At verbal periphrases, verbal phrases in Spanish are expressions formed by two or more verbs whose union works as a single unit of meaning. They are usually composed of an auxiliary verb, a linking element (preposition, that) and an impersonal verb (infinitive, gerund or participle). You will meet the main verbal periphrases, its uses and meanings. ¡Échale ganas!
Read too:Infinitive, gerund and participle in Spanish
Infinitive Verbal Periphrases
They are divided into three types:
The) modals: express obligation, possibility, need or other manifestations of the speaker's attitude;
B) aspectual: indicate the temporal aspect – beginning, end, repetition – of the action;
ç) phallus: express an action step – preparatory, initial, final or interruption phase.
See examples:
→ Go to + infinitive: phrase that indicates the speaker's plans or intentions and actions that will be carried out in the near future.
Ready voy to change work.
(Coming soon I'm going to change of work.)
let's take a walk al perro.
(let's walk with the dog.)
→ Echarse/break a + infinitive: indicates the sudden start of an action.
There was no need for the presentation to refuse all the assistance.
(The presentation hasn't even started, started laughing in front of the presents.)
When he said that he couldn't go to visit her, he broke into crying from the other side of the line.
(When she told him he couldn't go visit her, she broke down crying on the other end of the line.)
→ Dejar de + infinitive: indicates that an action that was in progress was not performed or continued.
After 5 years, she stopped smoking.
(After 5 years, she stopped smoking.)
→ Get to + infinitive: expresses the end of a process at the end of which something is achieved.
After working for a long time, she became one of the best teachers of the institute.
(After a long time working, becameif one of the best teachers at the institute.)
→ Back to + infinitive: expresses an action that resumes or starts again.
came back to talk with Alejandra after two days of skin.
(spoke again with Alejandra after two days of fighting.)
→ Meter yourself to + infinitive: start doing something thinking you have a non-existent capacity.
got mixed upto explain a la abogada that meant demand sin ni siquiera haber estudiado leyes.
(Got to explain to the lawyer what the process meant without even having studied laws.)
→ End + infinitive: expresses an action that took place in the recent past.
I just got here of it optional
(I'm finished/I'm done in to arrive from college.)
→ Ponerse a + infinitive: get ready and start doing something.
From the weeks before the exam, she began to study all the contents.
(Two weeks before the test, He began studying all content.)
→ Drop in + infinitive: combine something with someone.
we fell to meet Saturday afternoon.
(We stayed/We arranged to meet on Saturday afternoon.)
→ be for + infinitive: indicates an action that will take place soon.
I'm ready to decide Marta, who doesn't come, is muy ajereada.
(i'm about to say Marta doesn't come, I'm very busy.)
→ Deber of + infinitive: expresses a possibility or assumption.
— Is it Viene Maria?
(Is Mary coming?)
— In the lo sé, must be on the bus.
(I don't know, it must be on the bus.)
→ Deber + infinitive: expresses an obligation.
you must dedicate yourself more if you want to join the dance group.
(You must dedicate himself more if you want to join the dance group.)
→ Know that + infinitive: impersonal obligation that indicates a generalization. It is always used at 3The singular person.
Hay to take care the nature.
(It is necessary to take care from nature.)
→ Tener that + infinitive: expresses an obligation. Different than know that, That periphrasis allows the conjugation of the verb tener according to the subject.
I have to go early, pues su mamá it necesitaba.
(Had to leave early because his mother needed him.)
→ Venir to + infinitive: expresses an approximate equivalence, just like the verb seem.
The few words I say to myself, I believe, come to be an apology request.
(The few words you said to me, I think, seemed to be an apology.)
Read too: reflexive verbs in spanish
Pgerund verbal eryphrases
They indicate an action, state or process in its course, that is, one that is developing.
→ Finish + gerund: indicates the end of a process or the beginning of a new situation that, sometimes, is not what was expected or positive.
If a hardened single was decided, but I ended up getting married con su her first novio.
(She used to say an inveterate spinster, but she ended up getting married with her first boyfriend.)
→ Go + gerund: indicates the progressive development of an action that takes place little by little.
Camila get betterIts behavior, sometimes suele to fight with los chicos.
(Camila is/is getting better her behavior, even though she sometimes fights with the boys.)
→ Llevar + gerund: indicates an action that started in the past and continues in the present.
I live living en Costa Rica of the months. // Llevo of the months living in Costa Rica.
(Alive in Costa Rica two months ago. // Two months ago I live in Costa Rica.)
→ Quedarse + gerund: expresses permanence or continuity.
Anoche you want me to work Just so many.
(Last night I kept working see you later.)
→ follow + gerund: conveys the idea of continuity.
Alejandra keep practicing su portuguese in the group of studios.
(Alejandro to be continued practicing their Portuguese in the study group.)
→ floor + gerund: indicates an action or situation that extends in time. It conveys the idea that the subject dedicates time and effort to action. In certain contexts, it can have a derogatory or reproachful value.
Juan are looking for work, but find nothing.
(Juan are looking for job, but finds nothing.)
Seraphin walk metiéndose with dangerous people.
(Serafin are getting into with dangerous people.)
→ Venir + gerund: indicates the progress of a process that was happening in the past and continues in the present.
Helen vienna sufriendo with esos dolores hace years ago.
(Helen Has been suffering with these pains for years.)
Read too: Defective verbs in Spanish
Verbal periphrases of participle
According to the Manual of the new grammar of the Spanish language, there is no theory that encompasses the general characteristics of participle periphrasis, as with the infinitive and gerund. Grammatically, what can be said is that the verb agrees in gender and number with the subject or complement. Are the following:
→ Give for + participation: indicates that the action is considered finished.
Susana if you hate for satisfy with the decision.
(Susana was satisfied with the decision.)
la prof hate for sitting that we all understood el contento.
(The teacher assumed/assumed that we all understood the content.)
→ Take + participle: indicates a cumulative idea.
I read all the books by García Márquez.
(I've read all of García Márquez's books.)
→ walk + participate: expresses the subject's state from a durative idea, that is, one that extends over time.
Joseph be worried con la health of your mamá.
(Joseph be worried with your mother's health.)
→ Fall (if) + participation: indicates the situation or how something ends.
the baby fell asleep after so much jugar.
(The baby he slept after so much playing.)
→ Go + participate: expresses the subject's physical state.
For the Day of Muertos, let's go disguised of skulls.
(On the Day of Muertos, let's go in costumes of skulls.)
→ Tener + participation: has a similar meaning to carry + gerund. The difference is that, in this case, the result of the action is partial, that is, the process can be finished or not.
Ya have finished five of las diez tasks that le dejó su mamá of her.
(Already finished five of the ten tasks your mother left you.)
→ be + participate: indicates the result of an action.
I'm list to go out with you.
(I'm ready to go out with you/with you.)
Read too:Las prepositions – the prepositions in Spanish
solved exercises
question 1
Complete with a suitable connecting element (preposition, which…)
a) Tienes _____ pay attention to what you do.
b) We will ____ travel the next month.
c) In the sé que le pasó a Maria, she must ___ be studying.
d) I am _____ to finish these exercises.
e) Hay ____ think before speaking.
Solution
a) that
b) the
c) of
d) to
is that
Question 02
Complete with one of the following periphrases: he walks looking for, dejé de, echa a, tiene leidos, llevo dos años escribiéndole.
a) Camila _____________ ten chapters of the book.
b) Alfredo ____________ una nueva casa.
c) For five months that ________ has been working in that company.
d) No sé que le pasa al niño, by any means, _________ to cry.
e) _______________ Maria, but she never challenges me.
Solution
a) has reads
b) is looking for
c) deja of
d) finds the
e) Llevo dos años escribiéndole
By Renata Martins Gornattes
Spanish teacher
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/espanhol/perifrasis-verbales.htm