Infinitive forms in Spanish consist of a single, invariable word ending in -ar,
-eror -ir. In principle they correspond to English ‘to + verb’, but in addition
they often translate forms ending in ‘-ing’.
The Spanish infinitive is often used after a preposition or a verb:después de cenar after having supper
Quiero hablar. I want to speak.
It can also function as the subject of a finite verb (see 17.4) and as a verbal
noun (see 17.6).For the infinitive used as an imperative, see 19.3.2.
On the placement of object pronouns with infinitives see 8.5.2.Finite verb + infinitive
Verbs with the same subjectWhen one verb follows another, the second verb almost always takes the
infinitive form if the subject of the first verb is the same as that of the
second.This pattern is typical of the modal verbs (see Chapter 16) but is also
common with most psychological verbs and also with verbs indicating
concepts such as necessity and accomplishment:Prefiero hablar con él. I’d prefer to talk to him.
Recuerdo haberlo conocido I remember having met him in
en Jerez. Jerez.17.1.117.1