In Spanish, when a verb follows a preposition, it must always be in its infinitive form. Unlike English, where the gerund (-ing form) is often used after prepositions, Spanish strictly requires the infinitive. Understanding this grammatical rule is essential for forming correct sentences and sounding natural in Spanish.

This blog post will cover the different situations in which the infinitive is used after prepositions, common expressions with their meanings and examples, and essential points to keep in mind while using them.

Situations Where the Infinitive is Used After Prepositions

1. Purpose or Goal (para + infinitive)
   • Used to indicate the purpose or objective of an action.
   • Example: Estudio para aprender. (I study to learn.)
2. Means or Manner (con + infinitive)
   • Expresses the way in which something is done.
   • Example: Mejorarás con practicar. (You will improve by practicing.)
3. Cause or Reason (por + infinitive)
   • Indicates the reason for an action.
   • Example: Me castigaron por llegar tarde. (They punished me for arriving late.)
4. Condition (de + infinitive)
   • Expresses conditions in certain phrases.
   • Example: De saberlo, te lo habría dicho. (Had I known, I would have told you.)
5. After Prepositions of Time (antes de/después de + infinitive)
   • Used when referring to actions occurring before or after another action.
   • Example: Voy a ducharme después de correr. (I am going to shower after running.)
6. Prepositions Indicating a Point of Reference (sin, hasta, en, etc.)
   • Used in fixed expressions and idiomatic phrases.
   • Example: No puedes salir sin avisar. (You can’t leave without letting us know.)

Common Expressions with Infinitives After Prepositions

More Example Sentences

1. Fui al mercado para comprar frutas.
2. No puedes entrar sin pagar la entrada.
3. Me llamó después de haber terminado el trabajo.
4. Logró su meta con dedicarse al estudio.
5. Antes de salir, revisa tu mochila.
6. Me fui temprano por evitar el tráfico.
7. No puedes dormir sin apagar la luz.
8. No podré jugar hasta mejorar mi salud.
9. De haber sabido la verdad, habría reaccionado diferente.
10. A pesar de tener miedo, enfrentó la situación.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Voy al gimnasio ________ estar en forma. (para)
2. Me castigaron ________ decir una mentira. (por)
3. No puedes viajar ________ tu pasaporte. (sin)
4. Voy a descansar ________ trabajar todo el día. (después de)
5. No saldré ________ terminar el proyecto. (hasta)
6. Aprendí español ________ estudiar mucho. (con)
7. De ________ que vendrías, habría preparado algo especial. (saber)
8. Siempre leo un libro ________ dormir. (antes de)
9. Se esforzó mucho ________ ganar el premio. (para)
10. Consiguió su objetivo ________ muchos intentos fallidos. (a pesar de)

Answers

1. para
2. por
3. sin
4. después de
5. hasta
6. con
7. saber
8. antes de
9. para
10. a pesar de

Things to Keep in Mind

• The verb after the preposition always remains in its infinitive form.
• Prepositions like para, por, sin, antes de, and después de commonly appear before infinitives.
• In cases where an article (el, la, los, las) is used, ensure agreement in gender and number.
• Some phrases change meaning slightly depending on the preposition used (e.g., por estudiar vs. para estudiar).

Conclusion

Using the infinitive after prepositions is a fundamental rule in Spanish. Unlike English, which often uses gerunds, Spanish requires the verb to stay in its base form. Mastering this concept will improve fluency and accuracy in constructing sentences. Practice with the expressions provided, and soon, this rule will become second nature in your Spanish conversations!

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Happy learning! 😊