🎯 Why This Matters
Connecting two verbs.
Grammatically correct, natural speech.
🇪🇸 The Challenge
Prepositional governance. Spanish uses infinitives after prepositions (para comer). English STRICTLY uses Gerunds after prepositions (for eating).
🇲🇽🇨🇴🇦🇷 Preposition + infinitive habit
Problem: Spanish uses infinitive after prepositions
Watch out: Saying 'for to eat' or 'interested in to learn' instead of 'for eating' / 'interested in learning'
✅ Fix: Preposition + VERB = always add -ING. No exceptions!
🧠 Mental Note: para comer = for eating, sin dormir = without sleeping, antes de salir = before leaving
🇪🇸 Same preposition trap
Problem: Spain Spanish also uses infinitive after prepositions
Watch out: Direct translation of 'para hacer' as 'for to do'
✅ Fix: Retrain your brain: Spanish infinitive after preposition = English -ING
🧠 Visual Explanation (The Mental Fix)
The -ING vs TO Battle
After prepositions = ALWAYS -ING. 'Good at swimming', 'interested in learning', 'tired of waiting'.
🗣️ Pronunciation Guide
How Spanish speakers should pronounce this structure:
The -ING ending
Spanish Habit: Pronouncing the G strongly
English Reality: The -ING is often reduced, especially the G
Examples:
- going → /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/ or casual /ˈɡoʊɪn/
- eating → /ˈiːtɪŋ/
- working → /ˈwɜːrkɪŋ/
Practice: The G is soft, almost like an 'n' sound in casual speech
📖 How It Works
Teacher Recommendation: Teacher recommended
Time Investment: 10 hours
🔑 Signal Words (Memory Anchors)
These words/phrases appear with this structure:
| English | Spanish | Example |
|---|---|---|
| enjoy + -ing | disfrutar + infinitivo | I enjoy reading / Disfruto leer |
| want + to | querer + infinitivo | I want to go / Quiero ir |
| good at + -ing | bueno para + infinitivo | I'm good at cooking / Soy bueno para cocinar |
| stop + -ing | dejar de | Stop talking / Deja de hablar |
| stop + to | detenerse para | I stopped to rest / Me detuve para descansar |
💬 Real Examples
Let's see this structure in action with correct vs incorrect usage:
Example 1: After prepositions - always gerund
✅ CORRECT: "I'm interested in learning English."
🇪🇸 Translation: "Estoy interesado en aprender inglés."
❌ COMMON MISTAKE: "I'm interested in to learn English."
Why wrong? After ALL prepositions, English uses -ING, not infinitive
Example 2: Verb patterns - enjoy/avoid/finish
✅ CORRECT: "I enjoy swimming. / She finished reading."
🇪🇸 Translation: "Disfruto nadar. / Ella terminó de leer."
❌ COMMON MISTAKE: "I enjoy to swim. / She finished to read."
Why wrong? Some verbs ONLY take -ING: enjoy, finish, avoid, mind, suggest, keep, practice
Example 3: Stop + gerund vs Stop + infinitive
✅ CORRECT: "I stopped smoking. (quit) / I stopped to smoke. (paused)"
🇪🇸 Translation: "Dejé de fumar. / Me detuve para fumar."
❌ COMMON MISTAKE: "Using them interchangeably"
Why wrong? Different meanings! Stop + -ING = quit. Stop + TO = pause in order to do something.
✏️ Practice Exercises
Ready to test your understanding? Let's practice!