Un pregunta de infinitivos
If infinitives translate exactly "to" do somthing. For instance if trabajar translates exactly "to work" then why is "a" placed before infinitives? With "a+infinitive" the word "to" is said twice. "Voy a trabajar" translates "to to work" which does not make sense. I have been told by native spanish speakers that there is no "to" in the word trabajar or any other inifinitive. I have also been told that infinitives do translate exactly as two words. "To" and the "verb". Which is correct?
7 Answers
"Voy a trabajar" could be translated as "I'm going to go to work" or also "I'm going to work". Although in some cases you can transpose each word in one language by another word in the other language, mostly translation doesn't work that way. Having said that, the general rule that an infinitive translates as "to do something" usually does stand. e.g. "Me gusta trabajar" = "I like to work". "Es importante respectar los demas" = it's important to respect the others".
Okay, the infinitive ''trabajar'' is just ''work'' meaning '''to work'' actually, same as ''dar'' - ''to give'', or ''giving'' used instead of gerund, also infinitive in some verbs can be used as noun'' el comer''= eating, neaing actually, ''food'', thus infinitive acn be used as noun with the male article ''el= ''el comer, el beber= drinking, the state or action of something (of verb) can be used as noun or replace noun, THANKING YOU, from Spanish native speaker Caterina, with Spanish as second mother tongue.. for example, ALSO, para comer, para beber, para dar= in order to eat, drink, or give, BUT ALSO, eating, giving, drinking, Kind Regards
A verb in infinitive is a verb that is in its pure, raw, non conjugated form. It has not been applied to a person, nor given a tense. I.E. To eat, to run, to swim, to crawl, to sneeze, to digest, etc.
In English, "to + verb = infinitive.
In Spanish, a verb ending in "ar, er, or ir" is in infinitive. I.E. Cantar, comer, reir, dormir, roncar, cocer, etc.
That "to" before the verb basically means, "hacia, para, al" Voy al trabajo, voy a trabajar, voy para el trabajo.
One thing that you need to keep in mind is that sometimes (A lot of times) you cannot translate directly, word by word, from language to language. There are dynamics that sound absurd from another language point of view. We need to memorize and accept these dynamics, just the way they are. I.E. You are welcome! = ¡Usted es bienvenido/a! This is the direct, literal translation and it is incorrect. To an English speaker, this means, "¡Con gusto!, ¡De nada!"
- Click here to go to a website that explains infinitives
Voy a trabajar translates to I'm going to work or I will work. Voy itself mean I'm going. Voy a salir con alguien. Voy a cocinar pasta. It says you will be doing something but it doesn't say what it is you will be doing.
It depends on the verb before the infinitive. Though there are no hard and fast rules, this web page should help explain what is going on.
It depends on the verb before the infinitive. Though there are no hard and fast rules, this web page should help explain what is going on.
In English the infinitive is expressed as "To" + plus the verb: "to work", "to speak", "to run", "to eat", etc. In Spanish it is expressed by the ending: "ar", "er", or "ir", which, in itself indicates that it is the infinitive. So, in a way, the ending is the English "to". Obviously, I'm not taking into account the reflexive verbs. The "se" is simply added to the "ar", "er", or "ir" ending.
