If you are saying that someone does an action, the verb needs to be conjugated.(ending changed to match the subject)example:

Yo estudio mucho para los exámenes.

I study a lot for tests.

If you are talking about an action in general, you do not conjugate the verb.(leave it in the infinitive: –ar, –er, or –ir)example:

Es importante estudiar para los exámenes. It is important to study for tests.

Usually if the English uses the infinitive, the Spanish will use the infinitive too.Look for:

TO + action (to go, to swim, etc.)

Sometimes you will have more than one verb in a sentence.

You can NOT conjugate two verbs in a row unless you are talking about two separate actions that someone is doing.

You will find many phrases or expressions that use two verbs together– we’ll call them “verb combos”.

In a “verb combo” (two verbs together),— the first verb is conjugated— the second verb is in the infinitive form

example:

Oscar prefiere llevar jeans los fines de semana.

Oscar prefers to wear jeans on weekends.

1st verb—conjugated

2nd verb—infinitive

Here are some verbs and expressions that you have probably used that are often followed by an infinitive:

me gusta / gustaría I like / would like

me encanta / encantaría

I love / would love

poder (o ue) to be able, can

deber ought to, should

preferir (e ie) to prefer

Here are a few more verbs and expressions that you have probably used that are often followed by an infinitive:

querer (eie) to want

pensar (eie) to plan

necesitar to need

tener que to have to

ir a to be going to

Examples:Me gusta nadar.I like to swim.

Te gustaría bailar.You would like to dance.

Me encanta ir de compras.I love to go shopping.

1st verb—conjugated2nd verb—infinitive

Examples:Me encantaría ir contigo.I would love to go with you.

Los chicos pueden tocar la guitarra.The boys can (are able to) play the guitar.

Debemos comprar un regalo para él.We should (ought to) buy a gift for him.

1st verb—conjugated2nd verb—infinitive

Examples:Mi amiga prefiere estar sola.My friend prefers to be alone.

El perro quiere jugar con los niños.The dog wants to play with the kids.

Pensamos viajar a Colorado.We plan to travel to Colorado.

1st verb—conjugated2nd verb—infinitive

Examples:Él necesita estudiar mucho.He needs to study a lot.

Tiffany tiene que hacer un proyecto.Tiffany has to do a project.

Uds. van a comer el desayuno.Y’all are going to eat breakfast.

1st verb—conjugated2nd verb—infinitive

To say that something has just happened, you can use the phrase acabar + de + infinitive. Acabar is conjugated in the present tense.example:

Ellos acaban de llegar a clase.They just arrived to class.

Notice that the sentence does NOT translate literally into English.

When you have more than one verb,REMEMBER:You can NOT conjugate two verbs in a row unless you are talking about two separate actions that someone is doing.

In a “verb combo” (two verbs together),— the first verb is conjugated— the second verb is in the infinitive

form