The Infinitive & Conjugation

Summary

In this Spanish Quickie video, Jordan introduces the concept of infinitive verbs and conjugation in both English and Spanish. He explains that the infinitive is the base form of a verb, while conjugation involves changing the verb's form to match the subject. Jordan clarifies that in Spanish, infinitive verbs end in -ar, -er, or -ir, and emphasizes the importance of understanding these basics to avoid confusion in language learning. The video also touches on the use of infinitives alongside conjugated verbs in sentences and hints at a future lesson on the verb 'to be'. Jordan encourages viewers to subscribe for more language tips and resources.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video aims to clarify the concepts of infinitive verbs and conjugation in Spanish, which can be confusing for beginners.
• 🌐 'Infinitive verb' refers to the original form of a verb before it is conjugated, which is essential for understanding verb tenses and usage.
• 🔍 In Spanish, infinitive verbs are recognizable by their endings: -ar, -er, or -ir, which is a simple way to identify them.
• 🔄 Conjugation involves changing a verb's form to match the subject of a sentence, similar to the process in English.
• 👤 The speaker shares a personal anecdote about struggling with these concepts in high school, emphasizing the importance of clear explanations.
• 📝 English infinitive verbs are formed by adding 'to' before the verb, e.g., 'to work', 'to eat', which is a basic rule to remember.
• 📉 The video intentionally avoids specific examples of Spanish conjugation to keep the focus on the general concept, suggesting that details can be complex.
• 📈 Verb conjugation charts are introduced as a tool to organize and learn the different forms a verb can take in both English and Spanish.
• 📊 These charts typically have two columns for singular and plural forms and three rows for first, second, and third person, providing a structured way to learn.
• 🚫 Not all verbs need to be conjugated; sometimes they are used in their infinitive form, especially when two verbs are used consecutively in a sentence.
• 💡 The video highlights the importance of understanding 'to be' as a verb, which has unique conjugated forms and will be covered in a future lesson.
• 📧 The speaker invites viewers to subscribe to the Gringo Español mailing list for more resources and support in learning Spanish.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is to explain what an infinitive verb is in Spanish and how to identify them, as well as to introduce the concept of conjugation without going into specifics.

Why did the speaker fail Spanish originally?

The speaker failed Spanish originally because the teacher used terms like 'infinite' and 'conjugation' without explaining what they meant, which left the speaker confused from the start.

What is an infinitive verb according to the video?

An infinitive verb is the original form of a verb before it is conjugated.

How does conjugation work in English?

Conjugation in English involves changing the form of a verb depending on the subject, such as 'I eat', 'you eat', and 'he eats'.

What does the infinitive form of a verb look like in English?

In English, the infinitive form of a verb always has the word 'to' followed by the verb itself, such as 'to work', 'to eat', 'to sleep'.

How do Spanish infinitive verbs differ from English in terms of their form?

Spanish infinitive verbs end in either 'ar', 'er', or 'ir', unlike English where they are preceded by 'to'.

What are the three endings that Spanish infinitive verbs typically have?

Spanish infinitive verbs typically end in 'ar', 'er', or 'ir'.

Why does the speaker avoid giving examples of Spanish conjugation in this video?

The speaker avoids giving examples of Spanish conjugation because it's a complex topic and the focus of the video is to clarify the concepts of infinitive verbs and conjugation in general.

How are conjugations organized in a chart for both English and Spanish?

Conjugations are organized in a chart with two columns for singular and plural forms and three rows for first, second, and third person forms.

What is the purpose of the conjugation chart mentioned in the video?

The conjugation chart is used to organize all the different forms of a verb in a systematic way for easier learning and reference.

How does the use of infinitive verbs in English compare to their use in Spanish?

In both English and Spanish, infinitive verbs are sometimes used without conjugation, especially when two verbs are next to each other, and the first is conjugated while the second remains in its infinitive form.

Why is the verb 'to be' considered important and mentioned separately in the video?

The verb 'to be' is considered important because it is a fundamental verb in both English and Spanish, and its conjugated forms are used frequently in sentences.

What additional resources are available for vocabulary from the video?

Any vocabulary word mentioned in the video is added to the Word Lists available for download at gringoespanol.com/downloads/