Periphrastic Constructions: High-Frequency Verb Phrases for Fluent Output

What Periphrastic Constructions Are (and Why They Matter)

In Spanish, a periphrastic construction (perrasis verbal) is a high-frequency verb phrase made of two (or more) verbs that function as one unit. Typically, you have a conjugated “helper” verb that carries tense/person, plus a non-finite verb (infinitive, gerund, or past participle) that carries the core action. Many periphrases also include a linking preposition (often a, de, or que).

These structures are essential for fluent output because they let you express time, intention, obligation, probability, progress, repetition, and change without needing rare vocabulary. If you can control a small set of periphrases, you can produce natural speech quickly: you stop searching for one “perfect” verb and instead build meaning with a reliable phrase.

Core building blocks

• Conjugated verb: sets person/tense (e.g., voy, tengo, estaba, llevo).
• Connector (optional): a, de, que, or none.
• Non-finite verb: infinitive (hacer), gerund (haciendo), or past participle (hecho).

Think of periphrases as “verb phrases you can plug into any topic.” You learn the phrase once, then swap the final verb to talk about anything.

Step-by-Step Method to Use Periphrases in Real Time

Step 1: Choose the meaning you need

Pick the communicative function: future plan, obligation, in progress, just happened, keep doing, end up doing, start doing, etc.

Step 2: Select the periphrasis template

Example templates:

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• ir a + infinitive (near future / intention)
• tener que + infinitive (obligation)
• estar + gerund (in progress)
• acabar de + infinitive (just did)
• volver a + infinitive (do again)

Step 3: Conjugate only the first verb

The first verb is the only one that changes for person/tense. The second verb stays as infinitive/gerund/participle.

Yo voy a llamar. Nosotros vamos a llamar. Ellos van a llamar.

Step 4: Add time markers and objects

Periphrases become fluent when you attach the practical details: when, where, who, what.

Voy a llamarte en cinco minutos. Tengo que enviar el informe hoy. Estoy buscando un apartamento cerca del metro.

Step 5: Use pronouns correctly (two common placements)

With many periphrases, object pronouns can go:

• Before the conjugated verb: Lo voy a comprar.
• Attached to the infinitive/gerund: Voy a comprarlo.

With gerunds, attachment is especially common: Estoy hacindolo / Lo estoy haciendo.

High-Frequency Periphrases with Infinitive

1) ir a + infinitive (near future, intention)

Use it for plans, intentions, and “about to” situations. It often feels more immediate than a simple future form.

• Voy a estudiar despus de cenar.
• Vas a venir mana?
• Vamos a hablar de eso luego.

Mini-drill (swap the final verb):

Voy a + llamar / pagar / salir / pedir / explicar / intentar

2) tener que + infinitive (obligation, “have to”)

Direct, everyday obligation. Stronger and more personal than “it is necessary.”

• Tengo que trabajar el sbado.
• Tenemos que decidir hoy.
• Tienes que hacerlo ahora?

Practical step: When you want to soften it, add a reason or a time window: Tengo que salir un momento, Tengo que terminarlo antes de las seis.

3) deber + infinitive (duty, recommendation, probability)

Deber is flexible. In many contexts it means “should” (recommendation). It can also signal probability (“must be” in the sense of “it’s probably”). Context and tone matter.

• Recommendation: Debes descansar ms.
• Probability: Deben de estar en casa.

In some varieties, deber de + infinitive is used more explicitly for probability, while deber + infinitive is used for obligation/recommendation. In everyday speech, you may hear overlap.

4) haber que + infinitive (general necessity: “one must / it’s necessary”)

This is impersonal: it does not blame or assign the duty to a specific person.

• Hay que ahorrar energa.
• Hay que tener paciencia.
• Para aprender, hay que practicar.

Contrast: Tengo que estudiar (my obligation) vs. Hay que estudiar (general rule).

5) empezar a / comenzar a + infinitive (to start doing)

Use when an action begins. Very common for narration and explanations.

• Empec a llover de repente.
• Comenzamos a trabajar a las ocho.

Tip: If you want “start” as a deliberate decision, add a subject and a reason: Empec a correr para estar en forma.

6) volver a + infinitive (to do again)

Perfect for repetition without extra vocabulary.

• Voy a volver a llamarte ms tarde.
• Volvieron a perder las llaves.

Common pairing: volver a intentar, volver a empezar, volver a preguntar.

7) dejar de + infinitive (to stop doing)

Signals that an activity ceases.

• Dej de fumar el ao pasado.
• Deja de decir eso.

Practical caution: Deja de + infinitive can sound like a command when used in imperative contexts. To soften: Podras dejar de hacer ruido?

8) acabar de + infinitive (to have just done)

Very high-frequency for recent past. It anchors time precisely.

• Acabo de llegar.
• Acabamos de ver a Marta.
• Acabas de decir eso?

Time expansion: Add hace for “just now”: Acabo de hablar con l hace un minuto.

9) estar a punto de + infinitive (to be about to)

Use for an action that is imminent.

• Estoy a punto de salir.
• Estban a punto de cancelar el vuelo.

Fluency trick: Combine with a reason: Estoy a punto de irme porque ya es tarde.

10) llegar a + infinitive (to manage to / to end up doing)

Expresses reaching a result after effort, time, or a process.

• Llegu a entender el problema.
• No llegamos a verlo.

Contrast: Pude hacerlo (I was able) vs. llegu a hacerlo (I managed to, after a process).

High-Frequency Periphrases with Gerund

1) estar + gerund (action in progress)

Use for what is happening around “now” or around a reference time.

• Estoy trabajando ahora.
• Estbamos esperando cuando llamaste.

Step-by-step for fast production:

• Choose the action: buscar.
• Make gerund: buscando.
• Conjugate estar: Estoy.
• Add details: Estoy buscando un hotel barato.

2) seguir + gerund (to keep doing)

Signals continuation. Great for persistence and routines.

• Sigo estudiando espaol.
• Seguimos esperando una respuesta.

Common add-ons: todava, an: Sigo trabajando / Sigo trabajando todava.

3) continuar + gerund (to continue doing)

Similar to seguir, slightly more formal. Useful in instructions and professional contexts.

• Contine leyendo, por favor.
• Continuamos analizando los datos.

4) ir + gerund (gradual change over time)

Expresses something that develops little by little.

• Voy mejorando mi pronunciacin.
• La situacin va cambiando.

Pattern: ir + gerund + time marker: Con el tiempo, voy entendiendo ms.

5) venir + gerund (ongoing trend from the past until now)

Highlights a process that has been happening and leads up to the present moment.

• Vengo pensando en eso desde ayer.
• Venimos trabajando en este proyecto desde marzo.

Useful pairings: venir diciendo, venir notando, venir aprendiendo.

Periphrases with Past Participle (Result/State)

1) llevar + past participle (to have something done/ready; completed amount)

Often used to express that a task is already completed (or partially completed) in a practical sense.

• Llevo hechas tres pginas.
• Llevamos revisado el documento.

Agreement note: The past participle can agree with the direct object when it functions adjectivally: las tengo listas, llevo hechas tres tareas. In many everyday contexts you will also hear less agreement, especially when the object is not explicit. For production, aim for agreement when the object is clearly stated and plural/feminine.

2) tener + past participle (to have something done; maintained result)

Focuses on the state of something as a result of an action.

• Tengo preparado el informe.
• Tenemos reservada una mesa.

Contrast with perfect tenses: This is not “I have done” as a tense; it is closer to “I have it done/ready.”

3) quedar + past participle (to end up; to be left; result after an event)

Very common for outcomes and states after something happens.

• Qued sorprendido.
• La puerta qued cerrada.
• Nos quedamos sin dinero.

Practical use: When narrating consequences: Hubo un error y el pedido qued cancelado.

Periphrases for Time Accumulation and Duration

1) llevar + time + gerund (to have been doing for…)

This is one of the most useful fluency tools for describing ongoing duration up to now.

• Llevo dos horas estudiando.
• Llevamos tres meses viviendo aqu.

Step-by-step template:

• Choose duration: una semana.
• Choose activity: practicar  practicando.
• Conjugate llevar: Llevo.
• Assemble: Llevo una semana practicando.

2) hacer + time + que + present (it’s been… since…)

Another high-frequency way to express “how long.”

• Hace un ao que trabajo aqu.
• Hace mucho que no hablamos.

Production tip: Use it when you want the time phrase first (common in conversation): Hace siglos que no veo esa serie.

How to Combine Periphrases for More Natural Speech

Fluent Spanish often stacks meaning by combining a periphrasis with another structure, while keeping the grammar simple.

Combination 1: intention + obligation

• Voy a tener que cancelar la reunin.
• Vamos a tener que hablar en serio.

Combination 2: recent past + next step

• Acabo de llegar y voy a ducharme.
• Acabamos de terminar y tenemos que enviar el archivo.

Combination 3: progress + gradual change

• Estoy aprendiendo y voy mejorando poco a poco.
• Estamos organizando todo y va quedando listo.

Common Errors and How to Fix Them

Error 1: Conjugating the second verb

Incorrect: Voy a llamo. Correct: Voy a llamar.

Rule: only the first verb is conjugated; the second stays infinitive/gerund/participle.

Error 2: Wrong connector (a/de/que)

Some periphrases require a specific preposition.

• ir a + infinitive: Voy a salir (not voy de salir).
• acabar de + infinitive: Acabo de comer (not acabo a comer).
• estar a punto de + infinitive: Estoy a punto de irme.

Fix strategy: Learn periphrases as full chunks: acabar de, tener que, volver a, dejar de.

Error 3: Misusing gerund for future intention

English speakers may say: “I’m going tomorrow” and try to map it directly.

Less natural: Estoy yendo mana. More natural: Voy a ir mana / Mana voy.

Use estar + gerund for actions in progress, not for scheduled future plans in most everyday contexts.

Error 4: Pronoun placement confusion

Both are often correct, but mixing them incorrectly causes hesitation.

• Lo voy a hacer / Voy a hacerlo.
• La estoy buscando / Estoy buscndola.

Fix strategy: Choose one placement as your default (many learners choose pronoun before the conjugated verb) and practice until automatic.

Practice Sets for Fluent Output (Plug-and-Play)

Set A: Daily life (10 fast sentences)

1) Voy a + (comprar / cocinar / llamar / limpiar) + hoy. 2) Tengo que + (estudiar / trabajar / pagar / escribir) + ahora. 3) Acabo de + (llegar / terminar / hablar / ver) + a alguien. 4) Estoy a punto de + (salir / empezar / dormir / decidir). 5) Sigo + (esperando / aprendiendo / buscando / pensando). 6) Voy + (mejorando / entendiendo / avanzando) + poco a poco. 7) Vengo + (diciendo / notando / pensando) + desde hace tiempo. 8) Volv a + (intentar / preguntar / llamar) + otra vez. 9) Dej de + (quejarte / gritar / fumar) + por favor. 10) Hay que + (practicar / organizarse / tener paciencia).

Set B: Work and study (role-ready phrases)

• Tenemos que revisar el presupuesto.
• Voy a enviar el correo ahora mismo.
• Estamos preparando la presentacin.
• Llevamos analizados cinco casos.
• Hay que confirmar la fecha.
• Venimos trabajando en esto desde abril.

Set C: Conversation upgrades (same idea, more natural)

Instead of single verbs, use periphrases to add nuance:

• Basic: Estudio espaol. Upgraded: Estoy estudiando espaol (right now) / Llevo meses estudiando espaol (duration) / Voy mejorando (gradual progress).
• Basic: No fumo. Upgraded: Dej de fumar (stopped) / Estoy dejando de fumar (in the process).
• Basic: Lo hago otra vez. Upgraded: Lo vuelvo a hacer.

Quick Reference: Meaning  Periphrasis

• Plan / near future: ir a + infinitive
• Obligation (personal): tener que + infinitive
• Recommendation / probability: deber (+ de) + infinitive
• General necessity: haber que + infinitive
• Start: empezar a + infinitive
• Stop: dejar de + infinitive
• Again: volver a + infinitive
• Just did: acabar de + infinitive
• About to: estar a punto de + infinitive
• In progress: estar + gerund
• Keep doing: seguir/continuar + gerund
• Gradual change: ir + gerund
• Ongoing trend from past: venir + gerund
• Have been doing (duration): llevar + time + gerund
• Result ready/done: tener/llevar + past participle
• Outcome/state: quedar + past participle