Verb Constructions (AQA A-Level Spanish): Revision Notes
Verb Constructions
Verb constructions are fixed patterns that certain verbs must follow when combined with infinitives, gerunds, or clauses. These patterns cannot be swapped around—each verb has its own specific construction that you need to learn.
Overview
In Spanish, the way verbs connect to other verbs is not always straightforward. Some verbs link directly to an infinitive, others need a specific preposition first, and some work with a gerund instead. Understanding these patterns helps you build accurate, natural sentences and avoid common mistakes when translating from English.
Mastering verb constructions is essential for fluent Spanish. Unlike English, where verb patterns are often more flexible, Spanish verb constructions are fixed and must be memorized with their specific prepositions or structures.
Verbs + infinitive (no preposition)
Several frequently used verbs connect directly to an infinitive without any preposition in between.
Common verbs
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| querer | to want |
| poder | to be able to |
| deber | must / should |
| soler | usually |
| necesitar | to need |
| preferir | to prefer |
| decidir | to decide |
Example sentences
Example: Direct infinitive connections
Quiero estudiar en la universidad. I want to study at university. Here, quiero is followed directly by the infinitive estudiar—no preposition is needed.
No podemos salir hoy. We can't go out today. The verb poder joins straight to salir without any preposition.
Suele levantarse temprano. He/She usually gets up early. Soler takes the infinitive directly to express habitual actions.
Common Mistake: Adding unnecessary prepositions
A frequent error is adding a or de after these verbs when none is required. In English we might say "I want to study," but in Spanish it's simply quiero estudiar—not quiero a estudiar. Check each verb's pattern and avoid inserting unnecessary prepositions.
Verbs + preposition + infinitive
Some verbs require a specific preposition before the infinitive. The preposition is fixed—you cannot change or remove it.
Verbs + a + infinitive
These verbs typically relate to beginning, helping, or encouraging an action.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| empezar a | to begin to |
| aprender a | to learn to |
| ayudar a | to help to |
| invitar a | to invite to |
Example: Verbs with preposition a
Empezó a llover. It started to rain. The verb empezar always takes a before the infinitive.
Aprendió a conducir. He/She learned to drive. Aprender is always followed by a and then the infinitive.
Verbs + de + infinitive
These verbs often relate to stopping, trying, or forgetting an action.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| dejar de | to stop (doing something) |
| tratar de | to try to |
| olvidarse de | to forget to |
Example: Verbs with preposition de
Dejó de fumar. He/She stopped smoking. Dejar de is the correct construction for expressing "to stop doing."
Trató de explicarlo. He/She tried to explain it. Tratar de requires the preposition de before the infinitive.
Verbs + other prepositions
Some verbs use different prepositions such as en or con.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| insistir en | to insist on |
| soñar con | to dream of |
| negarse a | to refuse to |
| pensar en | to think about |
Example: Verbs with other prepositions
Insistió en pagar. He/She insisted on paying. Insistir always pairs with en.
Se negó a participar. He/She refused to participate. Negarse takes a before the infinitive.
Common Mistake: Wrong prepositions
A major exam error is using the wrong preposition or translating directly from English. For example:
- "to dream of" is soñar con (not soñar de)
- "to insist on" is insistir en (not insistir sobre)
Learn each verb with its preposition as a fixed unit.
Verbs + gerund
When you want to show that an action is happening continuously, repeatedly, or progressively, specific verbs pair with the gerund form (formed by adding -ando for -ar verbs and -iendo for -er/-ir verbs).
Common verbs
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| estar | to be (in progress) |
| seguir | to continue |
| continuar | to continue |
| andar | to go around (doing) |
| llevar | to have been (doing) |
| ir / venir | gradual change |
Example sentences
Example: Gerund constructions
Está estudiando para los exámenes. He/She is studying for the exams. Estar + gerund creates the present continuous tense, showing an action in progress.
Siguieron hablando durante horas. They continued talking for hours. Seguir + gerund expresses that an action continued over time.
Lleva trabajando aquí diez años. He/She has been working here for ten years. Llevar + gerund shows duration—how long an action has been happening.
Va mejorando poco a poco. He/She is gradually improving. Ir + gerund indicates gradual change or progression.
Important Rule: Gerund usage
The gerund is never used to describe or modify a noun. This is a key difference from English.
❌ Una chica hablando ✔️ Una chica que habla A girl who is talking
In Spanish, you must use a relative clause (que habla) rather than a gerund to describe a noun.
Understanding the difference
Students often incorrectly use the gerund as an adjective because this works in English ("a talking girl"). In Spanish, gerunds only work with specific verbs to show ongoing actions—never as adjectives. Always use a relative clause with que to describe nouns.
Verbs of perception
Verbs that relate to the senses (seeing, hearing, watching, feeling, listening) are followed by infinitive constructions, not gerunds.
Common verbs
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ver | to see |
| oír | to hear |
| mirar | to watch |
| sentir | to feel |
| escuchar | to listen to |
Structure
Verb of perception + infinitive
Example: Perception verbs with infinitives
Vi entrar al profesor. I saw the teacher come in. The perception verb ver is followed by the infinitive entrar.
Oí cantar a los pájaros. I heard the birds singing. Oír takes the infinitive cantar, even though English uses "singing."
Escuchamos discutir a los vecinos. We heard the neighbours arguing. Escuchar is followed by the infinitive discutir.
With object pronouns
When using object pronouns with perception verbs, the structure remains the same.
Example: Perception verbs with object pronouns
Lo vi salir. I saw him leave. The pronoun lo comes before the conjugated verb, followed by the infinitive.
La oí gritar. I heard her shout. The pronoun la precedes the perception verb, with the infinitive following.
Common Mistake: Using que or gerunds
Spanish does not use que in these constructions. Don't try to translate "I saw him leaving" as lo vi que salía—it should be lo vi salir.
Remember: perception verbs take infinitives directly, and you skip que entirely. This is different from English, where we might say "leaving" or "arguing."
Key Points to Remember:
- Verb constructions follow fixed patterns—learn each verb with its specific preposition or structure
- Never assume English structures transfer directly into Spanish, especially with prepositions
- Memorise which verbs require a, de, en, or con before an infinitive
- Use the gerund only for actions in progress, never as an adjective to describe nouns
- Verbs of perception take infinitives, not gerunds, and never use que in these sentences
- Learn verb + preposition combinations as fixed units rather than trying to translate from English