More On Spanish Infinitives | SpanishDict

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Quick Answer

The infinitive is the most basic form of a verb. Verbs in the infinitive form indicate what an action is, but do not indicate anything about who is doing the action or at what point in time the action is taking place.

Infinitives as Nouns

In Spanish, when a verb functions as a noun, the infinitive is used, and it is always singular and masculine. It can be used as the subject of a sentence or the object of another verb or preposition.

When the infinitive is used as a noun, you don't usually use an article (such as elor unwith it, though it's acceptable to use the article el in front of an infinitive that is the subject of a sentence.

examples
Bailar tango es difícil. Dancing the tango is hard.
Está prohibido sacar fotos aquí. Taking pictures is prohibited here.
Pienso salir con él. I am thinking about going out with him.
Lo hice sin pensar. I did it without thinking.
El nadar es buen ejercicio. Swimming is good exercise.

English Translations of Spanish Infinitives

Spanish infinitives can often be translated into English as infinitives (like to do) or gerunds (like doing).

examples
Me gusta nadar. I like to swim. / I like swimming.
Hablar español es divertido. Speaking Spanish is fun. / It is fun to speak Spanish.

Infinitive Commands

To form an infinitive command, simply use the word no followed by an infinitive. You don't need to conjugate anything!

examples
No fumar. No smoking.
Batir los huevos. Beat the eggs.

Verbs Used with Infinitives

Here are some verbs and verb phrases commonly used before another verb in the infinitive.

aceptarto accept
acordarto agree
afirmarto say, to state
amenazarto threaten
anhelarto long for
asegurarto assure
buscarto look for
creerto believe
deberto have to, should
decidirto decide
demostrarto show
desearto desire, to want
enseñar ato teach
esperarto hope for
fingirto pretend
gustarto like
intentarto try
ir ato go
lamentarto regret
lograrto succeed in
negarto deny
pensar ento think about, to think of
poderto be able to
preferirto prefer
prometerto promise
quererto want
reconocerto acknowledge
recordarto remember
seguirto follow, to continue
sentirto feel
solerto be used to
temerto fear
tener queto have
tratar deto try
examples
Vamos a bailar. We are going to dance.
Tienes que sacar la basura. You have to take out the trash.
Quiero salir para la fiesta. I want to leave for the party.
Me gusta dibujar. I like to draw.

Tense about tenses in Spanish? Never fear! Read about other tenses in Spanish in these articles:

  • Present
  • Present Progressive
  • Preterite
  • Imperfect
  • Future Tenses
  • Simple and Informal Future
  • Future Progressive
  • Subjunctive
  • Subjunctive vs. Indicative
  • More Subjunctive

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