Ch 33 · Lesson 10Spanish · Chapter 33 · Lesson 10 · Grammar primer
Antes de salir, al llegar: the infinitive after a preposition
After every preposition Spanish uses the infinitive, never -ando: , . And , on arriving. Plus the mistakes.
The short version
After a preposition, always the infinitive
, .
Why?Hide
Every English -ing that behaves like a noun becomes a Spanish infinitive. As a subject: . After any preposition at all: , , . Say and you have marked yourself out in three words. There are no exceptions to hunt for.
, .
Why?Hide
plus an infinitive means on or upon doing something, and it carries no tense of its own. can be when I leave, when I left or when I will leave, entirely depending on the main verb. It is shorter than a full clause, and just as natural.
After a preposition: antes de salir
After every preposition, Spanish uses the infinitive where English uses -ing:
| Preposition | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| before leaving | |
| after eating | |
| sin | | without thinking |
| (in order) to pass | |
| instead of working | |
| as well as being handsome | |
| for arriving late |
In full sentences:
.- He/She left without saying anything., .- After having dinner, we went to the cinema..- Thanks for coming.
and sin are never right. (Old-fashioned + gerund, , survives in a few regions and in old books; you will not need it.) Verbs that take a preposition follow the same rule: (I insist on knowing), (to stop smoking). See verbs with prepositions.
Al llegar: on arriving
(a + ) plus an infinitive means "on doing" or "when": one action at the moment of another. It has no tense of its own and takes its time from the main verb:
| Time | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| present | , . | When I leave, I shut the door. |
| past | , . | When I left, I shut the door. |
| future | , . | When I leave, I'll shut the door. |
, .- On arriving home, I took my shoes off., .- On hearing the news, he/she burst into tears.
It is shorter than a full clause: says what says, and both are natural.
Mistakes English speakers make
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| a subject is the infinitive | |
| me | | takes the infinitive |
| a preposition takes the infinitive | |
| me | | an infinitive takes a singular verb |
| the article is |
Going further: Infinitive or -ing? At a glance and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
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