Voy a viajar mañana.
English: I am going to travel tomorrow.
- Language
- Spanish
- Level
- B1
- Unit
- Perífrasis verbales
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
In Spanish, 'perífrasis verbales' are verb phrases made with two or more verbs that work together to express a special meaning, often about time, intention, or how an action happens.
When to use it
Use perífrasis verbales in Spanish to talk about actions in the near future, obligations, recent past, the start or continuation of actions, and similar ideas. They help describe how and when something happens.
Key forms
- ir a + infinitivo (Voy a comer)
- tener que + infinitivo (Tengo que estudiar)
- acabar de + infinitivo (Acabo de llegar)
- empezar a + infinitivo (Empiezo a trabajar)
- seguir + gerundio (Sigo estudiando)
Examples
Tienes que hacer la tarea.
English: You have to do the homework.
Acabamos de comer.
English: We just ate.
Empieza a llover.
English: It is starting to rain.
Sigo aprendiendo español.
English: I keep learning Spanish.
Tips
- After the first verb, use the infinitive or gerund as required by the structure.
- Do not conjugate both verbs—only the first verb changes form.
- Pay attention to which preposition (a, de, etc.) is needed in the structure.
Exceptions and edge cases
- Some verbs change meaning when used in a perífrasis. For example, 'acabar de' means 'to have just done something', not 'to finish'.