Spanish: An Essential Grammar

Which prepositions follow which verbs has to be learned on a case-by-case

basis. It is possible, however, to set out some general (though not always

reliable) guidelines:

(a) A+ infinitive

Typically this pattern is used to express progress towards an action, after

verbs that (i) state its beginning, (ii) express preparation or readiness to

perform an action, (iii) express physical movement towards an action, or

(iv) indicate obligation, influence or persuasion:

Empezó/Se puso a llorar. He began to cry.

Se comprometen a devolver They undertake to return what

lo pagado. has been paid.

Han venido a pintar la casa. They’ve come to paint the house.

Me obligaron a pagar la They obliged me to pay the fine.

multa.

Note: The preposition a is required when the verbs ir‘to go’ and volver ‘to return’

are used figuratively, with the meanings ‘to be going to do’ and ‘to do again’ respec-

tively: No volveré a hacerlo ‘I won’t do it again’.

(b) De+ infinitive

Used after verbs expressing movement away from, such as refraining and

dissuading from, corresponding to English ‘from’ + gerund:

Me abstuve de reír. I refrained from laughing.

With verbs of cessation, it corresponds to a direct gerund in English:

¿Han terminado de hablar? Have they finished speaking?

Similar verbs are:

cesar/dejar/parar de to cease/stop

disuadir de to dissuade from

Note: The preposition de is required when the verb acabar ‘to finish’ is used with

the meaning ‘to have just’: Acaban de llegar ‘They have just arrived’.

1111

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

1011

1

12111

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

20111

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

30111

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

40

41111

17

Infinitive
constructions

190

Prepositions govern infinitives not gerunds

Except in one or two archaic constructions, the infinitive is the only

verb form that can occur after a preposition in Spanish. Compare

‘after speaking’ después de hablar (never ×después de hablando×).