For Spanish language learners who have reached the intermediate level or above, you will soon start learning about verbal periphrases. A verbal periphrasis is made up of two verbs in the following forms:
Conjugated verb form + impersonal form (infinitive, gerund, participle). Depending on the verb, a preposition might be needed.
Spanish compounds verb tenses (haber + participle, estar + gerund) could technically be considered verbal periphrases. The same goes for Spanish power verbs. Both follow the format conjugated verb + impersonal verb. I leave that decision to the discretion of your language instructor or fellow linguists. As for me, my method, the Diáfano Method, focuses on the simplification of language and identification of patterns. Except for ir, and mainly due to all its uses, I choose not to include compound verb tenses or power verbs under periphrases.
Below, I will list the most common periphrases, starting with…
to go.
This power verb is used to talk about the immediate future and used with the preposition “a.”
The reflexive form of this verb, irse, refers to the act of leaving. It also requires “a,” which can be substituted by “para” if referring to a place one is headed to. Vamos para Puerto Rico este año – We’re going to Puerto Rico this year.
*Note that in this case “Vamos para…” can mean “We’re going to…” or “Let’s go to…”
Used mainly colloquially, ir can also be paired up with the gerund to indicate an action that is currently taking place, as in the following:
Va llegando – He is arriving.
For actions that you plan to start or do again.
These verbs refer to an action that has ended.
*Note that acabar is conjugated in the present tense even though you are talking about an action that happened in the past.
¿Puedes dejar de pelear por trivialidades? – Could you stop fighting for every little thing?
These verbs do not have any preposition. They refer to an ongoing action.
a) Llevo 10 años practicando yoga – I’ve been doing yoga for 10 years.
b) ¿Llevas 15 años viviendo en Boston, ¿verdad? – You’ve been living in Boston for 15 years, right?
a) ¿Sigues viviendo en Madrid o ya te mudaste a Barcelona? – Are you still living in Madrid or did you move to Barcelona?
b) ¿Ustedes continúan estudiando chino? Es un idioma muy difícil, ¿no? – Are you guys still studying Chinese? It’s a really difficult language, isn’t it?
Share this article with your network :
Linguist
(48 Reviews)
Irma is a trained linguist, native Spanish speaker, and teacher. She is the founder and CEO of Diáfano.
For those with no prior experience with Spanish. 9-week course.
For those who can hold a minimal conversation in Spanish, ask for directions, etc.
For those who are conversational and can express emotions in Spanish
For those who are conversational and can express emotions in Spanish. The course is designed to get you to full fluency.