Periphrases Flashcards
What are the four periphrasal verbs that highlight an obligation?
Tener que + infinitive
Deber que + infinitive
Haber que + infinitive
Haber de + infinitive
In what situations can tener que + infinitive be used?
When something is unavoidable
When speculating
What is the meaning of tener que + compound infinitive when the imperfect or conditional has been used?
It means the action hasn’t been completed. Eg. Tenia que haberle contado la verdad (I should have told him the truth)
In what situations can deber + infinitive be used?
An obligation or personal promise - commonly used for recommendations or advice
What is the meaning of deber + compound infinitive when the imperfect or conditional has been used?
The action hasn’t been completed. Eg. Debia haberle contado la verdad (You should have told him the truth)
In what situations can haber que + infinitive be used?
When something is unavoidable
Always in the impersonal (3rd person singluar)
What is the meaning of haber que + compound infinitive when the imperfect or conditional has been used?
The action hasn’t been completed
In what situations can haber de + infinitive be used?
Necessity, obligation or intention
Not often used
Used almost exclusively in the present (Eg. He de irme ya)
What are the 8 periphrasal verbs for an action that has finished?
Acabar + infinitive Dejar de + infinitive Venir a + infinitive Llegar a + infinitive Acabar por + infinitive Acabar, terminar + gerund Tener + participio concertado Llevar + participio concertado Ir + participio concertado
When is Acabar + infinitive used?
When an action has very recently been completely
Eg. Acabo de trabajar a las ocho - I just finished work at eight
When is Dejar de + infinitive used?
To describe an interrupted unusual activity
To abandon a habit (Ha dejado de fumar)
It can express negative thing such as:
1. Maintaining a habit (no ha dejado de fumar)
2. Reiteration of an action (no deja de decirme que tenga cuidado)
3. In the imperative, used to order around (No dejes de llamarme cuando vuelvas)
When is venir a + infinitive used?
Reaching a conclusion after hesitation or doubts (has a sense of finality) Approximate quantity (viene a costar el doble que el otro)
When is Llegar a + infinitive?
Similar to lograr or conseguir and expresses the desired culmination of a process (Llegó a hablar ingles perfectamente)
Intensifies value - similar to hasta or incluso (llegó a hablar mal de ti)
When is Acabar por + infinitive and Acabar, terminar + gerund used?
The culmination of something not desired or the difficulty of a process (means at last)
Eg. Acaboó por confesar la verdad
Eg. Acabó confesando la verdad
When is Tener + participio concertado used?
Has a sense of completion coupled with accumulation or reiteration of an action
Accumulation = tengo leidos (casi) todos los temas Reiteration = Te tengo dicho que no hagas eso.
When is Llevar + participio concertado used?
Its result is not final - the action is going to continue
Eg. Llevo leidos (casi) todos los temas
When is Ir + participio concertado used?
To mean the same as llevar + participle but there isn’t an agent
eg. van escrutados 200,000 votos
What are the four periphrasal verbs to mean an action that is starting?
Comenzar/empezar a + infinitive
Ponerse a + infinitive
Echar(se) a + infinitive
Romper a + infinitive
When is Comenzar/empezar a + infinitive used?
To suggest the start of an action - verbs maintain their meaning
When is Ponerse a + infinitive used?
To express a voluntary action unless it is linked with an action provoked by an emotion
It is also used with the impersonal verbs: llover, nevar y granizar
When is Echar(se) a + infinitive used?
Its use is limited to a few verbs:
Echar(se) a + andar, caminar, correr, volar
Echarse a + temblar, reir, llorar
When is Romper a + infinitive used?
For an action that is initiated by another action - not used much.
Limited to verbs such as reir, llorar, hablar, llover.
Eg. Cuando se enteró de la noticia rompió a llorar
