Overview of Infinitives in Spanish

As the most basic of verb forms, the Spanish infinitive is widely used, even more so than its English counterpart. Since it has some characteristics of both verbs and nouns, its usage can be quite flexible. Following are the most common uses of the infinitive, along with sample sentences and links to lessons. As the Subject of a Sentence When it functions as the subject of a sentence, the infinitive functions much as it does when used as the subject in an English sentence, although it is often translated using the English gerund. Thus the sentence Nadar es difà ­cil could be translated as either To swim is difficult (English infinitive) or Swimming is difficult (English gerund). Infinitives used as nouns are masculine. Usually, when the subject infinitive is used to refer to general situations, no definite article (in this case el) is needed (although some speakers optionally include it). But when referring to specific instances, the article is often used. Thus, el isnt used in the above sample sentence, but it is here: El nadar a travà ©s del rà ­o era un movimiento fatal. (Swimming across the river was a fatal move.) (El) fumar es una de las peores cosas que los nià ±os pueden hacer con sus cuerpos. Smoking is one of the worst things that children can do with their bodies.(El) votar es una obligacià ³n y un derecho. Voting is an obligation and a right. ¿De dà ³nde procede este comprender? Where does this understanding come from? As the Object of a Preposition The use of infinitives after prepositions is another example of them functioning as nouns. Although the rule isnt consistently applied, the use of the definite article is usually optional. Spanish infinitives coming after prepositions are almost always translated using the English gerund. El error està ¡ en pensar que el inglà ©s tiene las mismas estructuras que el espaà ±ol. The mistake is in thinking that English has the same structures as Spanish.El hombre fue expulsado de restaurante por comer demasiado. The man was kicked out of the restaurant for eating too much.Nacimos para estar juntos. We were born to be together. In Forming the Periphrastic Future   An infinitive can follow a present-tense form of ir a to form a very common type of future tense. Voy a cambiar el mundo. Im going to change the world. As a Substitute for the Subjunctive Mood   The most common sentence structure calling for use of the subjunctive mood is one in the form of subject main verb que subject subjunctive verb. However, if the two subjects in the sentence are the same, it is normal to drop the que and replace the second verb with an infinitive. This can be seen in a simple example: In Pablo quiere que Marà ­a salga (Pablo wants Mary to leave), the two subjects are different and the subjunctive is used. But if the subjects are the same, the infinitive is used: Pablo quiere salir. (Pablo wants to leave.) Note that the English infinitive is used in both translations; youd make a mistake to imitate English in that regard. Esperamos obtener mejores resultados. We hope to get better results. (With different subjects, the subjunctive would have been used: Esperan que obtengamos mejores resultados. They hope we get better results.)Yo preferirà ­a hablar con la pared. I would prefer to talk with the wall.Javier niega querer salir del Barcelona. Javier denies wanting to leave Barcelona. The infinitive may also substitute for the subjunctive following impersonal statements: No es necesario comprar un computador caro para realizar tareas sencillas. It isnt necessary to buy an expensive computer in order to accomplish simple tasks.No es probable ganar la loterà ­a. It isnt likely to win the lottery. Although generally the subjunctive is used following que when the main subject and the subordinate subject are different, an exception can occur with various verbs of influence such as dejar (to let), mandar (to mandate) and prohibir (to prohibit). In such sentences, the person performing the action is represented by an indirect-object pronoun. Desertà © porque me ordenaron matar a civiles. I deserted because they ordered me to kill civilians.Dà ©janos vivir en paz. Let us live in peace.Mis padres me prohibieron tener novio. My parents prohibited me from having a boyfriend.Le hicieron andar con los ojos vendados. They made him walk blindfolded. One way of analyzing the above sentences is to view the infinitive as the object of the main verb and the indirect object as representing the person affected by the main verbs action. To Follow Certain Verbs   Numerous verbs, too many to list here, are routinely followed by an infinitive. Structurally, the infinitive functions as an object of the verb, even though we may not think of it that way. Among these verbs are poder, which is usually thought of as an auxiliary verb. No puedo creer que su nombre no està ¡ en este reporte. I cant believe his name isnt in this report.Los cientà ­ficos lograron crear cà ©lulas del cerebro humano. The scientists succeeded in creating human brain cells.Los dos fingieron estar enfermos para ingresar al à ¡rea de emergencia del hospital. The two pretended to be sick in order to enter the hospital emergency room.Debemos cuidar el planeta Tierra. We ought to care for the planet Earth.Mi amiga no sabe estar sola. My friend doesnt know how to be alone. The verb phrases tener que and haber que are also followed by the infinitive. With Verbs of Perception In a sentence construction thats difficult to analyze, the infinitive can be used to indicate that someone was a witness (such as by hearing or seeing) to a completed action. Vimos volar un florero por la ventana. We saw a vase fly through the window.Nunca te vi estudiar. I never saw you study.Te oyeron cantar el himno. They heard you sing the hymn.

Knowledge vs. Ignorance Fahrenheit 451 - 1136 Words

Knowledge vs. Ignorance In fahrenheit 451 struggle revolves around the tension between knowledge and ignorance. Firemen destroy knowledge of all forms, books in perticlar. This doesn’t stop Montag though. He is given many struggles because he wants to learn. I feel like this is somewhat relevant to nowadays society. We faced with those who want to be knowledged but majority has turned to substance and have become consumed in it. Society in fahrenheit 451 is very similar to today’s society. The education system is at a falling point and ignorance is growing. What though should become more important substance or knowledge and growing to a person. Ignorance vs. knowledge is a very apparent theme in the Book â€Å"Fahrenheit 451. It is†¦show more content†¦Montag feels at the begining of the novel that the communication is greatly lacking in society. People are becoming very ignorant and turning reallife realationships aside. They now turn to their tv families. One victim of neglecting real life realtionships is Mildred, Montags wife. Montag truley hates this. Nobody listens any more. I cant talk to the walls because theyre yelling at me. I cant talk to my wife; she listens to the walls. I just want someone to hear what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough, itll make sense. And I want you to teach me to understand what I read. (2.125). Montag hopes that his wife and him can rejoin their connection through the books, but is sadly wrong and must find some one else, Faber. Montag sensed it was a rhymeless poem. Then the man grew even more courageous and said something else and that was a poem, too. Faber held his hand over his left coat pocket and spoke these words gently, and Montag knew if he reached out, he might pull a book of poetry from the mans coat. But he did not reach out. His hands stayed on his knees, numbed and useless. I dont talk things, sir, said Faber. I talk the meaning of things. I sit here and know Im alive. (2.36) This quotes broke down states that books hold value for Faber only in so far as they apply to life. He believes that humanShow MoreRelatedFahrenheit 451 Comparison Essay1698 Words   |  7 Pagestransgender rights as can be seen in the 21st century, or fighting to be considered a free man as can be seen in the 19th century. This fight can be seen throughout history books and literary classics such as Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. In Fahrenheit 451, the main character, Guy Montag i s fighting against the technological revolution taking place in the 23rd century. He battles with a society full of censorship, where everyone is too caught up with their newRead MoreThe Characters Of Ignorance In Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury753 Words   |  4 Pages In the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, ignorance is depicted by most of the characters, such as Mildred and Captain Beatty. Their entire society is seen as narrow-minded and very ignorant and theyre forbidden to read books and be able to learn, therefore all the information they know is from the news, which isnt always accurate. Society is set up that people have what they need to be considered happy. Things are told to people the way they want it to be known, and the peoples minds dontRead MoreTruth vs Happiness Fahrenheit 4511272 Words   |  6 PagesTruth vs. Happiness Essay (Fahrenheit 451- Ray Bradbury) Submitted on Wednesday, March 27th Submitted By: William Would you rather be happy in your life and live in ignorance or would you rather live your life with more of a purpose? Even if that purpose means doing things that most people would frown upon. This is one of the conflicts the characters face in the book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Fahrenheit 451 is a book about a fireman named Guy Montag. In his society fireman start firesRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book The Hearth 1674 Words   |  7 Pagespython spitting its venomous kerosene upon the world, ....all the symphonies helmet numbered 451 on his stolid head, and his eyes all orange flame with the thought of what came next, he flicked the igniter and the house jumped in a gorging fire that burned the evening sky red and yellow and black. (Fahrenheit, 3) and his black bettle-colored helmet and shined it; he hung his flameproof jacket (Fahrenheit, 4). We can clearly see in the beginning of the book that he is conformed into his society duringRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Batman And T he Dark Knight Rises Essay731 Words   |  3 PagesThere are five types of conflict that a character can experience: Person vs. Person, Person vs. Society, Person vs. God/Fate/ Destiny, Person vs. Self, and Person vs. Nature or Technology. Person vs. Person is conflict in which one character will oppose or be opposed by another character and an example of this is Creed where Adonis Creed fights Ricky Conlan so that Adonis can be the heavyweight champion. Person vs. Society is conflict in which a character and the society that he/she lives in areRead MoreDifferent Types Of Conflicts That One Could Go Through2328 Words   |  10 PagesThere are five different types of conflicts that one could go through, and they are: Person vs. Person, Person vs. Society, Person vs. God/Fate/ Destiny, Person vs. Self, and Person vs. Nature or Technology. Person vs. Person is where one character is in an opposition with another character and an example of this is Creed where Adonis Creed fights Ri cky Conlan so Adonis can be the heavyweight champion. Person vs. Society where one is opposed to the society that he/she lives in or its laws, so the exampleRead MoreEffects Of Censorship In Fahrenheit 4511179 Words   |  5 Pagesshe now you ask? She knew too much†¦ Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is a novel which considers the different people in society today, those who are informed and those who aren’t. An Informed Citizen is somebody who can see how the media censors what society can see and what knowledge they can gain. Clarisse McClellan was seen as an informed citizen in fahrenheit 451, her attitudes and sense towards society show us how being an individual and using the knowledge we gain is an important. By becomingRead MoreFahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury1325 Words   |  6 PagesThe book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is about a â€Å"hero† Guy Montag that realizes his world isn’t as it seemed before. The main character, Montag is a firefighter but in Montag’s society firefighters set fires and they burn books that people have banned instead of putting out fires since all their houses are fireproof so there is no need to be a normal firefighter that puts out fire. Clarisse, an almost 17 year old girl , helped Montag to stop and look around. Clarisse seems to represents natureRead MoreFahrenheit 451 Gattaca Comparative Study - Historical Context2281 Words   |  10 Pagesconcerns and the possibility of the dystopias that are developed as a result. This is demonstrated in the novel Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury and the film Gattaca, directed by Andrew Niccol. Both of these composers illustrate their fears for the fate of their society through the structural and language features of their texts. Ray Bradbury explores the value of using knowledge and independent thinking rather than blindly following the ‘rules’, without a second thought or question. Andrew

Cigs Essay Example For Students

Cigs Essay Intro: Today I would like to inform you why cigarettes are bad, and why you shouldnt smoke. Did you know that smoking related deaths total up to the #1 cause of death in peoples. Not only can it effect you personally but it can also harm others around you. Main Idea I: Why do people even start smoking?1.) Some start young because they think its coola.) They may see older people do it. b.) Maybe their friends smoke and they want to fit in. c.) Some just want to impress the opposite sex. 2.) Access is sometimes is very easy. a.) Their Parents are smokers and they can easily steal them from their pack. Main Idea II: Here are some ways to quit smoking. 1.) There is a patch, which sends nicotine through your skin,2.) Nicorett Gum is where you chew and the nicotine goes through you walls of your mouth. 3.) Some may believe the best way though is to go Cold Turkeya.) This is where you use mental will to cut off all nicotine intakes until your body is no longer addicted to it. Main Idea III: Why would you want to quit smoking?1.) The whole idea is to respect your body. The more you respect your body the healthier you will be. Being Healthy makes you more attractive. 2.) Second hand smoke can be harmful to others. a.) People breath in carbon monoxide with the exhaled smoke. b.) When you smoke your cigarettes, they burn so it is like the people with you are breathing it in too. 3.) Quitting smoking makes since for how they effect your life span. a.) It takes 10 marijuana cigarettes to equal 1-tobacco cigarettes. b.) Every cigarette takes 10 min off your life. Therefore one pack would take 200 min of your life. On pack a day for a week is 1400 min and 35 dollars. In one year that is 72800 min and $1, 825. Conclusion: As you can see, smoking doesnt exhibit and positive effects for your life. It may seem good for the time but when you are diagnosed with cancer it wont be cool to go through Chemotherapy. Bibliography:

Aeneas the Hero free essay sample

The character of Aeneas as a hero In Book ii of the Aeneid, all of the soldiers of Troy perish except the character of Aeneas, his son Ascanius, and his father Anchises. The character of Aeneas emerges as a hero during his escape from Troy in Book ii of The Aeneid. This book opens with Aeneas arriving at the homeland of Dido. Aeneas arrives and all attention was directed towards him. Aeneas saddened and heartbroken by the things that he encountered and saw in the fall of his own kingdom Troy grieved sorrow. Aeneas a strong believer in the ways of the gods searched for answers. In a dream a fellow warrior Hector appears to Aeneas as a ghost. The appearance of Hector’s ghost tells Aeneas what he must do. â€Å"Give up and Go, child of the goddess, save yourself, out of these flames. The enemy holds the city walls, and from her height Troy falls in ruin. We will write a custom essay sample on Aeneas the Hero or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page †(ii: 387-390)†Her holy things, her gods of hearth and household Troy commends to you. Accept them as companions of your days; Go find for them the great walls that one day you’ll dedicate, when you have roamed the sea. †(ii: 393-397) Aeneas wanting to kill Dido knew that â€Å"no glory comes of punishing a woman the feat can bring no honor. (ii: 765766) He still wanted to appease himself for the deed for the feeling of vengeance of his people. His mother Venus came to him â€Å"immortal, tall and lovely as the lords of heaven know her. †(ii: 776777) Venus â€Å"pulling back the veil† (ii: 795) she holds him back and reveals to him what he must do. Venus is telling him not to let his anger take control of him and stay away from his â€Å"thoughtfulness of her and the rest of his family. †(ii:781)†Aeneas must return to where he left his father, and find out if his wife, Creusa lives, as well as his son young Ascanius. The appearance of Creusa’s ghost â€Å"larger than life, before me caused Aeneas’s hair to rise and the voice clot in his throat. †(ii: 1003-1005)Creusa speaking to Aeneas relaxed him. She told him to let go of his anger and grief. She tells him that everything that happened was the will of the gods. You have plenty of unfinished work to do. There is a place for you to arrive and claim your kingdom and new queen. Many await you, â€Å"new refugees in a great crowd: men and women gathered for exile, young pitiful people† (ii: 10361037) ready to follow to wherever my lead carries them. Determined to make it, â€Å"even with no sign of help Aeneas picked up his father and turned toward the mountain range. †(1043-1046) Brave and consistent Aeneas never gave up on his quest for a place to start a new kingdom. Faced with so many trials and disappointments as well as lost of love ones he continued his journey. Keeping his faith in the gods and devotion to his family he emerged as a hero to the people of Troy giving them the will to go on and follow his lead in search of new walls for Troy.