Ir a infinitive: The Ultimate Guide to Enhancing Your Language Skills

Introduction

Ir a infinitive is a grammatical construction that plays a crucial role in Spanish conjugation. It allows you to express various actions, intentions, and events. Understanding and using ir a infinitive correctly is essential for effective communication in the Spanish language.

Understanding the Basics

Ir a infinitive consists of the verb ir (to go) followed by the infinitive of another verb. For example:

English	Spanish
I am going to sing	Yo voy a cantar
We are going to study	Nosotros vamos a estudiar

Benefits of Using Ir a infinitive

1. Expressing Future Intentions:

Ir a infinitive is commonly used to express future intentions or plans. According to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), approximately 80% of future actions in Spanish are expressed using ir a infinitive.

English	Spanish
I will travel next month	Voy a viajar el mes que viene
They are going to get married soon	Ellos van a casarse pronto

2. Describing Scheduled Events:

Ir a infinitive can also be used to describe scheduled events or appointments.

English	Spanish
The meeting is going to start at 10 a.m.	La reunión va a empezar a las 10 de la mañana
The doctor's appointment is going to be at 3 p.m.	La cita con el médico va a ser a las 3 de la tarde

How to Use Ir a infinitive

1. Choosing the Correct Tense:

Ir a infinitive uses the present tense of ir for future actions and the preterite tense for past actions.

English	Spanish
I am going to eat	Voy a comer
I was going to call you	Iba a llamarte

2. Using Pronouns:

Pronouns can be placed before or after ir, but they are typically placed after ir when it is followed by the infinitive.

English	Spanish
I am going to meet her	Voy a encontrarla
They are going to meet me	Van a encontrarme

Ir a infinitive: The Ultimate Guide to Enhancing Your Language Skills