Una pregunta sobre infinitivos

Question

What other words we need to write INF after the verb?? Por ejemplo: poder,querer,ir. we all need to write INF after the verb. Is sentir also add INF? sentimos molestarte. also,permitir, permitame presentarte a mi esposo. are sentir,and permitir also add INF? What other verbs?

Answer 1

Most verbs that take objects can have infinitives phrases (or clauses with "que") as objects (and not just the direct and indirect ones). These examples show sentences with objects with nouns, and next to them a different sentence with the same verb with an infinitive phrase as an object.

• Permítanme un consejo. - Permítanme decirles algo.
• Prefiero un vaso de agua. - Prefiero comer temprano.
• Deseo una casa nueva. - Deseo comprarme un vestido nuevo.
• Me acostumbré al vino. - Me acostumbré a levantarme temprano.
• Espero un regalo. - Espero divertirme en la fiesta.

There are some special constructions (no less than 67) called periphrases that have to be learnt on their own because of their special behaviour. I won't give a comprehensive list, but I'll show the most common ones. These constructions allow object pronouns to be placed before or after the verb.

The modal verbs "soler", "deber" and "poder" only accept infinitives. "Debes verlo / Lo debes ver", "Puedo verlo / Lo puedo ver".

The verb "querer", although it is close to "desear" and many other verbs, has a special behaviour, because even though it is not regarded as a periphrasis by most grammarians, it allows the pronoun to be placed before and after the verb: "Lo quiero ver / Quiero verlo". You can't do this with other verbs like "desear", where the pronoun must be attached to the infinitive.

Other common periphrases where only the infinitive can be used are:

• Ir a + infinitive (for future plans): "Lo voy a ver / Voy a verlo".
• Empezar a + infinitive: "Lo empecé a ver / Empecé a verlo".
• Comenzar a + infinitive: "Empecé a verlo", and less common, "Lo empecé a ver"
• Dejar de + infinitive: "Lo dejé de ver / Dejé de verlo".
• Volver a + infinitive: "Lo volví a ver / Volví a verlo".
• Tener que + infinitive: "Lo tengo que ver / Tengo que verlo".

As I said, I've got a nearly comprehensive list of nearly 70 periphrases of this kind (too much to write them all here). Refer to a good reference book about this topic to see them all, but bear in mind that not all of them are commonly used.

Thanks, Lazarus. - sanlee, Dec 29, 2010

Thank you, Lazarus - Echoline, Dec 29, 2010

Answer 2

I'm not sure what you mean. You can want something (quiere algo) or go somewhere (va a la playa) without using the infinitive. Whenever you have two verbs in a row, the second one is either an infinitive or a past or present participal, similar to English where either an infinitive or gerund follows most verbs, but some verbs can take present participles--there is also the issue of intervening prepositions, such as va a caminar.

Quiero caminar = I like to walk.
Quiero camino = I like I walk (incorrect sentences.)

An infinitive, a "gerundio"... or a past participle, at least in Spanish. - lazarus1907, Dec 29, 2010

Thanks - lorenzo9, Dec 29, 2010

Answer 3

I bumping this up to the top page so that others can see the question and answers. Very interesting!