Verbal periphrases (perífrasis verbales)
Fixed combinations like empezar a, dejar de, volver a, seguir + gerundio and tener que that express a phase, repetition or obligation.
Beginning an action: empezar a, ponerse a, estar a punto de
These periphrases indicate that an action begins or is about to begin:
- empezar a + infinitive: neutral start
- ponerse a + infinitive: sudden, often spontaneous start
- estar a punto de + infinitive: about to happen
Examples
Empiezo a entender el español.I'm starting to understand Spanish.
Se puso a llorar de repente.She suddenly started crying.
Estoy a punto de salir.I'm about to leave.
Stopping and repeating: dejar de, volver a, acabar de
- dejar de + infinitive: to stop doing something
- volver a + infinitive: to do something again
- acabar de + infinitive: to have just done something
Examples
Dejé de fumar hace un año.I quit smoking a year ago.
Volvió a llamar por la tarde.She called again in the afternoon.
Acabo de comer.I've just eaten.
Duration and continuation: seguir + gerundio, llevar + gerundio
- seguir + gerund: to still be doing something
- llevar + time period + gerund: to indicate how long something has been going on
Examples
Sigo estudiando español.I'm still studying Spanish.
Llevo dos años viviendo aquí.I've been living here for two years.
¿Cuánto tiempo llevas esperando?How long have you been waiting?
Obligation: tener que, hay que, deber
These three express obligation, but not in the same way:
| Perífrasis | Betekenis | Voorbeeld |
|---|---|---|
| tener que + inf. | persoonlijke verplichting | Tengo que estudiar. |
| hay que + inf. | onpersoonlijke, algemene verplichting | Hay que estudiar mucho. |
| deber + inf. | raad of morele verplichting | Debes estudiar más. |
Examples
Tengo que terminar este informe hoy.I have to finish this report today.
Hay que respetar las normas.One must respect the rules.
Deberías descansar un poco.You should rest a bit.
💡 Tips
💡
'Hay que' never has a subject — it's always impersonal, similar to 'se debe'.
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'Llevar + gerund' always needs a time period (dos años, tres meses...) to show how long something has been going on.
💡
'Acabar de' is normally used in the present or imperfect to express 'having just done' something.
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