Using a verb in a sentence when conjugations are not necessary

Question

I hope my title wasn't too confusing - I tried phrasing it so that others can easily find it.

In some sentences there is no need to conjugate - or at least I don't think there are.

Ex.: Please use the verb in a sentence.

Por favor, usar el verbo ‘’esperar’’ en una sentencia.

Get the book and run!

¡Obtener el libro y carrera!

I suppose you could say that it is refering to singular second person, however it seems more correct to use the unconjugated, infinitve version of the verb. Is that right or wrong?

Great question. Tlhank you. - 0095ca4c, Dec 9, 2012

Answer 1

Hi Vengamujer.

Although it is usual to see signs in public places or many stablishments where you may find unconjugated verbs, they actually should be conjugated using the imperative.

So, your sentence should be:

• "Por favor, use el verbo en una oración", using the formal 'usted' form (sentencia is something different to 'sentence', those words are falses cognates).

And the second:

• "¡Toma el libro y corre!", using the "tú" form.

There are cases, like those pointed out by Bradylabuda where simple prohibitions or indications may be given using the infinitive.

On the other hand, there are other situations where you will need to use the infinitive to create impersonal sentences, e.g.:

• No se vale dar consejos si no se da el ejemplo con las acciones.

A good example of where you must use the infinitive in Spanish is where in English you have to use the gerund (the ending "ing"), e.g.:

• Don't swim immediately after eating / No nade inmediatamente después de comer.

Words like "before" and "after" normally force the use of the gerund for next verb in English, so it is very probable (but not necessarily mandatory) that you must use the infinitive in Spanish if you are talking 'in general' and not to or about a specific individual.

Thank you. - gringojrf, Dec 9, 2012

Thank you so much for a detailed answer. It was very helpful! - vengamujer, Dec 9, 2012

My pleasure. =) - -cae-, Dec 9, 2012

Hola caefuego. Ahora entiendo usar los infinitivos en lugar de "ing".Muchas gracias! Tu ejemplo es excelente. - 0095ca4c, Dec 9, 2012

Qué bueno, Margherite. Aunque recuerda que el "presente continuo" ("to be" + ing-form) siempre se debe traducir con el gerundio en español (con las terminaciones ando, endo y iendo). - -cae-, Dec 10, 2012

What a good answer.. - annierats, Dec 10, 2012

Answer 2

The infinitive as a command is used when referring to general commands, if I'm right you can see them in recipies and on street signs.

"No fumar aquí"

"No nadar"

Stuff like that. In your example I'd have said"

"¡Obten el libro y corre!"

It is true that recepies are usually in the infinitive, as well as signs, for whatever unknown reason, such as tradition, perhaps. - annierats, Dec 10, 2012

Answer 3

This one is interesting to me

Por favor, usar el verbo ‘’esperar’’ en una sentencia.

as in that case, both of the texts I've used have used the actual conjugated imperative form.

I suppose since it's a general command to that reading public or audience, it may be thought of in that same sense such as signs telling one not to smoke or swim.

Which brings me to something I've not been quite sure about.

Are those "No Fumar" and "No Nadar" signs really best translated as a command not to smoke or swim, or since the Spanish gerund uses the infinitive form, is it more like our signs "No Smoking" or "No Swimming"

I know functionally its more or less the same, but I wondered which was really being expressed grammatically.

Thanks for bringing this up to begin with, and thanks for any additonal answers or insights.