VerbsintermediateCEFR A2

Verb + Infinitive Patterns

What You'll Learn

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

Overview / Usage

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.

🎯 Quick Comparison

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 in between. They express ability, necessity, desire, or obligation.

📋 Essential Direct Infinitive Verbs

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: These are often modal verbs or verbs that express mental states. Think of them as "auxiliary" verbs that modify the main action.

🅰️ Pattern 2: Verb + A + Infinitive

These verbs require the preposition A before the infinitive. Many indicate beginning, movement, or learning.

📋 Common Verbs + A + Infinitive

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.

📋 Common Verbs + DE + Infinitive

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

encargarse de

to be in charge of

Me encargo de cocinar

I'm in charge of cooking

tener ganas de

to feel like

Tengo ganas de bailar

I feel like dancing

💡 Special Note: "Acabar de" is unique - it 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.

📋 Common Verbs + EN + Infinitive

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" changes meaning with the preposition:
• 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

💬 Real-Life Conversations

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

Gotchas / Common Mistakes

⚠️ Don't Add Extra Prepositions!

Modal verbs (poder, querer, deber) never take prepositions:

✗ Wrong:

Quiero a comer

Puedo de ir

✓ Correct:

Quiero comer

Puedo ir

🔄 Volver a = Do Again

This is a special pattern meaning "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

English: "I learn how to cook"
✗ Aprendo cocinar
✓ Aprendo a cocinar

⏰ Soler = Usually Do

This common verb expresses habitual actions (no English equivalent):