Use of Infinitive After Prepositions in Spanish

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vikas kumar

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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: Mejorarรกs 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 habrรญa dicho. (Had I known, I would have told you.)
  5. After Prepositions of Time (antes de/despuรฉs de + infinitive)
    • Used when referring to actions occurring before or after another action.
    • Example: Voy a ducharme despuรฉs 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

ExpressionMeaningExample 1Example 2
Para estudiarTo studyVoy a la biblioteca para estudiar.Uso aplicaciones para estudiar espaรฑol.
Por llegar tardeFor arriving lateMe regaรฑaron por llegar tarde.Perdรญ el tren por salir tarde.
Con practicarBy practicingMejoras con practicar cada dรญa.Con practicar, hablas mejor.
Antes de dormirBefore sleepingLeo antes de dormir.Me lavo la cara antes de dormir.
Despuรฉs de comerAfter eatingMe cepillo los dientes despuรฉs de comer.Llamรณ despuรฉs de almorzar.
Sin avisarWithout warningNo puedes irte sin avisar.Entrรณ sin avisar.
Hasta terminarUntil finishingNo salgo hasta terminar la tarea.No puedo descansar hasta terminar.
De saberloHad I knownDe saberlo, no lo habrรญa hecho.De saberlo antes, te habrรญa avisado.
En aprenderIn learningInvierto tiempo en aprender espaรฑol.Me esfuerzo en aprender bien.
A pesar de fallarDespite failingSigo intentรกndolo a pesar de fallar.Aprobรณ a pesar de fallar el primer intento.

More Example Sentences

  1. Fui al mercado para comprar frutas.
  2. No puedes entrar sin pagar la entrada.
  3. Me llamรณ despuรฉs de haber terminado el trabajo.
  4. Logrรณ su meta con dedicarse al estudio.
  5. Antes de salir, revisa tu mochila.
  6. Me fui temprano por evitar el trรกfico.
  7. No puedes dormir sin apagar la luz.
  8. No podrรฉ jugar hasta mejorar mi salud.
  9. De haber sabido la verdad, habrรญa reaccionado diferente.
  10. A pesar de tener miedo, enfrentรณ la situaciรณn.

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 dรญa. (despuรฉs de)
  5. No saldrรฉ ________ terminar el proyecto. (hasta)
  6. Aprendรญ espaรฑol ________ estudiar mucho. (con)
  7. De ________ que vendrรญas, habrรญa preparado algo especial. (saber)
  8. Siempre leo un libro ________ dormir. (antes de)
  9. Se esforzรณ mucho ________ ganar el premio. (para)
  10. Consiguiรณ su objetivo ________ muchos intentos fallidos. (a pesar de)

Answers

  1. para
  2. por
  3. sin
  4. despuรฉs 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 despuรฉs 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!

If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog at My Language Classes. Donโ€™t forget to subscribe my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have.

Happy learning! ๐Ÿ˜Š

๐Ÿ“š Continue Learning Spanish

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Vikas Kumar is a dedicated language educator, content creator, and digital entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder of My Language Classes and The Curious Mind. With a strong focus on helping learners achieve fluency in English, Spanish, and Japanese, he has guided audiences worldwide through a diverse range of resources, including in-depth blog articles, engaging YouTube tutorials, and comprehensive Books.

Through My Language Classes, Vikas has built a thriving multilingual learning platform that serves students, travelers, and professionals eager to master communication skills for personal, academic, and professional success. His expertise extends to exam preparation for internationally recognized certifications such as JLPT, DELE, IELTS, and TOEFL, enabling learners to achieve tangible, career-enhancing results.

As the founder of The Curious Mind, he also explores broader areas of knowledge, including self-help, motivation, modern learning strategies, and thought-provoking insights on life and personal growth. His work blends practical teaching methods with a deep understanding of learner psychology, making complex concepts accessible and engaging.

Driven by a mission to make high-quality education accessible to all, Vikas continues to expand his reach across multiple platforms, including YouTube, blogs, eBooks, and social media communities, inspiring thousands to learn, grow, and embrace lifelong learning.

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