Verb Forms (AQA A-Level Spanish): Revision Notes
Verb Forms
Overview
Spanish verbs can take different forms depending on their function in a sentence. Some forms remain constant regardless of who performs the action (non-finite forms), while others must change to match the subject (finite forms). Understanding these forms is essential for constructing accurate sentences and expressing yourself clearly in Spanish.
This note covers the three non-finite verb forms, the principle of subject-verb agreement, and the impersonal obligation structure "hay que".
This guide is organized into three main sections: non-finite verb forms (infinitive, gerund, and past participle), subject-verb agreement rules, and the "hay que" construction for expressing general obligations. Each section builds on the previous one to give you a complete understanding of Spanish verb usage.
Non-finite verb forms
Spanish has three verb forms that remain unchanged regardless of who performs the action. These forms do not indicate person (I, you, he/she, etc.) or number (singular/plural).
A. Infinitive
The infinitive is the base form of the verb, ending in -ar, -er, or -ir.
Examples: hablar (to speak), comer (to eat), vivir (to live)
When to use the infinitive
The infinitive appears in four main contexts:
1. Following another verb
When one verb follows another, the second verb stays in the infinitive form.
Example: Verb + Infinitive
Quiero estudiar medicina. – I want to study medicine.
Here, "quiero" is conjugated, but "estudiar" remains in its infinitive form.
2. After prepositions
When a verb comes after a preposition (antes de, después de, para, sin, etc.), it must stay in the infinitive.
- Antes de salir, llamó a su madre. – Before leaving, he called his mother.
Never conjugate verbs after prepositions. This is a common exam error. Always use the infinitive form after prepositions like "para", "antes de", "después de", "sin", etc.
3. As the subject of a sentence
The infinitive can function as the subject when discussing actions in general terms.
- Fumar es malo para la salud. – Smoking is bad for health.
4. In instructions and notices
Commands in signs or instructions often use the infinitive form.
- No fumar. – No smoking.
B. Gerund
The gerund expresses an action currently happening or in progress.
Formation
Regular gerunds:
- -ar verbs → -ando: hablar → hablando (speaking)
- -er/-ir verbs → -iendo: comer → comiendo (eating), vivir → viviendo (living)
Common irregular gerunds:
- leyendo (reading, from leer)
- yendo (going, from ir)
- durmiendo (sleeping, from dormir)
Main use
The gerund expresses an action in progress, typically used with "estar".
Example: Gerund in Use
Está leyendo un libro. – He/She is reading a book.
In this sentence, the gerund "leyendo" shows the action is happening right now.
Siguieron caminando bajo la lluvia. – They continued walking in the rain.
Here, "caminando" describes the ongoing action of walking.
Important restriction
Unlike English, the Spanish gerund cannot be used as an adjective. You cannot translate "-ing" adjectives directly.
Critical Difference from English
The Spanish gerund cannot function as an adjective, unlike in English.
Incorrect: ❌ Una mujer hablando (A speaking woman)
Correct: ✔️ Una mujer que habla (A woman who speaks)
When describing someone doing something, use "que" + conjugated verb instead of the gerund.
C. Past participle
The past participle expresses a completed action or resulting state.
Formation
Regular past participles:
- -ar verbs → -ado: hablar → hablado (spoken)
- -er/-ir verbs → -ido: comer → comido (eaten), vivir → vivido (lived)
Common irregular past participles:
- hecho (done, from hacer)
- visto (seen, from ver)
- dicho (said, from decir)
- escrito (written, from escribir)
Many of the most commonly used verbs have irregular past participles. It's worth memorizing these irregular forms early on, as they appear frequently in Spanish writing and conversation.
Uses
The past participle has four main functions:
1. Perfect tenses (with haber)
The past participle combines with "haber" to form perfect tenses.
Example: Perfect Tense
He terminado el trabajo. – I have finished the work.
In this present perfect sentence, "terminado" works with "he" to express a recently completed action.
2. Passive voice (with ser)
The past participle combines with "ser" to form the passive voice.
- La carta fue escrita por el director. – The letter was written by the director.
Here, "escrita" describes what happened to the letter.
3. Result or state (with estar)
The past participle works with "estar" to describe a resulting state or condition.
Example: Describing States
La puerta está cerrada. – The door is closed.
"Cerrada" describes the current state of the door (not the action of closing it). This is about the result, not the process.
4. As an adjective
The past participle can function as an adjective and must agree with the noun it describes.
- Una ciudad destruida – A destroyed city
When used as an adjective, the past participle must match the gender and number of its noun. "Destruida" is feminine singular to agree with "ciudad".
Agreement of verb and subject
In Spanish, verbs must match their subjects in both person (who) and number (singular/plural). The verb ending changes to show who is performing the action.
Examples:
- Yo estudio. – I study. (first person singular)
- Mis amigos trabajan mucho. – My friends work a lot. (third person plural)
Key points about agreement
1. Subject pronouns are often omitted
Because verb endings show who is acting, subject pronouns are frequently dropped.
Example: Omitted Pronouns
Voy al cine. (= Yo voy) – I go to the cinema.
The ending "-o" on "voy" tells us the subject is "yo", so the pronoun isn't necessary.
2. Agreement applies even when the subject follows the verb
Even if the subject comes after the verb (which is common in Spanish), agreement rules still apply.
- Han llegado los estudiantes. – The students have arrived.
"Han" is plural to match "los estudiantes", even though the subject follows the verb.
3. Special agreement with gustar-type verbs
Verbs like "gustar" agree with the thing that is liked, not the person who likes it.
Example: Gustar-type Agreement
- Me gusta el café. – I like coffee. (literally: Coffee is pleasing to me)
- Me gustan las películas. – I like films. (literally: Films are pleasing to me)
The verb "gusta" is singular because "el café" is singular. The verb "gustan" is plural because "las películas" is plural.
Common mistake
Students often make the verb agree with the wrong noun when the subject appears after the verb. Always identify the true subject and ensure the verb matches it in person and number.
Hay que – expressing obligation (all tenses)
The construction hay que + infinitive expresses general obligation or necessity. It's impersonal, meaning no specific person is mentioned as the subject.
Example:
- Hay que estudiar para aprobar. – One must study to pass. / It's necessary to study to pass.
Forms in different tenses
| Tense | Form | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | hay que | Hay que reciclar más. | We/One must recycle more. |
| Imperfect | había que | Había que salir temprano. | It was necessary to leave early. |
| Preterite | hubo que | Hubo que cancelar el viaje. | It was necessary to cancel the trip. |
| Future | habrá que | Habrá que tomar una decisión. | It will be necessary to make a decision. |
| Conditional | habría que | Habría que mejorar el sistema. | It would be necessary to improve the system. |
| Present perfect | ha habido que | Ha habido que cambiar el plan. | It has been necessary to change the plan. |
| Pluperfect | había habido que | Había habido que intervenir. | It had been necessary to intervene. |
Important distinction
Hay que vs. Tener que
Hay que expresses general rules or advice that apply to everyone.
Tener que expresses personal obligation for a specific person.
Examples:
- Hay que estudiar. – One must study. (general advice)
- Tengo que estudiar. – I have to study. (personal obligation)
Use "hay que" when writing essays or discussing general situations, as it's useful for making impersonal statements.
Common mistakes and tips
Critical Points to Avoid Errors
1. Never conjugate verbs after prepositions
Prepositions like "para", "por", "antes de", and "después de" are always followed by infinitives, never conjugated verbs.
Incorrect: ❌ para estudio
Correct: ✔️ para estudiar
2. Learn non-finite forms as complete structures
Don't just memorise endings; learn how each form functions in sentences. Understanding structure is more important than memorising rules in isolation.
3. Distinguish between gerund and past participle uses
The gerund (with "estar") shows action in progress, while the past participle (with "estar") shows a resulting state.
- estar + gerund → action in progress: Está comiendo. (He's eating.)
- estar + past participle → result/state: Está roto. (It's broken.)
4. Use "hay que" in essays and discursive writing
When discussing general situations or giving advice in essays, "hay que" is more appropriate than personal forms.
Key Points to Remember
- Spanish has three non-finite verb forms: infinitive, gerund, and past participle, each with distinct uses.
- The infinitive follows other verbs and prepositions – never conjugate after prepositions like "para", "antes de", or "después de".
- The gerund (-ando/-iendo) expresses actions in progress but cannot function as an adjective in Spanish.
- The past participle (-ado/-ido) is used in perfect tenses, passive constructions, with "estar" for states, and as adjectives.
- Verbs must agree with their subject in person and number; with gustar-type verbs, the verb agrees with the thing liked, not the person.
- Hay que + infinitive expresses general obligation and is useful for impersonal statements in essays and discussions.