Essential Perífrasis for Real-Life Fluency

---

Spanish, like English, often uses phrases made up of more than one verb to express nuances of time, intention, continuity, obligation, or completion. These constructions are called “verbal periphrases” (perífrasis verbales [peˈɾi.fɾa.sis βeɾˈβa.les]) in Spanish.

A verbal periphrasis typically combines a conjugated auxiliary verb with an infinitive or a gerund. The meaning of the phrase cannot be fully understood by looking at each word individually — it must be learned as a unit.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common and useful periphrastic constructions in Spanish. These are crucial for sounding natural and fluent in everyday conversation.

---

1. Ir a + Infinitive

Usage: Expresses a near future action, similar to “going to + verb” in English.
IPA: [iɾ a + infiniˈtiβo]

Example:
– Voy a comer → “I’m going to eat.”
– ¿Vas a estudiar esta noche? → “Are you going to study tonight?”

Note: This periphrasis is very common in spoken Spanish for future intentions.

---

2. Tener que + Infinitive

Usage: Expresses obligation, similar to “have to + verb.”
IPA: [teˈneɾ ke + infiniˈtiβo]

Example:
– Tengo que trabajar mañana → “I have to work tomorrow.”
– Tienes que ayudarme → “You have to help me.”

Irregularity: Tener is an irregular verb.
Conjugation example in present:
– yo tengo, tú tienes, él tiene, etc.

---

3. Estar a punto de + Infinitive

Usage: Expresses an action that is about to happen; “to be about to + verb.”
IPA: [esˈtaɾ a ˈpun.to ðe + infiniˈtiβo]

Example:
– Estoy a punto de salir → “I’m about to leave.”
– Estábamos a punto de empezar → “We were about to begin.”

Note: The verb estar must agree in tense and subject.

---

4. Acabar de + Infinitive

Usage: Indicates an action that has just happened; “to have just + verb.”
IPA: [a.kaˈβaɾ ðe + infiniˈtiβo]

Example:
– Acabo de comer → “I’ve just eaten.”
– ¿Acabas de llegar? → “Did you just arrive?”

Note: This is a present-tense construction expressing recent past.

---

5. Seguir + Gerund

Usage: Indicates continuity; “to keep on doing something.”
IPA: [seˈɣiɾ + xeˈɾun.djo]

Example:
– Sigo estudiando español → “I keep studying Spanish.”
– ¿Sigues trabajando en la misma empresa? → “Are you still working at the same company?”

Irregularity: Seguir is irregular and undergoes a vowel change (e → i).
– yo sigo, tú sigues, etc.

---

6. Llevar + Gerund

Usage: Expresses how long something has been happening; similar to “have been doing something for X time.”
IPA: [ʎeˈβaɾ + xeˈɾun.djo]
(In Latin America, the “ll” is often pronounced [ʝ] or [ʃ] instead of [ʎ])

Example:
– Llevo tres años estudiando español → “I’ve been studying Spanish for three years.”
– ¿Cuánto tiempo llevas trabajando aquí? → “How long have you been working here?”

Note: Use a time expression to indicate duration.

---

7. Dejar de + Infinitive

Usage: Expresses stopping or quitting an action; “to stop doing something.”
IPA: [deˈxaɾ ðe + infiniˈtiβo]

Example:
– Dejé de fumar → “I stopped smoking.”
– ¿Por qué dejaste de venir a clase? → “Why did you stop coming to class?”

Note: Dejar de is used when someone discontinues a habit or action.

---

Irregularities and Exceptions

• Reflexive Verbs: Some periphrastic constructions can include reflexive verbs. The reflexive pronoun usually goes before the conjugated verb or attached to the infinitive or gerund:
  • Me voy a levantar / Voy a levantarme → “I’m going to get up.”
  • Estoy duchándome / Me estoy duchando → “I’m showering.”
• Tense Matching: The conjugated verb in the periphrasis must match the intended tense:
  • I was going to do it → Iba a hacerlo
  • You had to leave → Tenías que irte
• Gerunds: Only certain verbs can follow with a gerund. Verbs of continuity, progress, or duration (like seguir, estar, llevar) are the most common.

---

The Power of Spanish Verbal Periphrases

Verbal periphrases are essential for sounding fluent, natural, and nuanced in Spanish. They allow speakers to convey future plans, obligations, ongoing actions, recent events, and intentions, much like modal verbs or auxiliary structures in English. By mastering periphrastic expressions such as ir a + infinitive or seguir + gerund, learners unlock a higher level of expressive precision.

Remember, these constructions aren’t just grammar — they’re tools for expressing real-life situations. Practice them in context, listen for them in conversation, and soon they’ll become second nature.

Speak Spanish like a native—one periphrasis at a time!

---

If you’ve read everything, please consider leaving a like, sharing, commenting, or all three!

---

TAMBIÉN TE GUSTARÁ LEER: