Transcript Verbs and Expressions That Use the Infinitive

If you are saying that someone does an
action, the verb needs to be conjugated.
(ending changed to match the subject)
example:
Yo estudio mucho para los exámenes.
I study a lot for tests.
If you are talking about an action in
general, you do not conjugate the verb.
(leave it in the infinitive: –ar, –er, or –ir)
example:
Es importante estudiar para los
exámenes.
It is important to study for tests.
Usually if the English uses the infinitive,
the Spanish will use the infinitive too.
Look for:
TO + action
(to go, to swim, etc.)
Sometimes you will have more than one
verb in a sentence.
You can NOT conjugate two verbs in a
row unless you are talking about two
separate actions that someone is doing.
You will find many phrases or
expressions that use two verbs together–
we’ll call them “verb combos”.
In a “verb combo” (two verbs together),
— the first verb is conjugated
— the second verb is in the infinitive
form
example:
1st verb—conjugated
Oscar prefiere llevar jeans los fines
de semana. 2nd verb—infinitive
Oscar prefers to wear jeans on
weekends.
Here are some verbs and expressions
that are often followed by an infinitive:
me gusta / gustaría
I like / would like
me encanta / encantaría
I love / would love
poder (o  ue)
to be able, can
deber
ought to, should
preferir (e ie)
to prefer
Here are a few more verbs and expressions
that are often followed by
an infinitive:
querer (eie)
to want
pensar (eie)
to plan
necesitar
to need
tener que
to have to
ir a
to be going to
1st verb—conjugated
Examples:
2nd verb—infinitive
 Me gusta nadar.
I like to swim.
 Te gustaría bailar.
You would like to dance.
 Me encanta ir de compras.
I love to go shopping.
1st verb—conjugated
2nd verb—infinitive
Examples:
 Me encantaría ir contigo.
I would love to go with you.
 Los chicos pueden tocar la guitarra.
The boys can (are able to) play
the guitar.
 Debemos comprar un regalo para él.
We should (ought to) buy a gift for
him.
1st verb—conjugated
Examples:
2nd verb—infinitive
 Mi amiga prefiere estar sola.
My friend prefers to be alone.
 El perro quiere jugar con los niños.
The dog wants to play with the kids.
 Pensamos viajar a Colorado.
We plan to travel to Colorado.
1st verb—conjugated
Examples:
2nd verb—infinitive
 Él necesita estudiar mucho.
He needs to study a lot.
 Tiffany tiene que hacer un proyecto.
Tiffany has to do a project.
 Uds. van a comer el desayuno.
Y’all are going to eat breakfast.
When you have more than one verb,
REMEMBER:
You can NOT conjugate two verbs in a
row unless you are talking about two
separate actions that someone is doing.
In a “verb combo” (two verbs together),
— the first verb is conjugated
— the second verb is in the infinitive
form