Lesson 46 · Usage
Teach
Fill it in 5
Say it 3
Review 4
After a preposition, the infinitive
sin decir nada
Say these out loud
Why it works
Where English uses -ing after a preposition, Spanish uses the plain infinitive.
Antes de salir, después de comer, sin decir nada, para empezar.
The gerund never follows a preposition. Sin diciendo is not Spanish.
Why not sin diciendo
salí sin diciendo nada
I left without saying nothing
A direct copy of English. Spanish needs the infinitive: sin decir.
In a full sentence
Salí de la reunión sin decir nada.
I left the meeting without saying anything.
After sin, Spanish uses the infinitive.
Él salió de la oficina sin decir nada.
He left the office without saying anything.
After sin, Spanish uses the infinitive.
Antes de salir, llamé a mi casero.
Before leaving, I called my landlord.
After antes de, Spanish uses the infinitive.
Antes de salir, ella apagó el ordenador.
Before leaving, she turned off the computer.
After antes de, Spanish uses the infinitive.
5 gaps to fill, then 3 sentences from the English · say or type each one