How to Master Verbal Periphrasis in Spanish

Verbal periphrasis in Spanish is easier than it sounds. 

I’ll show you how to grasp the concept easily and divide the topic into easy-to-digest and logical chunks. Get ready for lots of helpful examples with vocabulary that’s understandable even for beginners.

Keep reading this article to learn everything about Spanish verbal periphrasis. At the end, you’ll be able to check your immediate progress with a multiple-choice quiz.

Let’s go!

What is Verbal Periphrasis in Spanish?

I’m sure it will be easier for you to understand what verbal periphrasis is if I give you some examples in English first:

• John looks nice today.
• John looks after his little nephew every Wednesday.
• John looks for lost kittens every weekend.

Do you notice how the verb “look” changes its meaning when we add different prepositions after it? In English, the construction of a verb and a preposition that forms a new meaning is called a phrasal verb.

It’s similar in Spanish. A verbal periphrasis, or a verbal structure, is a combination of two or more verbs that take on a new meaning. It usually expresses the beginning, duration, or end of an action—and sometimes just the intention of an action.

A verbal periphrasis in Spanish usually consists of: 

• one conjugated verb that works as an auxiliary verb.
• another verb in an impersonal form that is the main, meaningful verb.

Sometimes, a preposition or a conjunction exists between these two verbs. The auxiliary  verb gives us information about who is performing the action, as well as about time and mood. The main verb informs us about the action we’re talking about.

The impersonal verb only appears in three forms:

• Infinitive
• Present Participle
• Past participle

Voy a terminar mi tarea. Llevo trabajando toda la tarde y ando estresado.
I’m going to finish my homework. I’ve been working all afternoon and I’m stressed.

Let’s take a closer look at the three types of verbal periphrasis.

Three Types of Verbal Periphrasis in Spanish

Let me show you each type of verbal periphrasis: infinitive, gerund, and past participle. I’ll give you a list of the most common periphrasis verbal in each category and lots of example sentences.

1. Verbal Periphrasis with Infinitive

The structure for this type of periphrasis verbal is the following:

conjugated auxiliary verb + (preposition OR conjunction) + infinitive

A preposition or conjunction in between the two verbs is common in this type of periphrasis verbal, but some don’t require any word between the two verbs. 

The two groups within this type of verbal periphrasis are modal structures and temporal structures.

Modal Structures

The verbal periphrases in this group express the attitude of the speaker (for example, obligation). The infinitive refers to the action itself:

Deber + infinitive

(Expresses obligation)

Debes terminar temprano.
You have to finish early.

Deber de + infinitive

(Expresses supposition)

Debe de tener mucho dinero si usa zapatos así.
He must have a lot of money if he wears shoes like that.

Haber de + infinitive

(Expresses obligation)

Has de terminar temprano.
You have to finish early.

Haber que + infinitive

(Expresses obligation)

This verbal periphrasis is impersonal and the verb haber always comes in the third person singular form: hay

Hay que terminar temprano.
You have to finish early. / One has to finish early

Poder + infinitive

(Expresses capability or permission)

Ya puedes pagar.
You can pay now.

Tener que + infinitive

(Expresses obligation, necessity or deduction)

Tienes que terminar temprano.
You have to finish early.

¡Tiene que ser mentira!
It must be a lie!

Temporal Structures

Temporal structures help you locate the action in time and designate habit and repetition. They tell you, for example, if the action is just starting, in progress, or over.

Acabar de + infinitive

(Meaning: just after)

Acabo de comprar una casa.
I’ve just bought a house.

Acabar por + infinitive

(Meaning: result)

Acabé por contarle toda la verdad.
I ended up telling him the whole truth.

Acostumbrar a + infinitive

(Meaning: habit)

No me acostumbro a dormir con estas almohadas.
I don’t get used to sleeping with these pillows.

Cesar de + infinitive

(Meaning: stopping an action)

No cesan de pedirme consejos.
They don’t stop asking me for advice.

Comenzar a + infinitive

(Meaning: beginning an action)

Comienza a nublarse; vámonos a casa.
It’s starting to get cloudy. Let’s go home.

Dar (a alguien) por + infinitive

(Meaning: suddenly starting an action)

Me ha dado por estudiar español.
I fancied studying Spanish.

Dejar de + infinitive

(Meaning: stopping an action)

Deja de pretender.
Stop pretending.

Echarse a + infinitive

(Meaning: suddenly starting an action)

Y de repente se echó a llorar
And suddenly she started crying.

Empezar a + infinitive

(Meaning: beginning an action)

La gente empezó a llegar.
People started coming.

Estar a punto de + infinitive

(Meaning: just prior / about to)

Estás a punto de terminar la carrera y haces esto.
You’re about to finish university and you do this.

Estar por + infinitive

(Meaning: just prior / about to)

Estoy por cumplir cinco años con la empresa.
I’m about to have served the company for five years.

Ir a + infinitive

(Meaning: approaching action)

Voy a cocinar algo.
I’m going to cook something.

Llegar a + infinitive

(Meaning: result)

Llegué a tomar cinco cafés cada día para poder con todo.
I got to where I was drinking five coffees a day to be able to cope with everything.

Parar de + infinitive

(Meaning: stopping an action)

No para de llover.
It doesn’t stop raining.

Pasar a + infinitive

(Meaning: duration)

Después, pasé a explicarles las condiciones de la renta.
Later, I went on to explain the rental conditions.

Ponerse a + infinitive

(Meaning: sudden start of an action)

Se puso a pintar la casa ella sola.
She started painting the house herself.

Soler + infinitive

(Meaning: habit)

Suelo leer un periódico cada día.
I usually read a newspaper every day.

Tardar en + infinitive

(Meaning: duration)

No tardó en pedirle explicaciones.
It didn’t take long for him to ask for an explanation.

Terminar de + infinitive

(Meaning: end of an action)

Terminé de trabajar bien trade.
I finished working very late.

Terminar por + infinitive

(Meaning: result)

Terminé por mudarme de casa.
I ended up moving to another house.

Venir a + infinitive

(Meaning: result)

Vinieron a pedirnos los recibos de los últimos dos años.
They ended up asking us for our receipts for the last two years.

Volver a + infinitive

(Meaning: repetition)

Volvieron a trabajar para el mismo tipo.
They went back to work for the same guy.

2. Verbal Periphrasis with Gerund

This verbal periphrasis gives information about an action in progress. The structure is the following:

conjugated auxiliary verb + gerund (Present Participle)

As you can see, there is no connecting word between the two verbs. 

If you want to refresh your knowledge on gerunds first, check out Spanish Gerunds: The Ultimate Guide to the Progressive Tenses.

Andar + gerund

Meaning: action in progress at the time of or around speaking

No andes diciendo mentiras.
Don’t go around telling lies.

Continuar + gerund

(Meaning: a continuous, repeated action)

Continúa trabajando para su prima.
He keeps working for his cousin.

Estar + gerund

(Meaning: action in progress at the time of or around speaking)

Estoy leyendo, no me interrumpas.
I’m reading; don’t interrupt me.

Ir + gerund

(Meaning: gradual progression of an action)

Voy entendiendo de qué se trata.
I’m getting to understand what it is about.

Llevar + gerund

(Meaning: action or situation ongoing for a while)

¡Te lo llevo diciendo desde que terminamos la prepa!
I keep telling you this since we finished high school!

Pasar(se) + gerund

(Meaning: spend time doing something)

Pasa la vida ayudando a los demás.
He spends his life helping others.

Seguir + gerund

(Meaning: continuous, repeated action)

Ellos continúan viviendo en el mismo barrio.
They keep living in the same neighborhood.

Venir + gerund

(Meaning: action or situation ongoing for a while)

Vienes pidiéndome el aumento desde el año pasado.
You’ve been asking me for the raise from last year.

3. Verbal Periphrasis with Past Participle

The structure for this verbal periphrasis is the following:

conjugated auxiliary verb + past participle

The participle always agrees in gender and number with the subject with the verbs estar, quedar and andar, or with the direct object with the verbs dejar, tener, dar por, and llevar. 

See also: How to form and use past participles in Spanish

Andar + past participle

(Expresses emotional states)

Ando cansada.
I’m tired.

Dar por + past participle

(Expresses final states)

Doy por terminada la discusión.
I consider the discussion finished.

Dejar + past participle
(Expresses resultant states)

Dejó terminado el trabajo.
He finished the job.

Estar + past participle
(Expresses resultant states)

La ropa está planchada.
The clothes are ironed.

Llevar + past participle
(Expresses quantity accumulated so far)

Llevo terminada dos de tres planeaciones.
I have two plannings out of three done.

Quedar + past participle
(Expresses final states)

La sesión queda concluída.
The session is concluded.

Tener + past participle
(Expresses final states)

Tengo leído ya casi todo el libro.
I have already read most of the book.

Verbal Periphrasis Quiz

Let’s see how much you’ve learned about verbal periphrasis. Are you ready to challenge yourself? 

For each question, select the best possible option.

If you’re a grammar geek, take a look at this detailed Spanish study of verbal periphrasis.

Keep Practicing Verbal Periphrasis in Spanish

Knowing how to correctly use verbal periphrasis in Spanish is an important step to fluency. With consistent practice, you’ll get there sooner than you think! 

Picture yourself traveling easily to all the Spanish-speaking countries you’ve always wanted to visit. Or, imagine being able to ask your Spanish-speaking neighbor about his life story. Just think about all these possibilities that await you just by knowing Spanish! Did you know that approximately 53 million people who speak Spanish live in the U.S.? It’s actually the second-largest Spanish-speaking country in the world. 

If you want to progress rapidly, support your self-learning with one-to-one classes. Sign up for a free trial class with one of our friendly, native-speaking teachers from Guatemala and practice verbal periphrasis in Spanish or any other grammar or vocabulary topic. 

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