LINKED VERBS


What are Linked Verbs?
	Linked verbs are verbs linked to either a present participle (the "-ing" gerundio "-ndo"), an infinitive, or a preposition + an infinitive. This happens frequently in Spanish, and only the first of the two verbs may be conjugated.  However, the second verb may be an infinitive or aan "-ing" (-ndo form).


There are a few generalizations about linked verbs: 

  1. Verbs meaning 'to begin' and verbs of movement towards someplace or goal are normally followed by 'a' + [infinitive]. 
  2. Verbs meaning 'to stop' or 'to finish' are normally followed by 'de' + [infinitive]. 
  3. Words such as 'could', 'should', and 'may' are normally followed by an infinitive with NO intervening preposition. 
  4. Verbs meaning 'to continue' are normally followed by the -ndo form ("-ing"), with NO preposition. 


_____________________________
LINKED VERBS LIST:
Below is a list of linked verbs, divided into 9 distinct sections.  It is well worth your time to familiarize yourself with these linked verbs and their meanings, and, perhaps, even memorize them.  Note:  Information in parenthesis next to a Spanish infinitive indicates that the verb is a stem-changing verb  (i.e.,   '(ie)', '(ue)' ).  Remember, only the FIRST verb in a linked verb is conjugated.


1. Verbs followed by 'a' + [infinitive]: 

        acostumbrarse a + [infinitive]  -   to become accustomed to
        aprender a + [infinitive]  -   to learn how to
        aspirar a + [infinitive]  -   to aspire to
        atreverse a + [infinitive]  -   to dare to, to be so bold as to
        ayudar a + [infinitive]   -   to help to
        comenzar a (ie) + [infinitive] -   to begin to, to start to
        contribuir a + [infinitive]  -   to contribute to
        correr a + [infinitive]  -   to run to
        decidirse a + [infinitive] -   to decide to, to make up one's mind to
        dedicarse a + [infinitive]  -   to dedicate oneself to, to devote oneself to
        echarse a + [infinitive]  -   to start to, to burst out (doing something)
        empezar a (ie) + [infinitive] -   to begin to, to start to
        ensear a + [infinitive]  -   to teach how to
        invitar a + [infinitive]  -   to invite to
        ir a + [infinitive]  -   to go to, to be going to
        llegar a + [infinitive]  -   to come to
        negarse a (ie) + [infinitive]  -   to refuse to
        prepararse a + [infinitive]  -   to prepare to
        ponerse a + [infinitive]  -   to start to, to set about to
        salir a + [infinitive]  -   to go out to, to leave to
        venir a (ie) + [infinitive]  -   to come to
        volver a (ue) + [infinitive]  -   to do something again


2. Verbs followed by 'de' + [infinitive]: 

        acabar de + [infinitive] -   to have just (done something)
        acordarse de (ue) + [infinitive]   -   to remember
        alegrarse de + [infinitive]   -   to be happy to
        arrepentirse de (ie) + [infinitive]  -   to regret, to repent of
        cansarse de + [infinitive]  -   to tire of, to grow tired of
        dejar de + [infinitive] -   to stop (doing something)
        depender de (ie) + [infinitive]   -   to depend on
        jactarse de + [infinitive]  -   to boast of
        olvidarse de + [infinitive]  -   to forget
        parar de + [infinitive]   -   to stop (doing something)
        pensar de (ie) + [infinitive]   -   to think about (to have an opinion about)
        quejarse de    -   to complain of
        terminar de    -   to finish, to stop (doing something)
        tratar de + [infinitive] -   to try to


3.  Verbs followed by 'en' + [infinitive]: 

        consistir en + [infinitive] -   to consist of
        convenir en (ie) + [infinitive]   -   to agree to
        insistir en + [infinitive] -   to insist on
        pensar en (ie) + [infinitive]  -   to think about (to contemplate doing something)
        tardar en + [infinitive]  -   to delay in


4. Verbs followed by 'con' + [infinitive]: 

        amenazar con + [infinitive]   -   to threaten with/to
        contar con (ue) + [infinitive]   -   to count on
        soar con (ue) + [infinitive]  -   to dream of/about


5.  Verbs followed by 'por'  + [infinitive]: 

        acabar por + [infinitive]  -   to end up (by doing something)
        terminar por + [infinitive]  -   to end up (by doing something)



6.  Verbs followed by 'que'  + [infinitive]: 

        hay que + [infinitive]  -   to have to, "you've got to ..." (used impersonally)
        tener que + [infinitive]    -   to have to


7.  Verbs which are followed by an infinitive with NO intervening preposition: 

        agradar + [infinitive]    -   to please (to like)
        amenazar + [infinitive]    -   to threaten to
        anhelar + [infinitive]    -   to be eager to, to long to, to yearn to
        deber + [infinitive]    -   must, should, ought to
        decidir + [infinitive]    -   to decide to
        desear + [infinitive]    -   to desire to, to want to
        detestar + [infinitive]    -   to detest
        doler (ue) + [infinitive]    -   to hurt, to ache
        esperar + [infinitive]    -   to hope to, to expect to
        gustar + [infinitive]    -   to please (to like)
        importar + [infinitive]    -   to matter, to be important
        intentar + [infinitive]    -   to try to
        lamentar + [infinitive]    -   to lament, to regret
        lograr + [infinitive]    -   to manage to, to succeed in
        molestar + [infinitive]    -   to bother
        necesitar + [infinitive]    -   to need to
        odiar + [infinitive]    -   to hate to
        olvidar + [infinitive]    -   to forget to
        parecer + [infinitive]    -   to seem to, to appear to
        pensar (ie)  + [infinitive]   -   to plan to, to intend to
        poder (ue) + [infinitive]    -   to be able to, can, may
        preferir (ie, i) + [infinitive]    -   to prefer to
        prometer + [infinitive]    -   to promise to
        querer (ie) + [infinitive]    -   to want to
        rehusar + [infinitive]    -   to refuse to
        saber + [infinitive]    -   to know how to
        sentir (ie, i) + [infinitive]    -   to regret, feel sorry for
        soler (ue) + [infinitive]   -   to be accustomed to, to be used to


8.  Verbs which are followed by the '-ing' ( -ndo form, i.e. 'trabajando', 'comiendo', etc.), with NO intervening preposition:

        acabar + -ndo    -  to end up, finish up (by doing something)
        andar + -ndo    -   to walk, to go around (doing something)
        continuar + -ndo    -   to continue to, to continue (doing something)
        entrar + -ndo    -   to enter, to go in (doing something)
        estar + -ndo    -   to be (doing something)
        ir + -ndo    -   to go (doing something)
        salir + -ndo    -   to go out, to leave (doing something)
        seguir + -ndo (i, i)    -   to keep on (doing something), to continue to
        terminar + -ndo    -   to end up, finish up (doing something)
        venir + -ndo (ie)    -   to come (doing something)


9.  Making impersonal expressions with 'ser' + [infinitive]:

    When used impersonally, expressions with ser plus an adjective are normally followed by an infinitive, with no intervening 
preposition: 

           es fcil leer.        -   it's easy to read.
           es difcil describir a mi madre.    -   it's difficult to describe my mother.

