- Use direct infinitive verbs like querer, poder, deber without any preposition
- Master verb + a + infinitive patterns like empezar a, aprender a, ayudar a
- Learn verb + de + infinitive constructions like acabar de, dejar de, tratar de
- Apply verb + en + infinitive patterns like pensar en, insistir en, tardar en
- Recognise less common patterns with con and por
- Avoid mixing up similar verbs that use different prepositions
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VerbsElementary
Verb + Infinitive Patterns
Know when to use a, de, en, por, or no preposition before an infinitive
What You'll Learn
Overview
When you use two verbs together in Spanish, the second verb is usually an infinitive. But here's the tricky part: some verbs go directly to the infinitive, while others need a preposition (a, de, en, con, por) in between.
No Preposition
Quiero trabajar
I want to work
With "A"
Empiezo a trabajar
I start to work
With "DE"
Termino de trabajar
I finish working
There's no magic rule - you simply have to learn which preposition goes with which verb. The good news? The most common verbs follow predictable patterns, and with practice, they'll become second nature!
Structure & Formation
Pattern 1: Direct Infinitive (No Preposition)
These verbs go directly to the infinitive with no preposition. They express ability, necessity, desire, or obligation.
poder
can, to be able to
Puedo ayudarte
I can help you
querer
to want
Quiero comer
I want to eat
deber
should, must
Debes estudiar
You should study
necesitar
to need
Necesito dormir
I need to sleep
saber
to know how to
Sé nadar
I know how to swim
soler
to usually do
Suelo correr
I usually run
desear
to wish, desire
Deseo viajar
I wish to travel
esperar
to hope, expect
Espero aprobar
I hope to pass
parecer
to seem
Parece llover
It seems to rain
Pattern 2: Verb + A + Infinitive
These verbs require the preposition A before the infinitive. Many indicate beginning, movement, or learning.
empezar a
to begin to
Empiezo a trabajar
I begin to work
comenzar a
to start to
Comienzo a entender
I start to understand
ir a
to be going to
Voy a comer
I'm going to eat
venir a
to come to
Viene a ayudar
He comes to help
volver a
to do again
Vuelvo a intentar
I try again
aprender a
to learn to
Aprendo a cocinar
I learn to cook
enseñar a
to teach to
Enseño a leer
I teach to read
ayudar a
to help to
Ayudo a estudiar
I help to study
invitar a
to invite to
Te invito a cenar
I invite you to dinner
atreverse a
to dare to
Me atrevo a saltar
I dare to jump
decidirse a
to decide to
Me decido a ir
I decide to go
negarse a
to refuse to
Se niega a hablar
He refuses to speak
Pattern 3: Verb + DE + Infinitive
These verbs use the preposition DE before the infinitive. Many indicate finishing, stopping, or trying.
acabar de
to have just (done)
Acabo de llegar
I just arrived
terminar de
to finish
Termino de comer
I finish eating
dejar de
to stop
Dejo de fumar
I stop smoking
tratar de
to try to
Trato de ayudar
I try to help
olvidarse de
to forget to
Me olvido de llamar
I forget to call
acordarse de
to remember to
Me acuerdo de comprar
I remember to buy
alegrarse de
to be happy to
Me alegro de verte
I'm happy to see you
cansarse de
to get tired of
Me canso de esperar
I get tired of waiting
tener ganas de
to feel like
Tengo ganas de bailar
I feel like dancing
Special Note: Acabar de
"Acabar de" means "to have just done something" (recent past), not "to finish": Acabo de comer = I just ate (NOT I finish eating).
Pattern 4: Verb + EN + Infinitive
These verbs use the preposition EN before the infinitive. They often indicate thinking, insisting, or taking time.
pensar en
to think about
Pienso en viajar
I think about travelling
insistir en
to insist on
Insisto en pagar
I insist on paying
tardar en
to take time to
Tardo en decidir
I take time to decide
quedar en
to agree to
Quedamos en vernos
We agree to meet
consistir en
to consist of
Consiste en practicar
It consists of practising
dudar en
to hesitate to
Dudo en aceptar
I hesitate to accept
Confusing Pair: Pensar
Pensar (alone) = to plan to: Pienso ir (I plan to go)
Pensar en = to think about: Pienso en ir (I'm thinking about going)
Pattern 5: Other Prepositions (CON, POR)
A few verbs use CON or POR with infinitives. These are less common but still important.
Verb + CON + Infinitive
soñar con
to dream of
Sueño con viajar
I dream of travelling
contar con
to count on
Cuento con ganar
I count on winning
amenazar con
to threaten to
Amenaza con irse
He threatens to leave
Verb + POR + Infinitive
empezar por
to begin by
Empiezo por estudiar
I begin by studying
acabar por
to end up
Acabo por aceptar
I end up accepting
preocuparse por
to worry about
Me preocupo por llegar
I worry about arriving
luchar por
to fight to
Lucho por sobrevivir
I fight to survive
Examples
Making Plans
Quiero aprender a tocar la guitarra
I want to learn to play guitar
Voy a empezar a practicar mañana
I'm going to start practising tomorrow
Necesito dejar de posponer las cosas
I need to stop procrastinating
Pienso estudiar todos los días
I plan to study every day
Daily Activities
Acabo de terminar de trabajar
I just finished working
Suelo desayunar a las siete
I usually have breakfast at seven
Tardo en ducharme veinte minutos
I take twenty minutes to shower
Me olvido de llamar a mi madre
I forget to call my mother
Comparing Similar Verbs
Some verbs look similar but use different prepositions. Pay attention to these pairs:
Terminar vs Acabar
Terminar de (to finish doing):
Termino de leer el libro
I finish reading the book
Acabar de (to have just done):
Acabo de leer el libro
I just read the book
Empezar a vs Empezar por
Empezar a (to start to):
Empiezo a trabajar a las nueve
I start working at nine
Empezar por (to begin by):
Empiezo por calentar
I begin by warming up
Pensar (alone) vs Pensar en
Pensar + infinitive (to plan to):
Pienso viajar a España
I plan to travel to Spain
Pensar en + infinitive (to think about doing):
Pienso en viajar a España
I'm thinking about travelling to Spain
Common Mistakes
Don't Add Extra Prepositions!
Modal verbs (poder, querer, deber) never take prepositions:
Wrong: Quiero a comer
Wrong: Puedo de ir
Correct: Quiero comer / Puedo ir
Volver a = Do Again
This special pattern means "to do something again":
Vuelvo a intentar
I try again (lit: I return to try)
No vuelvas a hacer eso
Don't do that again
Tener que is Different
While we use "tener ganas DE", we use "tener QUE" (not "tener de"):
Tener que + infinitive = to have to:
Tengo que estudiar
I have to study
Tener ganas de + infinitive = to feel like:
Tengo ganas de bailar
I feel like dancing
Reflexive Verbs Keep "Se"
When reflexive verbs follow another verb, they keep their reflexive pronoun:
Quiero ducharme
I want to shower (myself)
Voy a levantarme temprano
I'm going to get (myself) up early
Watch Out for False Friends
English and Spanish don't always match:
English: "I try to help"
✗ Intento a ayudar
✓ Trato de ayudar / Intento ayudar
✗ Intento a ayudar
✓ Trato de ayudar / Intento ayudar
English: "I learn how to cook"
✗ Aprendo cocinar
✓ Aprendo a cocinar
✗ Aprendo cocinar
✓ Aprendo a cocinar
Soler = Usually Do
This common verb expresses habitual actions (no English equivalent):
Suelo desayunar a las siete
I usually have breakfast at seven
¿Sueles hacer ejercicio?
Do you usually exercise?
Quick Test
Test your knowledge of Spanish verb + infinitive patterns:
1. Which is correct? 'I want to eat'
2. Complete: 'I begin to work' - Empiezo ___ trabajar
3. What does 'Acabo de comer' mean?
4. Complete: 'I stop smoking' - Dejo ___ fumar
5. Which means 'I think about travelling'?
6. Complete: 'I learn to cook' - Aprendo ___ cocinar
7. What does 'Vuelvo a intentar' mean?
8. Which is correct? 'I can help'