The 12 most used infinitive verbal periphrases in Spanish

The verbal periphrasis They are a fundamental part of the spanish grammar.

Don't you know what a periphrasis is? 

Today we will explain what it is, how it is formed and we will focus on the 12 verbal infinitive periphrases that we Spaniards use the most.

You will learn to use them thanks to our theoretical explanation supported with examples and a final activity.

We assure you that these verbs are very common in everyday life.iana, so if you learn them and introduce them into your language you will be doing your Spanish a great favor.

Would you like to delve deeper into the Spanish language at a general level?

So our Spanish courses en Hispania, escuela de español They will be great for you 🤩.

Do you want to see what these are? 12 verbal infinitive periphrases most used in Spanish?

Well come on!

What is a verb periphrasis?

If you frequently follow our blog, this question may sound familiar to you. 

We have already talked about it several times in other articles.

A periphrasis is a verbal locution, or what is the same, a group of verbs. 

This group is formed with a verb in personal way and another impersonal form. 

Remember that there are three non-personal forms of the verb: infinitive, participle and gerund.

Furthermore, there may be a conjunction or preposition between the two.

The structure would be like this:

Conjugated verb + Ø / preposition / that + infinitive / gerund / participle

There are many periphrases of different types.

Let's see some examples of verbal periphrasis with the 3 non-personal forms.

• Periphrasis with infinitive: Start at + infinitive, finish at + infinitive, have to + infinitive, must + infinitive, be about to + infinitive, stay at + infinitive, etc.
• Participle periphrasis: Estar + participle, andar + participle, give for + participle, carry + participle, have + participle, follow + participle, etc.
• Gerund periphrasis: To be + gerund, to follow + gerund, to pass + gerund, to stay + gerund, to walk + gerund, etc.

These are some examples, but there are many more. 

What are verbal periphrases for?

Periphrases work exactly like any verb. They are actions and each one has its own meaning.

Like all verbs, they can be conjugated in different tenses and verbal modes; present, past, future, imperative, subjunctive, etc.

As we do not want this article to take forever, today we are going to explain only the 12 most important periphrases with infinitive. 

We will see their meaning, in what context to use them and practical examples.

Let's go to trouble!

Go to + infinitive

We already talked in depth about this verb in our article verbal periphrasis ir a + infinitive.

It is one of the most important periphrases in Spanish.

Indicates an action to be performed in the Next future or as a safe plan What we will do in the future.

For example: 

• I'm going for a walk this afternoon.
• Este verano will do safe heat.

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have to + infinitive

In the article of express purposes in Spanish We talk a lot about this periphrasis.

It serves to express obligation or order.

Whenever we want to talk about duties or responsibilities that we must do, we use it.

It is one of the most used.

For example:

• I have to study for tomorrow's exam.
• you have to order the living room before the guests come.

In simple conditional form, it can be used to give advice to other people.

• you would have to be more punctual so that they take you seriously.

There is that + infinitive

There is that + infinitive is similar to have to + infinitive. 

Indicates a necessity or obligation.

The difference is that must + infinitive es impersonal, is used to speak in general or refer to something that all the people or all the subjects involved have to do.

For example: 

• Must eat fruits and vegetables to be healthy.
• You have to be respectful of people.

Duty + infinitive

Is another obligation periphrasis, although less urgent exceeding have to + infinitive.

For example: 

• I must carry some snacks at the birthday party.
• I have to go in 5 minutes.

As with have to + infinitive, if we put the verb duty in the conditional it changes its meaning to express advice.

For example:

• you should call To Ángel, you haven't spoken to him in a long time.
• You should go around here, it's a shortcut.

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duty of + infinitive

Oops! We have the same verb as before but with the preposition de. How curious!

Did you know that by adding this preposition the meaning changes completely?

In fact, it is a different verb.

duty of + infinitive is used to talk about Prob o assumption.

For example:

• Marcos hasn't arrived yet. It must be on the way.
• I don't know why she's so angry. Must have a bad day.

Carry without + infinitive + amount of time or date

We keep seeing more verbal periphrasis with examples.

This verb expresses the amount of time someone has spent without doing an action.

For example:

• ¿You haven't smoked 3 months? !! Congratulations!!
• We haven't spoken since September.

stop + infinitive

This periphrasis marks the end of a habit What we used to do and now we no longer do.

For example:

• I have stopped eating chocolate in the morning. It didn't suit me well.
• Marina has stopped looking the cell phone at night and now sleeps better.

Start to + infinitive

It is used to express that an action starts to be done or the beginning of a habit.

For example:

• Next month I will start to have practices at the driving school.
• Take the umbrella because it's starting to rain.

There are other periphrases like this, like begin to + infinitive o throw a + infinitive. These types of periphrasis verbal called periphrasis inchoative.

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End of + infinitive

Talk about the conclusion of an action.

For example:

• I have already finished writing the mail. Let's see when they answer me.
• When finish eating, call me and we'll meet.

Finish + infinitive

Although it seems similar to the previous verb, this verb has a different meaning, almost opposite in fact.

Indicates that an action it happened very recently.

For example: 

• Eduardo is fine. I just spoke with him, just a few minutes ago.
• Lucia just arrived. Let's give her her birthday present.

Be about to + infinitive

It is used when something is in the imminent moment of occurrence. I mean, something is almost going to happen.

For example:

• There are 2 minutes left until 18.00:XNUMX. Class is about to end.
• my bus is about to happen. The sign says he's next.

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To be + infinitive

This periphrasis shows indecision and at the same time willingness to do something. 

Is when something is being considered, but it is not entirely clear.

For example:

• I don't know what to do this afternoon. I'm about to go to the bookstore to see if I see any interesting books.
• Honestly, I don't like the tone you're using. I'm about to get up and leave

exercises to practice

So now you’ve seen our 12 infinitive periphrasis most used in Spanish. 

After showing you these periphrasis with examples, now it's time for you to practice them.

We propose you two exercises fast.

En first exercise., you must drag the conjugated verb from the right column to the space of the corresponding sentence, this way you will form the verbal periphrases.