Infinitive Phrases

Spanish: KS3, topic 17.4.1

Infinitives

Infinitives are one of the key building blocks of Spanish grammar.

An infinitive phrase is a verb form that typically begins with the word ‘to’ in English, e.g. 'to swim'.
Infinitives in Spanish end in AR, ER, or IR:
Bailar = to dance.
Comer = to eat.
Vivir = to live.
A sentence in Spanish may begin with: 'para continuar', or 'para cantar', meaning 'in order to continue', 'in order to sing'.
There are also set phrases (called 'dichos', in Spanish) with the infinitive, e.g. 'es decir' or 'por decir', meaning 'that is to say'.

An infinitive is often used after a conjugated verb:
'Voy a hacer algo' (I am going to do something) - 'voy' is the conjugated verb (I am going), and 'hacer' is the infinitive (to do).
'Quiero hablar contigo' (I want to speak to you) - 'quiero' is the conjugated verb (I want), and 'hablar' is the infinitive (to speak).
However, you can also follow a conjugated verb with the gerund ('ing' words), e.g. 'estamos haciendo' (we are making).

You can use the infinitive as a noun too, e.g.
'Bailar tango es difícil' (dancing the tango is difficult) - 'bailar', as the infinitive, acts as a noun.
'Lo hice sin pensar' (I did it without thinking) - 'pensar' acts as the noun.

Which is the infinitive in the following sentence?

'No quiero hablar contigo. Estás muy desagradable.'
You can use the infinitive as a noun. Select the sentence that does NOT use the infinitive as a noun.