Verbs — use of the infinitive, gerund and past participle; verbal paraphrases (ir a, estar +, acabar de, estar para, llevar +, ir +, venir +) — WJEC A-Level Spanish

This topic covers the use of non-finite verb forms—the infinitive, gerund, and past participle—in Spanish, along with key verbal paraphrases (perífrasis verbales) such as 'ir a', 'estar + gerundio', 'acabar de', 'estar para', 'llevar + gerundio', 'ir + gerundio', and 'venir + gerundio'. These structures are essential for expressing nuanced actions, ongoing processes, imminent events, and duration. Mastering them allows you to move beyond simple present and past tenses, enabling more natural and sophisticated communication.

For WJEC A-Level Spanish, these forms are tested in both receptive (reading/listening) and productive (writing/speaking) skills. They appear in translation exercises, essay writing, and oral discussions. Understanding the subtle differences between similar paraphrases (e.g., 'estar + gerundio' vs. 'ir + gerundio') is crucial for achieving higher marks. This topic also reinforces your grasp of verb conjugation and sentence structure, forming a foundation for advanced grammar.

In the wider curriculum, these structures link to the study of time frames, aspect, and mood. They are frequently used in literary texts, news articles, and everyday speech. By learning them, you will be able to describe actions with precision, express duration, and convey nuances like regret ('acabar de') or imminence ('estar para'). This knowledge directly supports your ability to analyse authentic materials and produce coherent, fluent Spanish.

• →Infinitive: Used after prepositions (e.g., 'antes de + inf'), as a noun (e.g., 'Fumar es malo'), and in periphrases like 'ir a + inf' (near future) and 'acabar de + inf' (just done).
• →Gerund: Formed by adding -ando/-iendo to the stem; used with 'estar' for continuous actions (e.g., 'Estoy estudiando'), and with 'ir', 'venir', 'llevar' to show gradual or ongoing processes.
• →Past participle: Regular forms end in -ado/-ido; used in perfect tenses (e.g., 'he comido'), passive voice ('ser + participio'), and as adjectives. Must agree in gender/number when used with 'ser' or as an adjective.
• →Verbal paraphrases: 'Ir a + inf' expresses intention or near future; 'estar + gerundio' is present continuous; 'acabar de + inf' means 'to have just done'; 'estar para + inf' indicates something is about to happen; 'llevar + gerundio' shows duration; 'ir + gerundio' suggests gradual accumulation; 'venir + gerundio' implies a continuous action from past to present.
• →Distinction between similar structures: 'Estar + gerundio' focuses on an action in progress at a specific moment, while 'ir + gerundio' emphasises a gradual process over time. 'Llevar + gerundio' requires a time expression (e.g., 'Llevo dos horas estudiando').

• Correct use of definite articles (el, la, los, las)
• Correct use of indefinite articles (un, una, unos, unas)
• Correct application of 'el' before feminine nouns beginning with a stressed 'a' (e.g., el agua, el alma)
• Correct use of 'lo + adjective' to express abstract concepts (e.g., lo importante, lo bueno)

• 💡Remember that 'el agua' is feminine despite the masculine article; adjectives modifying it must remain feminine (e.g., el agua fría)
• 💡Use 'lo + adjective' to add sophistication to your writing when discussing abstract concepts or opinions
• 💡Check for stressed 'a' at the start of feminine nouns to avoid the common 'la' error
• 💡In translation tasks, pay close attention to time markers. For example, 'acabo de' requires the infinitive, while 'llevo' requires the gerund and a time expression. Missing these triggers loses marks.
• 💡When writing essays, vary your use of verbal paraphrases to demonstrate range. Instead of always using the simple future, use 'ir a + inf' for near future plans. Instead of 'estaba', use 'estaba + gerundio' to set the scene.
• 💡For the speaking exam, practise using 'llevar + gerundio' to describe how long you have been studying a topic, and 'acabar de + inf' to talk about recent events. This shows natural fluency.

• Using 'la' instead of 'el' before feminine nouns starting with a stressed 'a'
• Confusing 'lo' with masculine articles (el/un) when referring to abstract ideas
• Incorrect agreement of articles with nouns
• Using the gerund after prepositions: In Spanish, the infinitive is used after prepositions, not the gerund. For example, 'antes de salir' (not 'antes de saliendo').
• Confusing 'acabar de' with 'acabar + gerundio': 'Acabar de + inf' means 'to have just done something', while 'acabar + gerundio' (though rare) means 'to end up doing something'. The former is far more common and exam-relevant.
• Overusing 'estar + gerundio' for all ongoing actions: In Spanish, the simple present can also express ongoing actions (e.g., 'Estudio español' can mean 'I am studying Spanish right now'). Use 'estar + gerundio' only when emphasising the action in progress at the moment of speaking.