No. 39 - Weekly perífrasis verbales: Practice Exercise: Llegar + a + infinitivo

Question

No. 39.- Weekly perífrasis verbales: Practice Exercise: Llegar + a + infinitivo = to go so far as to….

“Llegar + a + infinitivo” - to go so far as to..... (do something)

Llegar + a + infinitivo

Example/Ejemplo

Yo llegué a terminar mis estudios universitarios, pero no me animé a estudiar una maestría."

I went as far as to finish my college degree, but I was not in the mood to keep studying for a master's degree.

Olan llegó a correr en un maratón pero con todo y eso fue muy flojo para limpiar su casa.

Olan went so far as to run a marathon but still was too lazy to clean his house.

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A ‘perífrasis verbal’ is a structure with a helping verb plus an ‘infinitivo’ or a ‘gerundio’ (verb that ends in ar, er, ir).

More info on perifrasis verbales: a helpful link

Good link to explain perifrases verbales: great link by another SD contributor

Let’s practice a few of these in simple sentences. Here are the rules:

1.One sentence per post.

2.Use the ‘perífrasis verbal’ for this week in a sentence in Spanish. Then write it in English.

3.You may post one image to illustrate your sentence.

SilviaC will be the corrector for the Spanish. I will help out on the English. SilviaC ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Una “perífrasis verbal” tiene una estructura con un verbo auxiliar y un “infinitivo” o “gerundio”.

Vamos a practicar un poco estas estructuras en oraciones simples. Estas son las reglas:

1.Una oración por respuesta

2.Usa la perífrasis verbal escogida para esta semana y escribe una oración con ella en español y en inglés.

3.Puedes usar una imagen para ilustrar tu respuesta.

SilviaC será la correctora de español. Yo ayudaré con el inglés.

New link I've found recently: new link with additional info *If you missed last week's practice here is the link: No. 38 - acostumbrar a infinitivo

Answer 1

Espero que poder llegar a conocer al nuevo jefe cuando venga a nuestra oficina.

I hope that I can get to meet the new boss when she visits our office.

Good morning and evening, Jenny. - katydew, Sep 9, 2013

En este caso podemos prescindir de algunos elementos para ser más claros. Sería mejor decir "Espero poder llegar a conocer a nuestro jefe cuando venga a nuestra oficina". - SilviaC, Sep 9, 2013

Gracias Sylvia. - jennysk, Sep 9, 2013

I have seen this "llegar a inf" used not only for "to go so far as to" but also where it seems to mean " manage to do" or "to get to do..". Is this correct? - jennysk, Sep 10, 2013

Indeed. Might say, quickly, that this perífrasis refers to achieving action instead of the process of making it. - SilviaC, Sep 11, 2013

Answer 2

Ellos mismos llegaron a invitarse a ellos mismos a mi fiesta de cumpleaños!

They went so far as to invite themselves to my birthday party!

That's Pepsi. I thought you drank Mountain Dew!: ) - Ranman, Sep 8, 2013

Hahaha. If I drink Mtn. Dew, I'm awake all day, all night! ha. I'm a diet coke lover. - katydew, Sep 8, 2013

¡Buena frase en su construcción! Pero puedes pulirla y mejorarla diciendo "Ellos mismos llegaron a invitarse a mi fiesta de cumpleaños". - SilviaC, Sep 9, 2013

Thanks so much Silvia. A big help to know how it sounds best. - katydew, Sep 9, 2013

Muchas veces el español se basa en el sonido :-) - SilviaC, Sep 11, 2013

And great pic Katy - rogspax, Sep 13, 2013

Good feedback Silvia. I like the Ellos mismos part. I can recognize it as sounding just right here, but unfortunately, couldn´t come up with it myself (por mí mismo?) to save my life. - rogspax, Sep 13, 2013

Answer 3

Llegaron a casarse sin decirnos.

They went so far as to get married without telling us.

Some couples have been known to do that very thing! ;o) - katydew, Sep 9, 2013

¡Buena frase! Un poquito más y sería perfecta. Habría que decir "Llegaron a casarse sin decírnoslo". - SilviaC, Sep 9, 2013

Answer 4

Llegó a decirme que mi niño era malo.

He went so far as to tell me that my child was mean.

That scoundrel! - katydew, Sep 9, 2013

¡Perfecta! Corta, sencilla y muy directa. :-) - SilviaC, Sep 9, 2013

Muchas gracias amiga! - rac1, Sep 10, 2013

No hay de qué ;-) - SilviaC, Sep 11, 2013

Answer 5

Yamaha llegó a construir una caja de cambios especial para intentar ganar el campeonato, El famoso cambio seamless.

(yes, it actually, perhaps disappointingly, seems to be called that in Spanish)

Yamaha went so far as to construct a special transmission to try to win the championship. The famous seamless transmission.

Did they win, or is the race to come? What do you think about this design? - rac1, Sep 13, 2013

This weekend will be their first race with it, so it´s too early too tell. Their two chief competitors already have it. It´s helped one a lot, and the other has two many unrelated problems to matter, so I think it´s more useful as a headstart for next yr. - rogspax, Sep 13, 2013

Amazing feats never cease to amaze me. - katydew, Sep 13, 2013

Answer 6

Last time to bump this up and remind anyone that hasn't done so to look back over Silvia's suggestions for corrections and correct your answers. New phrase Sunday night US time.

:) - rac1, Sep 13, 2013

The corrections are great and appreciated. And I want to say that explicitly, as once in a while when I´m on the road and have a bad connection, I can´t easily correct. But, they ArE noticed and appreciated. THaNKS! - rogspax, Sep 13, 2013

Answer 7

¡A Nadie llegó llegaron a decirle que ella se le haría daño a en el trasero!

No one went so far as to say that she would hurt her butt!

¡Por poco! La construcción está bien, pero creo que el sentido en español es distinto al que quieres expresar. Yo diría mejor "Nadie llegó a decirle que se haría daño en el trasero" - SilviaC, Sep 10, 2013

Gracias, Susy!! - bandit51jd, Sep 10, 2013

Nope, some pain is worth the gain! - katydew, Sep 11, 2013

Some times Spain is pain so XD - SilviaC, Sep 11, 2013