or when you want to discuss it. Let’s explore some of the most common tenses.

Past Tense: Preterite

When discussing something you or someone else tried to do in the past, you’ll use the preterite tense. The preterite conjugation of intentar is regular and follows the standard -ar verb pattern.

Intenté llamarte ayer pero no respondiste. (I tried to call you yesterday but you didn’t answer.)

Ella intentó abrir la puerta pero estaba cerrada con llave. (She tried to open the door but it was locked.)

The preterite tense is commonly used when describing completed actions in the past, even if the attempt was unsuccessful.

Imperfect Tense

The imperfect tense of intentar is useful when describing repeated or continuous attempts in the past, or when setting background information.

Intentaba aprender a conducir cuando era joven. (I used to try to learn how to drive when I was young.)

Ellos intentaban resolver el problema juntos. (They were trying to solve the problem together.)

Use the imperfect when you want to emphasize that an action was ongoing or habitual in the past.

Future Tense

To express what you or someone else will try to do in the future, use the future tense conjugation of intentar.

Intentaré terminar el proyecto antes del viernes. (I will try to finish the project before Friday.)

Intentaremos visitarte pronto. (We will try to visit you soon.)

The future tense works well when expressing intentions or plans that you haven’t yet attempted.

Real-World Examples of Intentar with Infinitives

Understanding the grammar is important, but seeing intentar used in realistic contexts helps solidify your learning. Here are several practical examples that demonstrate how this verb functions in everyday Spanish.

Intento ser un mejor estudiante este semestre. (I try to be a better student this semester.)

Mis padres intentan ahorrar dinero para las vacaciones. (My parents try to save money for vacation.)

Intentamos entender la lección pero fue muy difícil. (We tried to understand the lesson but it was very difficult.)

¿Intentas cambiar tu rutina diaria? (Are you trying to change your daily routine?)

Él intenta mejorar su español practicando cada día. (He tries to improve his Spanish by practicing every day.)

As you can see from these examples, intentar appears in a variety of contexts and expresses the effort someone is making toward a goal, whether that goal is achieved or not.

When to Use Intentar Versus Other Verbs

Spanish offers several ways to express effort and achievement, so it’s important to understand when intentar is the right choice.

Intentar vs. Tratar de

Tratar de is a phrasal verb that means to try and functions almost identically to intentar. Both can be used interchangeably in most contexts. Traté de llamarte (I tried to call you) has the same meaning as Intenté llamarte. However, intentar is generally considered more formal and direct, while tratar de is slightly more colloquial.

Intentar vs. Lograr

Lograr means to achieve or succeed, which is quite different from intentar. While intentar focuses on the effort made, lograr focuses on the successful result. If you say Logré aprender español (I managed to learn Spanish), you’re stating that you successfully achieved this goal. Intenté aprender español (I tried to learn Spanish) only expresses the effort, not necessarily the outcome.

Intentar vs. Querer

Querer means to want and is less about effort than intentar. Quiero aprender español (I want to learn Spanish) expresses a desire, while Intento aprender español (I try to learn Spanish) expresses the effort being made toward that desire.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

As you learn to use intentar with infinitives, watch out for these common errors that Spanish learners often make.

First, remember that after intentar, you must use the infinitive form of the verb, not a conjugated form. Saying Intento aprender (I try to learn) is correct, but Intento aprendo is incorrect.

Second, don’t confuse intentar with gerunds. You don’t say Intento aprendiendo. The correct structure always pairs intentar with infinitives specifically.

Third, avoid adding unnecessary prepositions. While tratar de requires the preposition de, intentar goes directly to the infinitive without any preposition between them. Intento hacer esto (not Intento a hacer esto) is the correct structure.

Advanced Usage: Reflexive Verbs with Intentar

When using intentar with reflexive infinitives, remember to keep the reflexive pronoun with the infinitive. For example: Intento relajarme después del trabajo (I try to relax after work). Here, relajarme is a reflexive infinitive that stays intact after intentar.

In some cases, you might see the reflexive pronoun attached to the conjugated form of intentar, though this is less common: Me intento relajar. Both structures exist in Spanish, but keeping the pronoun with the infinitive is more standard and preferred in modern usage.

Conclusion

Mastering the use of intentar with infinitives is a valuable skill that opens doors to more natural and confident Spanish communication. Whether you’re expressing personal goals, describing what others are attempting to do, or discussing past efforts, understanding this straightforward grammatical structure will serve you well. Remember that intentar is a regular -ar verb, making it predictable and easy to conjugate across all tenses. By practicing with real-world examples and avoiding common mistakes, you’ll quickly become comfortable using this essential verb. As you continue your Spanish learning journey, you’ll find that intentar is an indispensable tool for expressing effort, determination, and the human experience of trying to accomplish goals.