Infinitives
The infinitive is the basic form of a verb, and it is crucial for learning how to use verbs in Spanish. This guide covers what infinitives are, the three main endings, and common ways infinitives are used.
What an Infinitive Is
An infinitive is the unconjugated form of a verb, and in Spanish it always ends in -ar, -er, or -ir. Infinitives function like nouns and can appear after other verbs, prepositions, and expressions.
The Three Infinitive Endings
Spanish verbs are grouped by their infinitive endings: -ar, -er, and -ir. Each group follows predictable patterns for conjugation, so identifying the ending helps you learn and apply rules.
-ar Verbs
-ar verbs are the largest group and include common actions like hablar (to speak), bailar (to dance) and comprar (to buy). They follow a regular pattern in all tenses.
| Spanish Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| hablar | to speak |
| bailar | to dance |
| comprar | to buy |
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌅 Quiero caminar por la playa al amanecer. | I want to walk on the beach at sunrise. |
| ☕ Prefiero tomar café en la terraza. | I prefer to drink coffee on the terrace. |
| 🎶 Me gusta escuchar música mientras camino. | I like to listen to music while I walk. |
-er Verbs
-er verbs include frequent verbs like comer (to eat), beber (to drink) and aprender (to learn). They form their tenses with endings that differ from -ar verbs in a consistent way.
| Spanish Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| comer | to eat |
| beber | to drink |
| aprender | to learn |
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🥖 Voy a comer pan fresco del mercado. | I am going to eat fresh bread from the market. |
| 🥤 Quiero beber jugo de naranja natural. | I want to drink natural orange juice. |
| 📖 Prefiero leer un libro en el parque. | I prefer to read a book in the park. |
-ir Verbs
-ir verbs include important actions like vivir (to live), escribir (to write) and abrir (to open). They share some endings with -er verbs but differ in certain tenses and sometimes in stem changes.
| Spanish Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| vivir | to live |
| escribir | to write |
| abrir | to open |
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🏠 Necesito subir las cosas al apartamento. | I need to carry up the things to the apartment. |
| 🧳 Quiero salir a viajar por la costa. | I want to go travel along the coast. |
| 💡 Me gusta vivir experiencias nuevas en cada viaje. | I like to live new experiences on every trip. |
Common Uses of Infinitives
Infinitives appear after modal verbs, they can act as subjects, and they are used after prepositions. Learning common constructions helps you recognize when to use the infinitive and when to conjugate.
Summary
The infinitive is the basic, unconjugated form of a verb that always ends in -ar, -er or -ir. Infinitives are used after other verbs, as noun-like forms, and after prepositions.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025