+ 30 examples of verbal PERIPHRASES

Spanish verbs can be simple or compound and present different tenses and modes. Another way to present actions through verbs is the use of verbal periphrasis. In this lesson from a TEACHER we want to show you what are verbal periphrasis with examples. We will see the different types that exist and how each of them are made so that you can easily understand and identify them when you find them in a text.

First of all, it is important that you know what verbal periphrasis are, that is, their definition. Verbal periphrasis have two or more verbs, these constructions have the particularity that, despite being made up of different verbs, these they work as a single verb within the sentence.

These periphrasis have a structure, generally made up of two verbs. The first is usually a Auxiliar verb that always appears conjugated and agreed with the subject in gender and number, that is, it is a verb in personal form. This is followed by another verb in a non-personal way. This will be the main verb of the sentence.

The verbs in non-personal form are those that do not conjugate or agree in gender and number with the subject, within them we can find the infinitive, the participle and the gerund.

In order to unite the verbs that form the verbal periphrasis, in some cases, prepositions are introduced that will depend directly on the first of the verbs that we find. They serve to express the beginning, the course, the end, the intention or the duration of a certain action and are widely used in Spanish. Let's see some examples of them:

• I'm going to the movies.
• I have to pick up your brother from his math class.
• I usually go to the movies once a month.
• I have been living in this house for four years.

In order to perform a classification of the different periphrasis verbs that we can find, let's look at the type of verb in its non-personal form. So we will find:

• Infinitive periphrasis
• Periphrasis of participle
• Gerund periphrasis

Infinitive periphrasis

The periphrasis of the infinitive are those that are composed of a verb in personal form that agrees in gender and number with the subject of the sentence and a verb in a non-personal way, in this case a infinitive. Within them we can find two subcategories:

Modal periphrasis: are those that show through the auxiliary verb the attitude of the person who is speaking, while the action is expressed by the verb in the infinitive. Some examples of this type of modal periphrasis are the following:

• You must arrive on time so as not to miss the train.
• You have to be in bed soon.
• You can buy the game console.
• You have to go see her tomorrow.

Temporal periphrasis: they are used when you want to mark a habit, repetition or show the temporality of a certain action. Some examples of this type of periphrasis are:

• I'm about to get it.
• Relax, the work has just begun.
• Claudia started working at the school last week.
• It hasn't stopped snowing all day.
• Due to bad weather, the concert was eventually canceled.

These periphrasis are formed by an auxiliary verb that is found in a personal form which is followed by a verb in a non-personal form, in gerund. The use of this type of periphrasis aims to show the status of an action or process that is being carried out. In this case, no preposition is necessary in its formation. Let's see some examples to better understand them:

• They are buying some clothes for the children.
• Juan continued to play soccer despite the fall.
• His things are still around here somewhere.
• He continues to wear his grandfather's coat every winter.
• Despite everything, they continue to buy in your store.

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