When exactly to use the infinitive?

Stuart M.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

When exactly to use the infinitive?

Hola,

Just wondering about this statement:

Sometimes verbs giving advice / order can be followed by an infinitive. In this case, "que" shouldn't be used.

I haven't worked that one out yet - would you be able to embellish the circumstances, please?

Gracias,

Asked 4 years ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hola Stuart,

When we say that sometimes we can use the infinitive and give these examples:

Os animo a venir a mi fiesta.

I encourage you to come to my party.

Entonces, ¿me recomiendas probar ese restaurante chino.

So, do you recommend that I try that Chinese restaurant?

Os prohibo entrar en mi casa.

I forbid you to come into my house.

we mean that this same thing can be expressed using an infinitive instead of  "que + subjunctive". It doesn't matter that the subject is different in the main and the dependent clause. So you can either say:

Os prohibo entrar en mi casa.

or

Os prohibo que entréis en mi casa.


But if you use "que", it needs to be followed by the subjunctive. 
The meaning doesn´t change.

Saludos,

Inma

David M.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Stuart -

This statement in the lesson may help to answer your question:

"Notice how most of these have a direct or indirect object indicating the person receiving the order, request, suggestion or encouragement (me, te, nos, le...)" ...

i.e., it seems to me that in order to use the infinitive, there should be a direct object pronoun - to make it clear to whom the request/suggestion is being directed.

An example, in this lesson, of a sentence with no such pronoun is: "Necesito que traigas esas cajas"  - and it is obviously insufficient and unhelpful to replace this by: Necesito traer esas cajas".


Stuart M.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thanks David, that's more what I was driving at. Cheers,

Stuart M. asked:

When exactly to use the infinitive?

Hola,

Just wondering about this statement:

Sometimes verbs giving advice / order can be followed by an infinitive. In this case, "que" shouldn't be used.

I haven't worked that one out yet - would you be able to embellish the circumstances, please?

Gracias,

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your Spanish level for FREE

Test your Spanish to the CEFR standard

Find your Spanish level
I'll be right with you...