Can you use 3 verbs in a row?

Question

Can you use 3 verbs in a row?

Here are a couple of attempts.

¿Puedes dejarme saber manaña? (Can you let me know tomorrow?)

He estado pensando en ti. (I have been thinking of you.)

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Go ahead and give it a try.

Hmmm.....very interesting thread. I have to give it a try when I get back home later :) - HotChickCD, Jun 27, 2011

good question - billygoat, Jun 27, 2011

Answer 1

¿Puedes dejarme saber manaña? (Can you let me know tomorrow?)

That means "Can you allow me/give me permission to know tomorrow?" See vivalafuriar's suggestion for a proper translation.

There is no limit to how many verbs you can put together, other than making a meaningful sentence with proper syntax. This is an example with 5 verbs:

Esperaba haber podido saber decir la verdad.

No puedo entender jugando sin ganas.

The English gerund cannot be translated as a Spanish "gerundio". If you are not sure what a gerund is, try to replace the -ing phrase of the sentence for "it". If it make sense, do not use "gerundio" in Spanish. It will never work!

I can't understand playing without desire.

I can't understand it.

Thanks Laz. I'll remember that simple test. - MattM, Jun 27, 2011

me too! :) - billygoat, Jun 27, 2011

Me3....thanks Laz.... - 0043ad50, Jun 27, 2011

Wow - that's a great test - I think for the first time I finally understand when I can and when I can't use the gerand....Thanks!!! :) - 001a2987, Jun 27, 2011

Answer 2

"Dejarme saber" es calco del ingés "Let me know." Debería traducirse "Avisarme" o "Hacerme saber."

Thank you .... got it! - Daniel, Jun 27, 2011

Answer 3

The second one for sure is allowed. It's a pretty standard use of the present perfect progressive verb tense. Haber is being used as a helping verb with estar to form the present perfect part.

Answer 4

Voy a poder correr. Sure, why not?

Porque no tienes ningunas piernas. - SlimNm, Sep 10, 2013

Answer 5

Mmmm..."pude haber ido. Pero no pude". "I could have gone. But I couldn't". http://www.studyspanish.com/lessons/subj1.htm

Answer 6

Yes, you sure can use 3 verbs in row, when it's appropriate of course. eg. "Siento haberte decepcionado" (I'm sorry to have let you down.)

Your first sentence sounds a little weird. Maybe some people say "dejarme saber," but I don't think it's common Spanish. Try "avisarme" for "to let me know." I have heard "hacerme saber" for "to let me know," but I don't think that is as common as avisar.

Answer 7

No puedo entender jugar sin ganas.

I can't understand playing without desire.

jugar - 00494d19, Jun 27, 2011

Gracias reina. - MattM, Jun 27, 2011

Answer 8

O.K., this hurt my head. I am going out on the limb. Three straight verbs, no prepositions or conjunctions. I think it works.

Espero poder asistir.

I hope that I can attend.

sí señor:) - 00494d19, Jun 27, 2011

Why is it not: Espero que puedo asistir - SonrisaDelSol, Jun 27, 2011

ok im put my head on the block here Sonrisa lol. I think if you included 'que' would it trigger the subjunctive so make it pueda? - billygoat, Jun 27, 2011

Or "espero que pueda asistir". - 00a4c226, Jun 27, 2011

It is literally translated from the Spanish as: I hope to be able to help Sonrisa there are ocassiosn when tthe subjunctive (using the relative pronoun''que'') is required in one language but not in the other language :) - FELIZ77, Jun 27, 2011

coffeelate - am i right here then, this triggers the subjunctive - ie 'I hope that I may be able to attend"? - billygoat, Jun 27, 2011

As Feliz said, to be able to. If we used pueda (subjunctive) it would be "I hope I could attend". Sounds better with the infinitive - MattM, Jun 27, 2011

Thanks for clarifying, billy, coffee, feliz, and matt! - SonrisaDelSol, Jun 27, 2011

clarity lol - I'm even more confused now :P - not difficult though! - billygoat, Jun 27, 2011

Answer 9

Yes, You can say;

Me gustaría aprender a hablar español

=I would like to learn to speak Spanish

''I would have liked to have seen it!''

= ''Me hubiera gustado haberlo visto''

I hope this helps

Corregid mi español, por favor

Answer 10

Creo que deberías bailar con ella.

I think you should dance with her.

(second example , only two verbs haber shouldn't count )

Good exercise.

Answer 11

Rather than comment further, I've put my thoughts into this answer so it may be more clearly seen. This part of the indicative\subjunctive confuses me!

In the comments above regarding: 'espero poder asstir' - I hope that I can attend.

If you said 'espero que pueda assistir' then does this mean (in the subjunctive) - I hope that I might be able to attend'. Which, in my mind, adds more of an uncertaintly to the situation - ie you might not be able to attend.

The subjunctive is not used in that form...your original is correct. - vivalafuriaroja, Jun 27, 2011

thank you Viva! - billygoat, Jun 28, 2011