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Verbal Periphrasis with Infinitive

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Las Perífrasis Verbales con infinitivo are the combination of two verbs, sometimes linked by a preposition or relative pronoun, being the first verb the one that is conjugated and the second verb the one that always stays in the infinitive form.

Here is a list of a few common perífrasis verbales followed by an infinitive and its uses:

1. Ir a + infinitivo

a. Used to predict or ask for a future that we consider evident.

El avión va a salir con retraso por culpa de la lluvia.
The plane is going to be delayed because of the rain.

b. We also use this perífrasis to inform about decisions or plans.

La semana que viene voy a apuntarme al gimnasio.
Next week I'm going to join a gym.

2. Tener que / Hay que + infinitivo

a. Tener que expresses a personal obligation.

Tengo que comer más frutas y verduras.
I have to eat more fruits and vegetables.

b. Hay que expresses an impersonal obligation.

Hay que comer muchas frutas y verduras.
It is important to eat more fruits and vegetables.

3. Acabar de + infinitivo

Indicates that an action has ended right before we announce it.

La grúa acaba de llevarse tu coche.
The tow truck just towed your car away.

4. Dejar de + infinitivo / Parar de + infinitivo

Indicates the end of an action that was happening in the past. In the negative form, indicates that an action has been carried out without interruption.

Mi marido ha dejado de fumar.
My husband has quit smoking.

Por fin el vecino ha parado de tocar la guitarra.
Finally the neighbor has stopped playing guitar.

No ha parado de/No ha dejado de comer chucherías en toda la tarde y ahora no tiene hambre.
Since he has been eating candy all afternoon, now he's not hungry.

5. Echar(se) a + infinitivo / Romper a + infinitivo

Indicates the unexpected and brutal begining of an action.

Cuando vio al rottweiler, echó a correr.
When he saw the rottweiler, he started running.

Al oír la triste noticia, rompió a llorar.
When he heard the sad news, he burst into tears.

6. Ponerse a + infinitivo

Indicates the immediate begining of an action.

La secretaria se puso a trabajar en cuánto llegó a la oficina.
The secretary started working as soon as she arrived at the office.

7. Quedar en + infinitivo

It has the sense of agreeing to do something.

Quedamos en vernos el miércoles por la tarde.
We agreed to meet up Wednesday evening.

8. Volver + infinitivo

Expresses the repetition of an action.

Volveré a hacer el pastel este fin de semana.
I will make the cake again this weekend.

9. Llevar sin + infinitivo

Expresses a period of time during which we stopped doing something.

Mi padre lleva diez días sin trabajar por la huelga.
My father has been without working for ten days because of the strike.

10. Seguir sin + infinitivo

Expresses a period of time during which we are still not doing something.

Aunque he estudiado inglés por dos años, sigo sin hablarlo bien.
Although I studied English for two years, I still can't speak it well.

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