Spanish rules and examples for verbs followed by infinitives

Introduction

Many Spanish verbs are followed by an infinitive, and understanding when to use them is key to sounding natural. This article explains Spanish rules and examples for verbs followed by infinitives, including common verbs, differences with que + subjunctive, and nuances that English speakers often find tricky.

Why verbs take infinitives in Spanish

In Spanish, one verb can be directly followed by another in its infinitive form to express intention, ability, permission, obligation, desire, perception, or the continuation of an action. Unlike English, Spanish often keeps the second verb unconjugated as the infinitive rather than using a gerund or subordinate clause.

Basic structure

The typical pattern is [conjugated verb] + [infinitive]. For example:

Quiero comer.
Puedo viajar.
Voy a estudiar.

Here the first verb is conjugated to match the subject, while the second verb remains in the infinitive: comer, viajar, estudiar.

Common verbs followed by infinitives

Below are categories of verbs that typically take an infinitive, with clear examples and notes about usage.

Verbs of desire and preference

Verbs that express wanting, liking, or preferring are followed by an infinitive.

Querer + infinitive: Quiero aprender español.
Desear + infinitive: Deseo viajar a México.
Preferir + infinitive: Prefiero estudiar por la mañana.

Note that preferir is irregular in the present for some forms, but the pattern of verb + infinitive remains the same.

Verbs of ability and possibility

Use these verbs before an infinitive to talk about what someone can or cannot do.

Poder + infinitive: Puedo ayudar mañana.
Saber + infinitive: Sé nadar.
Lograr + infinitive: Lograron terminar a tiempo.

Saber + infinitive means to know how to do something, distinct from saber meaning to know a fact.

Verbs of obligation and necessity

Obligation, necessity, or duty are commonly expressed with verbs followed by infinitives.

Tener que + infinitive: Tengo que trabajar.
Deber + infinitive: Debes estudiar más.
Hay que + infinitive: Hay que respetar las normas.

Hay que is impersonal and does not change with the subject; it expresses that something must be done in general.

Verbs of permission and request

Verbs that grant permission or make requests are followed by an infinitive.

Permitir + infinitive: Me permiten salir temprano.
Dejar + infinitive: Déjame intentar.
Mandar + infinitive: Mi jefe manda enviar el informe.

Dejar can also mean to leave behind depending on context, but when followed by an infinitive it often means to allow.

Perception verbs

Verbs that describe perceiving an action use the infinitive when the action is viewed as a whole or completed.

Ver + infinitive: Vi correr al perro.
Oír + infinitive: Oí cantar a los niños.
Sentir + infinitive: Siento decir esto.

Note that perception verbs can also be followed by gerunds or subordinate clauses depending on nuance, but the infinitive emphasizes the action itself.

Verbs indicating beginning, continuing, or finishing

When describing the start, continuation, or end of another action, use an infinitive after verbs like empezar, continuar, terminar.

Empezar + infinitive: Empecé a leer.
Continuar + infinitive: Continúa trabajar en el proyecto.
Terminar + infinitive: Terminé de cocinar.

Some of these verbs can take the preposition a or de before the infinitive (empezar a, terminar de). The choice of preposition can sometimes change the nuance; for empezar, a is common: Empecé a estudiar. For terminar, de is standard for finishing an action: Terminé de hablar.

Verbs that require a preposition before the infinitive

Some verbs do not link directly to the infinitive and need a preposition such as a, de, por, or en. Learning which preposition pairs with each verb is essential.

Verbs followed by a + infinitive

Common verbs include aprender a, comenzar a, ayudar a, volver a. Examples:

Aprender + a + infinitive: Aprendí a conducir.
Comenzar + a + infinitive: Comenzó a llover.
Ayudar + a + infinitive: Me ayudas a mover la mesa?

Verbs followed by de + infinitive

Use de with verbs like tratar de, dejar de, acabar de.

Tratar + de + infinitive: Trato de llegar temprano.
Dejar + de + infinitive: Dejé de fumar.
Acabar + de + infinitive: Acabamos de cenar.

Acabar de + infinitive expresses a recent action. Dejar de + infinitive indicates stopping an action.

Other prepositions: por and en

Less frequently, verbs use por or en before an infinitive. For example:

Optar + por + infinitive: Optaron por estudiar aquí.
Consistir + en + infinitive: El trabajo consiste en reparar la máquina.

These patterns often mirror English preposition usage but require memorization for each verb.

When to use infinitive vs que + subjunctive

English speakers often ask when to use an infinitive and when to use que + subjunctive. The choice depends on the verb and whether the following clause has a different subject.

Same subject: use infinitive

If both verbs refer to the same subject, use the infinitive. Example:

Quiero comer ahora. (I want to eat now — subject is yo for both verbs.)

Different subject: use que + subjunctive

If the subject of the second action is different, use que + subjunctive. Example:

Quiero que tú comas ahora. (I want you to eat now — different subject, so que + subjunctive: comas.)

This distinction is crucial: Quiero comer and Quiero que comas mean different things.

Infinitive after impersonal and modal expressions

Impersonal expressions and modal forms commonly take an infinitive to express general statements or attitudes.

Impersonal expressions

Expressions like es importante, es necesario, and es posible are followed by an infinitive when there is no change of subject or when speaking generally.

Es importante estudiar.
Es necesario viajar para aprender.

If you refer to a specific subject, switch to que + subjunctive: Es importante que estudies.

Modal periphrases with ir a, tener que, haber que

Periphrastic verbs combine an auxiliary verb and an infinitive to indicate tense, obligation, or near future.

Ir a + infinitive: Voy a salir. (near future)
Tener que + infinitive: Tienes que leer esto. (obligation)
Hay que + infinitive: Hay que limpiar la casa. (impersonal necessity)

These constructions behave like single verbal units; only the auxiliary is conjugated.

Negative forms and pronoun placement with infinitives

When negating a verb + infinitive structure, place the negative word before the conjugated verb.

No quiero ir.
No vas a venir.

Direct and indirect object pronouns can attach to the infinitive or go before the conjugated verb. Both are correct, though emphasis may differ.

Quiero verlo. = Lo quiero ver.
Tienes que decirme la verdad. = Me tienes que decir la verdad.

With periphrastic verbs like ir a + infinitive, pronouns attach to the infinitive form: Voy a decírtelo or No te lo voy a decir.

Tense and aspect when using infinitives

Infinitives themselves do not show tense. The time reference comes from the conjugated verb or periphrasis. For example:

Pienso estudiar mañana. (present plan for the future)
Pensé estudiar ayer, pero no lo hice. (past intention)
He decidido viajar. (present perfect auxiliary gives past relevance)

To indicate completed action relative to the main verb, Spanish uses the perfect infinitive rarely in everyday speech: haber + participle. Example: Después de haber terminado, salimos. This emphasizes that the infinitive action was completed before the main action.

Common pitfalls and useful tips

Here are frequent mistakes learners make and how to avoid them.

Mixing subjects

Remember same subject = infinitive; different subjects = que + subjunctive. Mistaking this changes the meaning.

Wrong preposition

Learning verbs with their required prepositions helps. Memorize common pairs like aprender a, tratar de, acabar de.

Pronoun placement confusion

Decide whether to attach pronouns to the infinitive or place them before the conjugated verb. Both are grammatically correct; choose the one that sounds most natural in context.

Overusing que + subjunctive

Beginners sometimes overuse que + subjunctive because it mirrors English structures. Check if the subject is the same first; an infinitive may be simpler and more natural.

Usage notes and cultural context

Spanish from different regions can prefer slightly different constructions. For instance, some Latin American speakers commonly use Voy a + infinitive for future intent more than the simple future tense, while in Spain both are common. Informal speech frequently uses periphrastic forms like tener que and ir a.

In formal writing, constructions with infinitives and impersonal expressions are common: Es necesario actualizar los datos. This impersonal style is typical in official and academic contexts.

Quick reference: checklist

Use this checklist when deciding whether to use an infinitive:

– Are both actions done by the same subject? If yes, use an infinitive.
– Does the verb require a preposition before the infinitive? Check verb patterns like aprender a, dejar de, optar por.
– Is the construction a periphrasis (ir a, tener que)? Conjugate the auxiliary and keep the second verb as infinitive.
– Is the sentence impersonal or general? Infinitives after es + adjective are often correct.
– Do pronouns go with the infinitive or the conjugated verb? Both are possible; choose based on emphasis and flow.

Conclusion

Understanding verbs followed by infinitives in Spanish helps you form clearer, more natural sentences. Remember the key rules: use an infinitive when the subject is the same, mind required prepositions, place pronouns either before the conjugated verb or attached to the infinitive, and prefer periphrastic forms for tense or modality. With practice, these patterns will become second nature and improve both your spoken and written Spanish.