Key points about infinitives in Spanish
An infinitive is the ‘to’ form of a verb, for example to play, to watch, to be.
In Spanish infinitives end in ar, er or ir.
Use the infinitive to give opinions, after Shows possibility, intent, ability, or necessity. Used alongside the infinitive form of the main verb of a sentence. Common examples of modal verbs include can, should, and must., and with certain A word such as at, for, with, into or from which is usually followed by a noun or pronoun. Prepositions are used to show where something is in place or time..
Infinitives can also be used to talk about what is going to happen in the future.
What are infinitives?
An infinitive is the form of the verb you find in the dictionary, for example to play or to go.
Infinitives in Spanish end in ar, er or ir.
For example:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - to speak
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - to eat
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - to live
Infinitives are used to give opinions, after modal verbs, and with certain prepositions. They can also be used to talk about what is going to happen in the future.
Using the infinitive after opinion verbs
Use infinitives after opinion verbs such as:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - I like
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - I don't like
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - I love
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again./Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - I hate
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - I prefer
For example:
Me gusta leer libros. - I like to read books. / I like reading books.
No me gusta nadar. - I don’t like to swim. / I don’t like swimming.
Me encanta comer chocolate. - I love to eat chocolate. / I love eating chocolate.
Detesto ver películas románticas. - I hate to watch romantic films. / I hate watching romantic films.
Prefiero salir con mis amigos los fines de semana. - I prefer to go out with my friends at the weekend. / I prefer going out with my friends at the weekend.
Infinitives and opinion verbs in Spanish - Mini quiz
Translate the following sentence into Spanish:
Me _______ comer pizza.
I like eating pizza.
Me gusta comer pizza.
Translate the following sentence into Spanish:
_____ __ películas de acción.
I prefer watching action films.
Prefiero ver películas de acción.
Modal verbs and the infinitive
Examples of modal verbs in English are ‘can’, ‘must’ or ‘want’. Modal verbs express ability, permission, obligation or desire (things you want to do).
High frequency modal verbs include:
- Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - to have to
- Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - to be able to/can
- Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - to want
- Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - must
These modal verbs are all followed by the infinitive.
- Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - to have to
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | I have to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you have to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | he/she/it/one has to |
Todos los días tengo que hacer los deberes. - Every day I have to do my homework.
Cuando vuelvas a casa ¿tienes que pasear al perro? - When you get home do you have to walk the dog?
- Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - to be able to/can
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | I can |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you can |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | he/she/it can |
No puedo salir hoy. - I cannot go out today.
The impersonal se with a modal verb like se puede can also be used with an infinitive, meaning ‘one can’.
For example:
En mi pueblo se puede ir a la bolera. - In my town you/one can go to the bowling alley.
- Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - to want
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | I want |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you want |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | he/she/it wants |
¿Quieres ir al cine? - Do you want to go to the cinema?
Quiero cenar en un restaurante italiano. - I want to eat in an Italian restaurant.
- Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - must
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | I must |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you must |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | he/she/it must |
No debes comer chicle. - You must not chew gum.
Debo ir al colegio a pie. - I must walk to school.
Using the infinitive with prepositions
The infinitive form of the verb is used after the following prepositions:
- a
- de
- en
- para
- con
Top tip
When you learn the infinitives of these verbs, it’s a good idea to learn the prepositions with them. For example, empezar a means to begin or start.
1. Verbs followed by the preposition a and the infinitive
When using the following verbs add a and the infinitive:
| Infinitive | Translation | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | to help | Mi madre me ayuda a hacer mis deberes. | My mum helps me do my homework. |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | to learn | Mi hermano aprendió a nadar. | My brother learnt to swim. |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | to start, begin | Los alumnos comenzaron a prepararse para el examen. | The pupils started to prepare for the exam. |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | to begin, start | Este fin de semana empezamos a jugar al baloncesto. | This weekend we start to play basketball. |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | to teach | El profe nos enseña a hablar español. | The teacher teaches us to speak Spanish. |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | to do it again | Siempre vuelvo a comer chocolate. | I always eat chocolate again. |
2. Verbs followed by the preposition de and the infinitive
When using the following verbs add de and the infinitive:
| Infinitive | Translation | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | to stop (doing something) | Recientemente mi novio dejó de comer carne. | Recently my boyfriend stopped eating meat. |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | to forget (to do something) | Me olvidé de comprar pan. | I forgot to buy bread. |
3. Verbs followed by the preposition en and the infinitive
When using the following verbs add en and the infinitive:
| Infinitive | Translation | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | to think about | Pienso en tomar un año sabático. | I’m thinking about having a gap year. |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | to be interested in | Tiene interés en esquiar. | He’s interested in skiing. |
4. Verbs followed by the preposition para and the infinitive
When using the following verbs and expressions add para and the infinitive:
| Spanish | Translation | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | it’s in order to | Es para ayudarme. | It’s to help me. |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | to have time to | No tengo tiempo para entrenar. | I don’t have time to train. |
5. Verbs followed by the preposition con and the infinitive
When using the following verbs and expressions add con and the infinitive:
| Infinitive | Translation | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | to dream about | Siempre sueña con ir a una isla tropical. | I always dream about going to a tropical island. |
Video - How to use the infinitive in Spanish
Watch the video to find about how to use infinitives in Spanish.
All infinitives in Spanish end in either 'ar', 'er', or 'ir'
How to use the infinitive in Spanish.
An infinitive is the form of the verb you would find in a dictionary, equivalent to 'to do' or 'to play' in English.
All infinitives in Spanish end in either ar, er, or ir.
For example escuchar, ver and vivir.
You use infinitives to say you do or don’t like doing something:
I like to listen to music - Me gusta escuchar música.
I don’t like to watch films - No me gusta ver películas.
You can use the infinitive for things you're going to do in the future too.
I’m going to play volleyball this Saturday - Voy a jugar al voleibol este sábado.
Yusef is going to visit Edinburgh in January - Yusef va a visitar Edimburgo en enero.
Infinitives often come after other verbs, like 'can' or 'must' in English.
I can’t go to school today, I’m sick - No puedo ir al colegio hoy, estoy enferma.
He must clean his room now - Debe limpiar su habitación ahora.
You use the infinitive for things you want to do, too.
I want to go to the beach this summer - Quiero ir a la playa este verano.
He wants to buy a white shirt - Quiere comprar una camisa blanca.
Infinitives are really useful!
Quiz - Infinitives in Spanish
Practise what you've learned about infinitives in Spanish with this quiz.
Higher Tier - Using the infinitive with prepositions
1. Verbs followed by the preposition a and the infinitive
When using the following verbs add a and the infinitive:
| Infinitive | Translation | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | to succeed in | Finalmente llegué a jugar en el equipo del colegio. | I finally succeed in playing in the school team. |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | to refuse to | Mi padre se negó a darme más dinero. | My dad refused to give me more money. |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | to get accustomed, get used | Me acostumbro a levantarme temprano. | I’m getting used to getting up early. |
Fill in the gap to complete the following sentence in Spanish:
Finalmente, llegué __ tener una conversación en español.
Finally, I succeeded in having a conversation in Spanish.
Finalmente, llegué a tener una conversación en español.
Llegar a, ‘to succeed in’, is followed by the preposition a and an infinitive verb.
2. Verbs followed by the preposition de and the infinitive
When using the following verbs add de and the infinitive:
| Infinitive | Translation | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | to try to | Trato de aprender español. | I’m trying to learn Spanish. |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | to have just done something | Acabo de jugar al fútbol. | I’ve just played football. |
Translate the following sentence into English:
Alex acaba de comer una pizza.
Alex has just eaten pizza.
3. Verbs or expressions followed by the preposition para and the infinitive
When using the following verbs or expressions add para and the infinitive:
| infinitive | Translation | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | to have reason to | Tiene motivo para ganar dinero. | He has reason to earn money. |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | to have permission to | No tengo permiso para ir a la discoteca. | I don’t have permission to go to the disco. |
Now you have learned about infinitives in Spanish why not explore the verb 'to be' in Spanish?
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