Infinitive following an infinitive?

Question

Can anybody give me some ground rules on what to do when an infinitive verb follows an infinitive verb?

Answer 1

Can anybody give me some ground rules on what to do when an infinitive verb follows an infinitive verb?

It depends on the structure that you are using, and for many verbs, you simply need to memorize it. For example, "Es mejor esto" is a simple sentence (i.e. one verb only), but instead of "esto" you can use an infinitive clause, since they behave like nouns in Spanish:

Es mejor dormir

Es mejor intentar eso

Es mejor querer algo

The last two examples were transitive, so instead of the pronouns "eso" and "algo", you can use infinitive clauses (which are like nouns):

Es mejor intentar trabajar

Es mejor querer ayudar

Now you have two infinitives in a row. Another example are "modal" verbs like "poder", which must be followed by an infinitive:

No puedo venir

No va a poder venir

If "poder" is an infinitive, now you have two infinitives in a row.

Answer 2

Quiero saber hacerlo.

I want to know (how to) do it.

I think the above is correct! I have seen examples of more than one infinitive following a conjugated verb. I'm not sure exactly what the grammatical rules are though.

It is correct. - lazarus1907, Jul 6, 2011

thank you! - billygoat, Jul 6, 2011

Answer 3

I don't think that having two infinitives together is rare at all.

Niego haber decirlo....I deny having said it.

Me falta el dinero para considerar comprarlo....I lack the money to consider buying it.

No tengo la fuerza para intentar moverlo....I don't have the strength for attempting to move it.

Niego haberlo dicho. - samdie, Jul 6, 2011

Answer 4

I'm not exactly sure what you mean, Squib, sorry. I can think of an example :

Me gustaría saber cantar, pero no tengo talento.

I can't think of too many cases where the infinitive directly follows another without a preposition in between.

I hope you get more replies.

"I would like to learn to sing." works just fine without "how to" - samdie, Jul 6, 2011

But "I 'd like to know how to sing doesn't, which is what I was thinking of". I'll edit, Sam. :) - galsally, Jul 7, 2011

I basically am wondering when you can have two infinitives following each other and when it is necessary to have an "a" in between them. - Squib, Jul 7, 2011

Answer 5

Well, with some verbs like "ir" and "venir", you will seperate the two infinitives with "a".

Can we go (to) see your father?:

¿Podemos ir a ver tu padre?

Can you come (to) see what I have?:

¿Podemos venir a ver lo que tengo?

We would not normally say the (to) in the English questions.

we say the 'to' in England :p - billygoat, Jul 6, 2011

Yes, indeed, or sometimes we say 'and', as in 'go and see', but that may be incorrect grammar for all I know! :) - galsally, Jul 6, 2011