What is a Verbal Periphrasis?

 

In Spanish we form a verbal periphrasis to express a single idea by using two verbs in the same sentence, in a similar way in English we use Phrasal verbs. Their usual structure is: Auxiliary verb + nexus (might not be present) + verb (impersonal form). The different types of verbal periphrasis are:

 

• Obligation: Tener que/ Deber/ Haber de / Haber que + Infinitive
• Probability: Venir a / Deber de + Infinitive
• Possibility: Poder + Infinitive
• Imminent action: Ir a / Estar por / Estar a punto de + Infinitive
• Inchoative: Ponerse a / Romper a / Comenzar a / Echarse a / Empezar a + Infinitive
• Frequency: Soler + Infinitive
• Repetition: Volver a + Infinitive
• Continuity: Estar / Andar / Venir / Ir/ Seguir + Gerund
• Ending: Dejar de, acabar de, terminar de/ llegar a/ cesar de + Infinitive
• Ending: Traer / Dejar / Quedar / Estar / Tener / Llevar / Verse / Sentirse + Participle

 

Eg.

            Tienes que concentrarte en tus deberes (You must concentrate on your homework)

            Iba a salir ahora (I was about to leave now)

            No volveré a ir allí (I won’t go there any more)