volver (a) + Infinitive
Doing Again: Volver (A)
Volver + infinitive means to do something again, as in Volveu chamar (He called again) and Non o volvas facer (Do not do it again). Both volver chamar and volver a chamar are standard.
How It Works
Two standard forms: the dictionary of the Galician Academy records volver (a) + infinitive. Volveu chamar and Volveu a chamar mean the same thing.
Forms of volver: present volvo, volves, volve, volvemos, volvedes, volven; preterite volvín, volviches, volveu, volvemos, volvestes, volveron. See the preterite of -er verbs.
Going back or doing again: with a place, volver means "to return": Volvo á casa (I am going back home). With an infinitive, it means "to do again": Volvo ler o libro (I am reading the book again).
Negative: with non or nunca máis it means "not ... again": Non volvas chegar tarde (Do not be late again), Nunca máis volvín comer alí (I never ate there again).
Pronouns appear once: attach the pronoun to the infinitive or place it with volver, never both: Mañá volvo intentalo (Tomorrow I will try it again), Non o volvas facer or Non volvas facelo. See pronouns in verb phrases.
Other ways to say "again": de novo and outra vez: Chamou outra vez (He called again).
Examples (6)
- Volveu chamar.
He called again.
Word by Word: Returned-he call.
- Non o volvas facer.
Do not do it again.
Word by Word: Not it return-you do.
Non pulls the pronoun o before volvas.
- Onte volveu a chover.
Yesterday it rained again.
Word by Word: Yesterday returned to rain.
The form with a means the same.
- Mañá volvo intentalo.
Tomorrow I will try again.
Word by Word: Tomorrow return-I try-it.
The pronoun joins the infinitive.
- Volvín ler o libro este verán.
I read the book again this summer.
Word by Word: Returned-I read the book this summer.
Volvín is the Galician eu form of the preterite.
- Cando volvemos a vernos?
When will we see each other again?
Word by Word: When return-we to see-us?
Common Mistakes
Using the Spanish preterite form.
Volví chamar ao médico.Volvín chamar ao médico.The eu preterite of -er verbs in Galician ends in -ín: volvín, comín, bebín.
Repeating the pronoun on both verbs.
Non o volvas a facelo.Non o volvas facer.The pronoun appears only once: Non o volvas facer or Non volvas facelo.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Volver with an infinitive expresses repetition of an action.
Related Patterns
- Pronouns in Verb Phrases
Explains where the pronoun goes in verb phrases like volver facelo.
Level 4 - Negative Commands
Non o volvas facer is a negative command.
Level 3 - Preterite of -er and -ir Verbs
The preterite forms volvín, volveu.
Level 2 - deixar de + InfinitiveStopping: Deixar De
Another pattern about the course of an action: stopping it.
Level 3 - seguir + GerundContinuing: Seguir + Gerund
Continuing an action, as opposed to repeating it.
Level 3 - poñerse / facerse / volverse / quedarVerbs of Becoming
Pronominal volverse means "to become", a different use of the same verb.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice volver (a) + Infinitive in Bubblegum
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