Can two infinitives be used together (in a sequence).

Question

Hi Friends,

I have already reviewed the previous post around this question (see the link below)

(http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/142201/using-2-infinitive-verbs-together-in-one-sentence#a210352)

But the answer to that question though a good one still leaves me pondering over my dilemma.

Well, I do know that whenever we have more than one verb being used in a sequence ,, only the first one is conjugated. But so far I have not come across many situations where more than two verbs might have had to be used in a row.

But today I stumbled upon one such sentence where I got tongue tied.

Request you all to take a look at this sentence please "tendria que adquirir confidencia gradualmente antes de empezar conversar" Now to me this construction sounded a little absurd so I rather used a participle and changed it into "tendria que adquirir confidencia gradualmente antes de empezar conversando" .. Now here although we just have two verbs together but as the first verb follows a preposition so per the grammar rules we can't conjugate it and the second verb also can't be conjugated so I decided to use a participle instead for the second one. CAN SOME ONE kindly tell me as to which of these two ways is grammatically more appropriate. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Tendría que adquirir confidencia gradualmente antes de empezar a conversar

yes this looks more like it - 00b055e0, Mar 14, 2014

gracias para ayudarme - 00b055e0, Mar 14, 2014

Always gracias 'por' Jimmy :) - Kiwi-Girl, Mar 14, 2014

SI SI .. Ud. TIENE RAZON, Gracias por corregir me... I am always confused between the Spanish prepositions. I have read a whole chapter from a grammar book on POR and PARA but see i still can't use it properly :( - 00b055e0, Mar 15, 2014

Answer 2

La frase correcta sería : "Tendría que adquirir/coger confianza antes de empezar a conversar."

No obstante, en determinados casos sí es posible usar el infinitivo + gerundio. Por ejemplo :"Podríamos empezar conversando sobre el tiempo"

Y también podemos encontrar casos de infinitivo + infinitivo. En el siguiente ejemplo, dos veces: "Para poder ganar, hay que saber perder"

Espero que haya sido de utilidad.

Thank you, gret answer. - annierats, Mar 16, 2014

Great, I mean, I need to visit Specsavers. Again. - annierats, Mar 16, 2014

Answer 3

I think you can go with the two infinitives, it sounds very natural to me.

Sure Sir, I am not a native speaker so I am not sure about what sounds natural and what doesn't .. that is why asked you learned frends .. thanks much for your help :) - 00b055e0, Mar 14, 2014

and sir if I may also ask .. can we also use the second option .. is it grammatically correct to use a participle for the second verb instead of the infinitive. - 00b055e0, Mar 14, 2014

Sorry, it seems I have addressed you with the wrong title.. I meant ma'am .. :) - 00b055e0, Mar 14, 2014

I'm only a learner, wait for enlightenment,young man? Not many blokes are called Annie, actually, but giotrls can be called Jimmie, maybe? - annierats, Mar 14, 2014

I guess "giotrls" can be called anything Annie :) - ian-hill, Mar 14, 2014

Just a typo, Ian, just another typo. - annierats, Mar 14, 2014

i t is my fault, i did not pay heed to the name while posting my comment so inadvertently i wrote Sir instead.. Sorry for tht Annie - 00b055e0, Mar 14, 2014

Answer 4

It would be more common in English too if English did not have -ing endings. (gerunds)

acquire confidence before you start talking

Spanish cannot use its gerunds in this way.

adquirir confidencia gradualmente antes de empezar a conversar

I am not a native speaker either so wait for one to amble this way.

Or click here for enlightenment

sure sir, i get it now.. thanks a lot for your help :) - 00b055e0, Mar 14, 2014

Empezar 'a' ;) - Kiwi-Girl, Mar 14, 2014