Infinitive in Spanish: Basic Spanish Grammar
The infinitive is the full form of “dictionary form” of the verb. In English, this is made up of two words, to + verb (e.g. to speak), while the Infinitive in Spanish is expressed by a single word ending in -ar, -er, -ir (e.g. hablar, comer, vivir). These three groupings aren’t arbitrary—they signal how the verb should be conjugated. For every tense, you’ll learn three sets of regular endings, one for each of these groups.
List of Spanish Infinitives
Here you have access to a list of the 100 most commonly used Spanish infinitives. Click here to have access to the list and learn them with flashcards.
How to use the infinitives in Spanish
1. As a noun, sometimes preceded by “el”, the masculine singular form of the definite article. Note here the use of the -ing form in English for the Spanish infinitive.
Entre las recomendaciones está el mantener… (Among the recommendations is maintaining…)
2. After prepositions and prepositional phrases.
Antes de iniciar un plan… (Before starting a programme…)
Para aprender… (In order to learn…)
3. After modal verbs such as poder to be able, can, may, deber must, tener que to have to…
Debe ser de entre 20 y 30 minutos… (It must be between 20 and 30 minutes…)
4. After a number of verbs, some of which may require a preposition.
Nos ayudarán a determinar… (They’ll allow us to determinate…)
Jamás la he oído cantar. (I’ve never heard her sing.)
5. Preceded by “al”, usually expressed in English with on + ing.
Al comenzar un programa… (On starting a programme…)
Let's practice the infinitive
Now it is time to practice, find 15 Spanish infinitives in this fill the gaps. Remember to contact your tutor if you have any questions or if you want more exercises. Don’t you have a personal Spanish tutor yet?