In earlier weeks you learned three powerful structures that combine a conjugated verb with an infinitive. Let's review them before adding a fourth. The pattern is always the same - conjugate the first verb, then add any infinitive:
Examples
Quiero viajar a España.I want to travel to Spain.
¿Puedes comprar los billetes?Can you buy the tickets?
Vamos a salir a las ocho.We're going to leave at eight.
Ana quiere visitar Valencia.Ana wants to visit Valencia.
Tip
Remember - only the first verb conjugates. The second verb stays in the infinitive (-ar, -er, -ir). This rule applies to all verb + infinitive structures in Spanish.
Grammar point 2 of 7
Tener que + infinitive (obligation)
Tener que + infinitive means "to have to" or "must." It expresses obligation or necessity. Conjugate tener normally, add que, then the infinitive. This is one of the most useful structures for everyday Spanish:
tener que + infinitive (to have to)
Person
Singular
Plural
1st person
(yo) tengo que + inf.
(nosotros) tenemos que + inf.
2nd person
(tú) tienes que + inf.
(vosotros) tenéis que + inf.
3rd person
(él/ella) tiene que + inf.
(ellos/ellas) tienen que + inf.
Examples
Tengo que comprar los billetes.I have to buy the tickets.
Tienes que llegar temprano.You have to arrive early.
Tenemos que reservar el hotel.We have to book the hotel.
Pablo tiene que trabajar mañana.Pablo has to work tomorrow.
Tip
Don't forget the "que" between tener and the infinitive! "Tengo comprar" is incorrect - it must be "Tengo que comprar."
Grammar point 3 of 7
Comparing all four structures
Now you know four verb + infinitive patterns. Each one changes the meaning of the action completely. Compare how "viajar" (to travel) changes depending on the structure:
Four Verb + Infinitive Structures
Structure
Meaning
Example
querer + inf.
want to
Quiero viajar.
poder + inf.
can / be able to
Puedo viajar.
ir a + inf.
going to
Voy a viajar.
tener que + inf.
have to / must
Tengo que viajar.
Examples
Quiero viajar a Valencia.I want to travel to Valencia.
Puedo viajar el viernes.I can travel on Friday.
Voy a viajar en tren.I'm going to travel by train.
Tengo que viajar por trabajo.I have to travel for work.
Tip
Each verb adds a different meaning to the infinitive: quiero (desire), voy a (intention), puedo (ability or permission), tengo que (obligation). You can even combine them: "Tengo que poder hablar español" (I have to be able to speak Spanish).
Grammar point 4 of 7
Travel vocabulary in context
Let's put these four structures to work with travel vocabulary. Notice how the same situation can be described differently depending on which structure you choose:
Examples
Tengo que comprar un billete.I have to buy a ticket.
¿Puedo reservar un asiento?Can I reserve a seat?
Voy a viajar en tren.I'm going to travel by train.
Quiero ir a Valencia.I want to go to Valencia.
Tenemos que facturar el equipaje.We have to check in the luggage.
¿Podemos embarcar ya?Can we board now?
Tip
At a ticket office or airport, poder is especially useful for polite requests: "¿Puedo...?" (Can I...?) is more polite than "Quiero..." (I want...).
Grammar point 5 of 7
Asking travel questions
These are the essential questions you need at any train station, bus terminal, or airport. They combine question words from Stage 1 Week 10 with travel vocabulary:
Examples
¿A qué hora sale el tren?What time does the train leave?
¿Cuánto cuesta un billete?How much is a ticket?
¿De qué andén sale?What platform does it leave from?
¿Cuánto tiempo tarda?How long does it take?
¿Hay un tren directo?Is there a direct train?
Tip
Memorise "¿A qué hora sale?" and "¿Cuánto cuesta?" - these two questions alone will get you through most travel situations in Spain and Latin America.
Grammar point 6 of 7
Hay in travel context
You learned "hay" (there is/there are) back in Week 1 for describing your home. Now let's use it in travel situations. Hay is incredibly versatile - it works for asking about availability of transport, services, and facilities:
Examples
¿Hay vuelos a Valencia?Are there flights to Valencia?
Hay un tren a las diez.There is a train at ten.
No hay asientos disponibles.There are no seats available.
¿Hay wifi en el tren?Is there wifi on the train?
¿Hay descuento para estudiantes?Is there a student discount?
Tip
Remember: hay never changes form. Whether it's one flight or twenty flights, you always say "hay." For negatives, just add "no" before it: "No hay billetes."
Grammar point 7 of 7
Numbers review for travel
Numbers come up constantly when travelling - prices, times, platform numbers, and seat numbers. Let's practise using numbers in real travel contexts:
Sale a las catorce treinta.It leaves at fourteen thirty.
Andén número tres.Platform number three.
El asiento cuarenta y dos.Seat forty-two.
Tip
In Spain, train and bus timetables use the 24-hour clock. So "las catorce treinta" (14:30) means 2:30pm. In Latin America, the 12-hour clock with "de la mañana/tarde" is more common.
Conversation
Conversation example
Ana and Pablo are at the train station, buying tickets to Valencia for their trip.
AnaPablo, tenemos que comprar los billetes. ¿Dónde está la taquilla?Pablo, we have to buy the tickets. Where is the ticket office?
PabloEstá allí, al fondo. Vamos.It's over there, at the back. Let's go.
AnaBuenos días. Queremos dos billetes a Valencia, por favor.Good morning. We want two tickets to Valencia, please.
Taquillero¿Ida o ida y vuelta?Single or return?
PabloIda y vuelta, por favor. ¿Cuánto cuesta?Return, please. How much does it cost?
TaquilleroTreinta y cinco euros cada uno. Sale a las diez quince del andén número cuatro.Thirty-five euros each. It leaves at ten fifteen from platform number four.
Ana¿Cuánto tiempo tarda?How long does it take?
TaquilleroTarda una hora y cuarenta minutos. Es un tren directo.It takes one hour and forty minutes. It's a direct train.
PabloPerfecto. ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?Perfect. Can I pay by card?
TaquilleroSí, claro. Aquí tienen sus billetes. ¡Buen viaje!Yes, of course. Here are your tickets. Have a good trip!
Ana¡Gracias! Pablo, tenemos que ir al andén. El tren sale en veinte minutos.Thanks! Pablo, we have to go to the platform. The train leaves in twenty minutes.
PabloSí, y tengo que comprar agua antes. Quiero comprar algo para comer también.Yes, and I have to buy water first. I want to buy something to eat too.
4. From which platform does the 10:15 train depart?
Exercise 5 of 6 · Fill in the blanks
Complete the ticket office dialogue with the missing words:
Buenos días. Un billete de , por favor.
(return)
¿A qué hora el próximo tren?
(verb: to leave/depart)
Sale a las once del número cinco.
(platform)
¿Cuánto el billete?
(verb: to cost)
¿ pagar con tarjeta?
(Can I...?)
Exercise 6 of 6 · Multiple choice
Choose the best response for each travel situation:
1. You want to know the price of a train ticket. You ask:
2. You need to find out which platform your train leaves from. You ask:
3. You want to know if there are any direct trains. You ask:
4. The train is delayed. The announcer says:
Listening practice
ConversationBeginnerElenaCarlos
Problemas en el aeropuerto
Problems at the Airport
Tip: If you need help, review the questions first, use the slow speed option, and check the transcript.
0:00 / 0:00
0:00 / 0:00
ShowHide Transcript
Carlos¡Elena! Tengo un problema. Estoy en el aeropuerto y mi vuelo lleva retraso.Elena! I have a problem. I'm at the airport and my flight is delayed.
Elena¡Ay, Carlos! ¿Cuánto retraso tiene?Oh, Carlos! How much delay is there?
CarlosDos horas. Y no puedo encontrar la puerta de embarque. ¡Este aeropuerto es enorme!Two hours. And I can't find the boarding gate. This airport is enormous!
ElenaTranquilo. Tienes que mirar las pantallas. ¿Qué dice tu tarjeta de embarque?Calm down. You have to look at the screens. What does your boarding pass say?
CarlosDice puerta B-veintitrés, pero no hay ninguna puerta B aquí.It says gate B-twenty-three, but there's no gate B here.
ElenaTienes que ir al segundo piso. Las puertas B están arriba. ¿Hay señales?You have to go to the second floor. The B gates are upstairs. Are there signs?
CarlosAh, sí. Veo las señales ahora. ¡Gracias! También tengo que facturar una maleta extra. ¿Puedo hacer eso?Ah, yes. I see the signs now. Thanks! I also have to check an extra suitcase. Can I do that?
ElenaSí, pero tienes que ir al mostrador de la aerolínea. Va a costar más. ¡Buen viaje, Carlos!Yes, but you have to go to the airline counter. It's going to cost more. Have a good trip, Carlos!
Test yourself on this week's vocabulary with interactive flashcards.
Practise this week
Make sentences with all four structures: quiero/puedo/voy a/tengo que + infinitive
Practise asking the five key travel questions (time, price, platform, duration, direct)
Review numbers for prices and times
Imagine you're buying a train ticket - rehearse the dialogue out loud
Try to describe your usual way of getting to work or school using travel vocabulary
Homework
Write an itinerary for a weekend trip: list 5 things you "tengo que" do before the trip and 5 things you "quiero" do during the trip.
Look up a real train or bus timetable for a Spanish-speaking city and write 3 sentences about it (e.g., "El tren sale a las diez. Cuesta veinte euros. Tarda dos horas.").
Extra practice
Reinforce what you learned this week with these exercises from our site:
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