Perífrasis verbales

Acabo de llegar. No deja de llover

Verbal periphrasis are combinations of two verbs, that produce a special meaning. Some of them need a certain preposition, some don’t. Let’s have a look at five very common verbal periphrasis, that are used every day.

ponerse a

ponerse a hacer algo – to get to do something, to start doing something

Carlos se sentó y se puso a trabajar – Carlos sat down and got to work

El niño se puso a jugar – The child started playing

Nos pusimos a reír – We burst out laughing

In many situations ponerse a is a synonym of empezar a.

Try it yourself:

Miguel started speaking very fast

The girls started crying

When I get up, I start doing morning exercises

The guests started eating

dejar de

dejar de hacer algo – to quit doing something, to stop doing something

Rafa dejó de fumar – Rafa quit smoking

Dejé de trabajar y me puse a descansar – I stopped working and started resting

In many cases dejar de is a synonym to terminar de.

Try it yourself:

She stopped dancing

When are you going to stop calling me?

volver a

volver a hacer algo – to do something again, one more time

Volví a tener el mismo sueño – I had the same dream again

Te volvió a llamar Cristina – Cristina called you again

This verb construction replaces the adverb construction otra vez or una vez más.

Lo hice otra vez = Volví a hacerlo

Try it yourself:

I opened a bank account again

We saw Miguel again

Why don’t you try again?

acabar de

acabar de hacer algo – to do something just now

Acabo de entrar en casa – I’ve just come home

Acabamos de leer las noticias – We have just read the news

Although this construction is about something that has already happened, the verb acabar takes present tense forms.

Don’t say: Acabé de entrar en casa

Try it yourself:

I’ve just finished the book

The boss has just come into the office

soler

soler hacer algo – to do something usually

This verbal periphrasis is used instead of the adverb normalmente.

Normalmente duermo 8 horas = Suelo dormir 8 horas

It sometimes can be translated into English as to tend to do something or used to do something.

Suelo escuchar música en el metro – Usually I listen to music in the metro

Antes solíamos ver películas de acción – We used to watch action movies

Try it yourself:

Usually we travel in spring

Usually Maria doesn’t have breakfast