volver a + Infinitive
Do Again
Use 'volver a + infinitive' to say you are doing something again.
How It Works
In Spanish, to say that someone does something again, you can use the phrase 'volver a' followed by an infinitive. This is a very common and natural-sounding alternative to adding 'otra vez' (again) to the end of a sentence.
The structure is simple:
- Subject + conjugated 'volver' + a + infinitive
For example, instead of saying 'Leo el libro otra vez' (I read the book again), you can say 'Vuelvo a leer el libro'.
Remember that 'volver' is a stem-changing verb (o → ue) in the present tense (vuelvo, vuelves, vuelve, etc.), but it's regular in other tenses like the preterite (volví, volviste, volvió, etc.).
Examples (4)
- Vuelvo a leer el libro.
I'm reading the book again.
Word by Word: I return to read the book.
- Mi hermana volvió a perder sus llaves.
My sister lost her keys again.
Word by Word: My sister returned to lose her keys.
- ¿Puedes volver a decirlo más despacio?
Can you say it again more slowly?
Word by Word: Can you return to say it more slowly?
- Si llueve, volveremos a jugar adentro.
If it rains, we will play inside again.
Word by Word: If it rains, we will return to play inside.
Common Mistakes
Forgetting to include the preposition 'a'.
Vuelvo leer el libro.Vuelvo a leer el libro.The structure 'volver a + infinitive' always requires the preposition 'a' between the conjugated form of 'volver' and the infinitive verb.
Repeating 'again' with both 'volver a' and 'otra vez'.
Volvimos a ver la película otra vez.Volvimos a ver la película.'Volver a' already means 'to do again', so 'otra vez' repeats the idea. People do say it for emphasis, but careful writing keeps one: 'Volvimos a ver la película' or 'Vimos la película otra vez'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'volver a + infinitive', you need to know how to conjugate the stem-changing verb 'volver' using -er endings and understand how to use the preposition 'a' as a connector to a secondary action in its infinitive form.
- o→ueStem-Changing Verbs O→UE
The verb 'volver' is a stem-changing verb (o to ue), which is necessary to conjugate it correctly in the present tense.
Level 1 - a/de/en/con/sinBasic Prepositions
This pattern relies on the specific preposition 'a' to link the conjugated verb 'volver' with the following infinitive.
Foundations
Related Patterns
- ir + a + InfinitiveNear Future
This is another very common structure using a conjugated verb + 'a' + infinitive. While 'ir a' expresses the near future, 'volver a' expresses repetition.
Level 1 - acabar de + InfinitiveJust Did
Like 'volver a', this is a verbal periphrasis that uses a conjugated verb + preposition + infinitive to modify the meaning of an action. 'Acabar de' means 'to have just done' something.
Level 1 - dejar de + InfinitiveStop Doing
This pattern also uses a conjugated verb + preposition + infinitive. It expresses the opposite idea of 'volver a': 'dejar de' means 'to stop doing' something.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice volver a + Infinitive in Bubblegum
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