perífrasis verbal

Spanish

Noun

perífrasis verbal f (plural perífrasis verbales)

1. (grammar) construction with a semiauxiliary verb

   Ejemplos de perífrasis verbales son quiero hacer, salgo a comer, piensa en traer, acaba de revelar, sueña con terminar.

   Some examples of constructions with a semiauxiliary verb are quiero hacer ("I want to do"), salgo a comer ("I go out to eat"), piensa en traer ("s/he's thinking of bringing"), acaba de revelar ("s/he has just finished revealing"), sueña con terminar ("s/he dreams of finishing").

Further reading

• “perífrasis verbal”, in Diccionario de la lengua española (in Spanish), online version 23.7, Royal Spanish Academy, 2023 November 28