De and Infinitives

Question

How do you know when to put "de" in front of an infinitive. For example:

It is easy to read: Es facil de leer or Es facil leer? It is difficult to read the book: Es dificil leer el libro or Es dificil de leer el libro?

How do you know to put de in front of an infinitive? I can't seem to find the pattern to this sentence structure.

Answer 1

Let's see if I can make myself clear:

.

¿Es fácil leer? Is reading difficult? meaning Can you read?

¿Es fácil de leer? Is this book difficult to read? meaning you are talking specifically about this book

Great explanation Benz :) - Izanoni1, Feb 14, 2010

I think I get it now. So if I wanted to say "It is difficult to speak in Spanish" I would say "Es dificil hablar en español" and NOT "Es dificil de hablar en español" Correct? - cwirth, Feb 14, 2010

Right!! :) - Benz, Feb 15, 2010

Answer 2

Here is some bad news concerning some uses of de before an infinitive (even though, it is usually the word before the de that evokes its use; as in this case where certain verbs are followed by de.)

Verbal expressions: Many verbs are followed by de and often an infinitive to form expressions. There is no logic to which verbs are followed by de. The verbs need need either to be memorized or learned as you come across them. Acabo de salir, I have just left; nunca cesa de comer, he never stops eating; trataré de estudiar, I will try to study; me alegro de ganar, I am happy to win; se olvidó de estudiar, he forgot to study; Romeo se enamoró de Julieta, Romeo fell in love with Juliet.

Here is an article that lists verbs+de+infinitive

see verbs followed by de+infinitive

That's right Quentin, this are verbal expressions and have no logic. But the example the poster gave makes sense... without "de" you change the meaning of the sentence - Benz, Feb 14, 2010

That link is VERY useful!! Spanish is really complicated sometimes!! :) - Benz, Feb 14, 2010

Once again you have proven yourself to be "master-of-the-links." Bravo :) - Izanoni1, Feb 14, 2010

Answer 3

This reference article on prepositions might help.

Answer 4

de is a preposition, so any verb that follows should be an infinitive