Verbs that Express Desires, Needs, and Intentions

Verbs that Precede Infinitives

We can express the things we want, need, can, have, and are going to do. To do this we use certain conjugated verbs paired with an infinitive.

(This is kind of like, but not the same as, how helping verbs come before principal verbs in compound tenses. What we're focusing on here is not, however, a compound tense; it is a simple tense combined with an infinitive. We're just pointing this out to show how two verbs can go together in one construction.)

We use this construction in all the simple tenses such as the present, preterite, imperfect, and subjunctive. But we are going to focus on the present tense in this lesson.

But before we learn the five verbs, let's take care of one important grammatical point.

When a verb is conjugated, any verb that follows it in the same phrase remains in the infinitive form, except when there is a list of verbs expressing several activities. Three of these verbs are stem-changing.

Quiero bailar y cantar. - I want to dance and sing.

Notice that the first verb is from querer, a stem-changing verb meaning to want,is conjugated and the second and third, meaning to dance and to sing, remain in the infinitive form. This is always the case in a phrase.

Verbs in a List?

In contrast to this, verbs that are in a list of activities areconjugated. For example:

Nosotros trabajamos, corremos, y comemos. - We work, run, and eat.

Because these are all activities that we (the subject)do, they are in a list of conjugated verbs.

Querer, Necesitar, Poder, Tener que, Ir a

Here are the five verbs expressing desires, needs, and intentions. Learn the present tense conjugations for each verb. First is the construction, then an example, then the present tense conjugation. (We recommend you review the concept of conjugation and how each part is ordered according to whether the subject is singular or plural.) You can buy one new or used online or in a bookstore, or may be able to locate one in your local library.

Querer - To want (querer is a stem-changing verb)

Querer + infinitive = To want to ______________.

Yo quiero nadar. - I want to swim.

querer - to want

quiero

quieres

quiere

queremos

queréis

quieren

Necesitar - To need

Necesitar + infinitive = To need to ______________.

Ella necesita limpiar el cuarto. - She needs to clean the room.

necesitar - to need

necesito

necesitas

necesita

necesitamos

necesitáis

necesitan

Poder - To be able, can (poder is a stem-changing verb)

Poder + infinitive = To be able to ______________.

Yo puedo arreglar el reloj. - I can fix the clock.

poder - to be able, can

puedo

puedes

puede

podemos

podéis

pueden

Tener - To have (tener is a stem-changing verb with an irregular yo form)

[Note: Tener can be used whenever we want to say have (or possess). However, this special construction is for whenever we want to say that someone has to do something. Then we use tener, conjugated, plus que and the infinitive.]

Tener que + infinitive = To have to ______________.

Tú tienes que enviar una carta. - You have to send a letter.

tener - to be have

tengo

tienes

tiene

tenemos

tenéis

tienen

Ir - To go

[Note: Ir can be used whenever we want to say go. However, this special construction is for whenever we want to say that someone is going to do something. Then we use ir, conjugated, plus a and then the infinitive.]

This is not actually the future tense, but can be used to talk about something that is going to happen in the future.

Ir a + infinitive = To be going to ______________.

Ustedes van a dormir en la casa. - You all are going to sleep in the house.

ir - to go

voy

vas

va

vamos

vais

van

Practice Exercises

A Use the verbs from the lesson in their correct form to finish these sentences. Most of them can be used interchangeably. Don't use the same one in every sentence so you can give yourself more practice. Watch the subject pronouns! With questions, do the same, but find the subject at the end. Remember that you has three different persons in Spanish, depending on the use.

1. Nosotros ________________________________ escuchar la música.
2. ¿ ________________________________ comprar los comestibles tú?
3. Yo ________________________________ abrir la puerta.
4. ¿ ________________________________ comer hoy ellos?
5. Él ________________________________ descansar en la silla.
6. Uds. ________________________________ ayudar a mi hermano.
7. ¿ ________________________________ escribir una carta nosotras?
8. Ella ________________________________ llamar a su madre.
9. Ud. ________________________________ llevar la maleta.
10. Ellas ________________________________ leer y estudiar el español.

B Using the lesson you have learned on expressing future intentions using ir, write the Spanish translation of the following sentences.

1. She is going to do homework. (hacer la tarea)

2. We are going to ski. (esquiar)

3. They are going to cook. (cocinar)

4. I am going to sleep. (dormir)

Answers

A 1) queremos, necesitamos, podemos, tenemos que, or vamos a; 2) quieres, necesitas, puedes, tienes que, or vas a; 3) quiero, necesito, puedo, tengo que, or voy a; 4) quieren, necesitan, pueden, tienen que, or van a; 5) quiere, necesita, puede, tiene que, or va a; 6) quieren, necesitan, pueden, tienen que, or van a; 7) queremos, necesitamos, podemos, tenemos que, or vamos a; 8) quiere, necesita, puede, tiene que, or va a; 9) quiere, necesita, puede, tiene que, or va a; 10) quieren, necesitan, pueden, tienen que, or van a

B 1) Ella va a hacer la tarea. 2) Nosotros vamos a esquiar. 3) Ellos van a cocinar. 4) Yo voy a dormir.