Rules for using infinitive verb forms in sentences

Question

Is there any general formula to follow to know when to use the infinitive form of a verb as opposed to conjugating it?

For example, "I need to run to the store" is "Necesito correr a la tienda", right?

The second verb is infinitive. But what if you have more than 2 verbs in a sentence?

"I need to be able to see inside of the cave."

My mind likes to think in patterns and formulas, it'd be nice to know exactly when and where to conjugate if there's a general rule to it.

Answer 1

It might help to think about it like this. Each clause can only have one conjugated verb. The rest of the verbs in a clause will either be in the infinitive, the gerund or the past participle (very analogous to the way English sentences are constructed).

There is nothing wrong with having more than one infinitive in a sentence following a conjugated verb.

One Clause

Necesito poder ver a dentro de la caverna

I need to be able to see inside the cave

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Intenté ir a comer esta mañana

I tried to go (to) eat this morning.

Multiple Clauses

Necesito poder respirar porque tengo que respirar para vivir

I need to be able to breath because I have to breathe in order to live.

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Necesito poder respirar para vivir

I need to be able to breathe in order to (so I can) live.

*Notice on the last example, the subject remains the same (yo) after para so the infinitive is used. If the subject were to change (yo -> tú, él, ella, etc) then you would need to use para que instead, and the verb (vivir) would need to be conjugated.

Good work. Very helpful. - Goyo, Oct 2, 2009

respirar para vivir (typo) - 0074b507, Oct 2, 2009

thanks qfreed (I guess I should have paid a little less attention to the colors and a little more attention to the content - Izanoni1, Oct 2, 2009

Also: maybe you should add that the verb would need to be conjugated in the subjunctive after para que. That might be a little advanced for the poster, though. - Nick-Cortina, Oct 2, 2009

muchas gracias! Muy bien - Dean440, Oct 10, 2009

Answer 2

Without being too technical, it is easiest for me to remember to use the infinitive when a verb is expressed as "to______.

For instance. I need "to go" to the store. In this sentence I would use the infinitive for the verb "ir" for "to go". If the sentence was "I want to run in the park." I would use the infinitive for "to run" which is correr.

In the above examples, the verbs "need" and "want" are conjugated because the word "to" does not precede them.

Answer 3

There's a problem though. Some verbs need "a" or "de" to be used right. For example: "Voy a comenzar de comer porque tengo mucho hambre" Can you give me some verbs that need "a" or "de"? And kindly use them in a sentence. Thanks!

Answer 4

Another example that hasn't been given yet is -

Vamos a- + infinitive = "Let's (do the infinitive)

Vamos a comer = Let's eat.

Vamos a bailar= Let's dance.

Vamos a cantar= Let's sing.

Literally it doesn't make much sense, I know.

Answer 5

Using it where it is used in English, like with mutiple verbs in a row, is generally the case. There are other cases like with gustar where the infinitive is used where a gerund would be in English:

Me gusta bailar. Not me gusta bailando.

And the informal future:

Voy a viajar por Mexico.

oops :o

Is "gusts" right? - radbushi, Oct 2, 2009