Doing it again (`volver a` + infinitive)
volver a + infinitive to naturally describe repeated actions instead of constantly relying on otra vez.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'volver a' + infinitive to express that an action is being repeated or done once more.
- Use 'volver a' followed by the infinitive of the main verb: 'Volví a leer el libro' (I read the book again).
- The verb 'volver' conjugates according to the subject, while the second verb remains in the infinitive form.
- It cannot be used for future events that haven't happened yet; it implies a previous occurrence.
Overview
Spanish, like any language, offers various ways to express the repetition of an action. While adverbs such as otra vez (again) or de nuevo (anew) serve this purpose, the verbal periphrasis volver a + infinitive is a deeply ingrained and idiomatic structure that native speakers frequently employ. This construction signifies that an action is reiterated, repeated, or resumed after a pause.
Mastering volver a + infinitive moves you beyond basic repetition, allowing for a more nuanced and natural expression of recurring events in Spanish.
At a B2 level, you're expected to navigate complex linguistic structures and communicate effectively in various situations. Understanding volver a is crucial because it often implies a sense of recurrence or a return to a previous state or activity, which otra vez doesn't always convey with the same nuance. It reflects a linguistic economy, embedding the concept of repetition directly into the verbal structure rather than relying solely on an appended adverb.
How This Grammar Works
Volver a + infinitive operates as a verbal periphrasis, a grammatical construction where two or more verbs function together as a single verbal unit, conveying a specific meaning or aspect not easily expressed by a single verb or simple adverb. In this periphrasis, the verb volver (to return) acts as an auxiliary, losing its literal meaning of physical movement. Instead, it signifies the repetition or resumption of the action expressed by the accompanying infinitive.volver a + infinitive is to denote iterative aspect, emphasizing that the action of the infinitive is happening once more, or has happened before. Think of it as the Spanish equivalent of the English prefix "re-" in words like "redo," "re-examine," or "restart." The preposition a is indispensable; it serves as a crucial link, binding the auxiliary volver to the main action expressed by the infinitive. Without a, the construction is grammatically incorrect, and its meaning is lost.otra vez, volver a inherently carries the meaning of "to do again" within its structure. For instance, Vuelvo a leer el libro (I am reading the book again) implies a resumption or a re-engagement with the act of reading the specific book, rather than just stating that you performed the action of reading at another time. This nuanced usage makes the periphrasis a powerful tool for expressing complex temporal and aspectual relationships.Formation Pattern
volver a + infinitive is straightforward, but it requires precise attention to the conjugation of volver and the consistent use of the preposition a. The structure is always: Volver (conjugated) + a + Infinitive (unconjugated).
Volver is an o > ue stem-changing verb in the present tense, present subjunctive, and imperative moods for certain forms. Remember to apply this stem change where necessary. The infinitive verb that follows a always remains in its base form (e.g., comer, hablar, escribir).
volver conjugation in common tenses, followed by an infinitive example:
volver | Ejemplo | Traducción |
vuelvo | Yo vuelvo a estudiar español. | I study Spanish again. |
vuelves | ¿Vuelves a salir tan tarde? | Are you going out so late again? |
vuelve | Él vuelve a trabajar en la empresa. | He works at the company again. |
volvemos | Nosotros volvemos a vernos pronto. | We'll see each other again soon. |
volvéis | Vosotros volvéis a hacer ruido. | You all make noise again. |
vuelven | Ellos vuelven a pedir pizza. | They order pizza again. |
volver | Ejemplo | Traducción |
volví | Volví a llamar a mi madre. | I called my mother again. |
volviste | ¿Por qué volviste a mentirme? | Why did you lie to me again? |
volvió | El sistema volvió a fallar. | The system failed again. |
volvimos | Anoche volvimos a cenar juntos. | Last night we had dinner together again. |
volvisteis | Volvisteis a ver esa película. | You all watched that movie again. |
volvieron | Volvieron a ganar el campeonato. | They won the championship again. |
volver | Ejemplo | Traducción |
volvía | Antes volvía a leer el mismo libro. | I used to read the same book again. |
volvías | Siempre volvías a preguntar lo mismo. | You always asked the same thing again. |
volvía | Cuando era niño, volvía a jugar con bloques. | When he was a child, he played with blocks again. |
volver | Ejemplo | Traducción |
volveré | Volveré a intentar mañana. | I will try again tomorrow. |
volverás | ¿Volverás a viajar el próximo año? | Will you travel again next year? |
volverá | Ella volverá a visitar a sus abuelos. | She will visit her grandparents again. |
volver | Ejemplo | Traducción |
volvería | Yo volvería a hacerlo si pudiera. | I would do it again if I could. |
volverías | ¿Volverías a comer ese plato tan picante? | Would you eat that spicy dish again? |
volver | Ejemplo | Traducción |
vuelva | Espero que no vuelva a llover. | I hope it doesn't rain again. |
vuelvas | Quiero que vuelvas a intentar. | I want you to try again. |
vuelva | No es posible que vuelva a suceder. | It's not possible that it happens again. |
volver | Ejemplo | Traducción |
vuelve | ¡Vuelve a leer las instrucciones! | Read the instructions again! |\
vuelva | ¡No vuelva a llamarme! | Don't call me again! |\
volved | ¡Volved a revisar el informe! | Review the report again! |\
vuelvan | ¡No vuelvan a cometer el mismo error! | Don't make the same mistake again! |
volver a with a reflexive verb, the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) can precede the conjugated volver or be attached to the infinitive. Both are correct and common, though attaching to the infinitive is often preferred in formal contexts or when the sentence flow benefits.
Me vuelvo a duchar. (I shower again.)
Vuelvo a ducharme. (I shower again.)
no before the conjugated form of volver.
No vuelvo a fumar. (I don't smoke again / I stopped smoking again.)
Ella no volvió a mencionar el tema. (She didn't mention the topic again.)
When To Use It
volver a + infinitive makes it indispensable for expressing a wide array of repeated actions. Its primary function is to indicate that an action, state, or event is re-occurring or resuming. Here are the key scenarios where you'll find it most appropriate:- Unintentional Repetition: When an action happens again by accident or unconsciously.
Siempre vuelvo a olvidar las llaves.(I always forget the keys again.)¡Se me volvió a quemar la cena!(My dinner got burned again!)
- Intentional Resumption/Restart: After a pause, an action is deliberately resumed. This is very common for habits or activities that were interrupted.
Después de las vacaciones, volví a ir al gimnasio.(After vacation, I went to the gym again.)Hemos vuelto a hablar después de años.(We've started talking again after years.)
- Habitual or Cyclical Actions: For events that regularly repeat, often implying a pattern.
Cada invierno, vuelve a nevar con fuerza.(Every winter, it snows heavily again.)Vuelve a ser lunes.(It's Monday again.) – A common phrase on social media.
- Emphasis, Warning, or Prohibition: Particularly in the imperative or negative forms, it conveys a strong admonition or a definitive stop to a recurring undesirable action.
¡No vuelvas a llegar tarde!(Don't be late again!)Si vuelves a gritar, nos vamos.(If you shout again, we're leaving.)
- Technological Contexts: Describing system reboots, errors, or re-accessing digital content.
El ordenador volvió a colgarse.(The computer froze again.)Para reiniciar la aplicación, vuelve a hacer clic aquí.(To restart the application, click here again.)
- Emotional or Personal Recurrence: When describing feelings or situations that re-emerge.
Volvió a sentir la misma tristeza.(She felt the same sadness again.)Cuando escucho esa canción, vuelvo a ser adolescente.(When I hear that song, I'm a teenager again.)
volver a + infinitive from actions that are inherently continuous or unique. You wouldn't say *vuelvo a vivir (I live again) for simply continuing to live, as living is an ongoing state. However, you might say vuelvo a vivir en Madrid if you had lived there before, moved away, and then returned to live there.Common Mistakes
volver a + infinitive. Recognizing these pitfalls is key to achieving native-like fluency.- Omitting the Preposition
a: This is arguably the most common mistake. Theais not optional; it’s an integral part of the periphrasis. Without it, the phrase becomes ungrammatical or changes meaning entirely. - Incorrect:
*Vuelvo comer. - Correct:
Vuelvo a comer.(I eat again.) - Explanation:
Volverwithoutatypically implies a physical return.Vuelvo a casa(I return home). Combiningvolverdirectly with an infinitive withoutacreates an incomplete verbal structure.
- Confusing
volver awithvolver de:Volver dealways refers to returning from a physical location. Do not use it for repeating actions. - Incorrect:
*Volvió de estudiar.(He returned from studying – implying studying is a place.) - Correct:
Volvió a estudiar.(He studied again.) - Correct:
Volvió de la universidad.(He returned from university.)
- Forgetting
o > ueStem Change:Volveris an irregular verb in certain present tense forms. Failing to apply the stem change (otoue) results in ungrammatical conjugations. - Incorrect:
Yo volvo.Tú volves. - Correct:
Yo vuelvo.Tú vuelves.
- Using a Gerund Instead of an Infinitive: The periphrasis strictly requires an infinitive. Using a gerund (
-ando,-iendo) is incorrect. - Incorrect:
*Vuelvo a comiendo. - Correct:
Vuelvo a comer.(I eat again.)
- Redundant use with
otra vez: WhileVolví a hacerloandLo hice otra vezboth mean "I did it again," combining them can be redundant and sound unnatural. - Less natural/Redundant:
*Volví a hacerlo otra vez. - Better:
Volví a hacerlo.ORLo hice otra vez.
- Misplacing Reflexive Pronouns: When
volver ais used with a reflexive verb, the pronoun has specific placement rules. - Incorrect:
*Vuelvo me a duchar. - Correct:
Me vuelvo a duchar.ORVuelvo a ducharme. - Explanation: The reflexive pronoun must either precede the conjugated auxiliary verb (
volver) or attach to the infinitive.
- Using
volver afor Simple Physical Return: The periphrasis is for action repetition, not just for a person or object physically returning somewhere. If a friend returns from a trip, you usevolveralone (e.g.,Mi amigo vuelve de México). Only if they go on a trip again would you use the periphrasis (e.g.,Mi amigo vuelve a viajar a México).
Real Conversations
Understanding how volver a + infinitive is used in authentic communication is crucial for achieving fluency. This periphrasis is ubiquitous across various registers, from casual chat to more formal discourse, reflecting its integral role in expressing iterative actions.
1. Casual Conversation & Texting: In daily interactions, volver a provides a concise way to express recurrence without sounding overly formal. It's often used with a degree of informality that otra vez sometimes lacks.
- Texting friend: No puedo creerlo, ¡me volvió a llamar el ex! (I can't believe it, my ex called me again!)
- Responding to news: ¿Otra vez? ¿Volvió a llover tan fuerte? (Again? Did it rain so hard again?)
- Planning with friends: Este fin de semana volvemos a vernos para cenar, ¿no? (This weekend we're seeing each other for dinner again, right?)
2. Social Media: On platforms like Instagram or X (formerly Twitter), volver a is common in captions, statuses, and comments to mark the resumption of activities, express exasperation, or celebrate a return.
- Travel post caption: ¡He vuelto a viajar! Nada como explorar el mundo. (I'm traveling again! Nothing like exploring the world.)
- Monday blues post: Ugh, vuelve a ser lunes... ¿Quién más necesita un café? (Ugh, it's Monday again... Who else needs a coffee?)
- Fitness update: Después de una lesión, por fin vuelvo a entrenar. (After an injury, I'm finally training again.)
3. Work & Academic Contexts: While casual, volver a is not inappropriate in professional or academic settings. It's used to describe recurring tasks, re-evaluations, or repeated challenges.
- Email to colleague: Hola, Juan. He vuelto a revisar el informe que me enviaste. (Hi, Juan. I've reviewed the report you sent me again.)
- Meeting discussion: Necesitamos una solución, porque el error vuelve a aparecer. (We need a solution, because the error is appearing again.)
- Academic presentation: Como vemos, los datos nos vuelven a mostrar la misma tendencia. (As we see, the data shows us the same trend again.)
4. Cultural Insight: The prevalence of volver a in Spanish reflects a cultural inclination towards expressing actions as re-engagements rather than just isolated repetitions. It adds a subtle layer of meaning, suggesting a pattern, a return to a state, or a deliberate resumption. For instance, volver a leer un libro often implies re-experiencing the story, not just glancing at the pages once more. This nuance contributes to the richness and expressiveness of the Spanish language, offering a linguistic tool that goes beyond the simple adverbial otra vez.
Quick FAQ
volver a + infinitive be used in all tenses?Absolutely. The volver component can be conjugated into virtually any tense or mood (indicative, subjunctive, imperative, conditional, perfect tenses, etc.) to convey the nuance of when the action is being repeated.
Volveremos a vernos.(We will see each other again – Future)Había vuelto a decir lo mismo.(He had said the same thing again – Pluperfect)
otra vez or de nuevo?In most informal and semi-formal contexts, volver a + infinitive often sounds more integrated and natural, particularly in spoken Spanish. While otra vez and de nuevo are grammatically correct and widely used, volver a has a more idiomatic feel, embedding the repetition directly into the verb phrase rather than appending an adverb.
Quiero verte otra vez.(I want to see you again.)Quiero volver a verte.(I want to see you again.) – Both are correct, but the second often feels more natural and emphasizes the re-seeing aspect.
Yes, definitively. When volver a is combined with a reflexive infinitive, the reflexive pronoun can either precede the conjugated volver or attach to the infinitive.
Me volví a equivocar.(I made a mistake again.)Volví a equivocarme.(I made a mistake again.)
No. While literally volver implies a return, in this periphrasis, it simply means "to do again" or "to re-do." It's not limited to a second occurrence; it can refer to an action being repeated for the third, fourth, or countless time.
Ha vuelto a ver la película cinco veces.(He has watched the movie five times again.)
You can form this by using no before volver, often combined with nunca más at the end of the sentence or implied.
No volveré a hacer eso nunca más.(I will never do that again.)¡No vuelvas a mencionarlo!(Don't mention it again! – Implies never again in this context.)
ya no with volver a?Yes, ya no (no longer) can be used to indicate that a repeated action has ceased. This emphasizes a definitive end to the recurrence.
Ya no vuelvo a fumar.(I no longer smoke again / I've stopped smoking again.) – This signifies that the action of smoking, which might have been repeated, has now definitively ceased.Ya no vuelven a ese restaurante.(They no longer go back to that restaurant.)
volver a and repetir?While both express repetition, they have distinct uses:
Volver a+ infinitive: Focuses on re-doing an action, resuming it, or doing it for another instance. It's broadly applicable to any action.Volví a estudiar para el examen.(I studied again for the exam.)Repetir(transitive verb): Often implies a more literal, exact duplication or reiteration of something, especially words, sounds, or a specific cycle.Repitió la frase.(He repeated the phrase.)Repetir un curso.(To retake a course.)¡Repita después de mí!(Repeat after me!)
Conjugation of Volver (Present Indicative)
| Subject | Conjugation | Preposition | Infinitive |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Yo
|
vuelvo
|
a
|
estudiar
|
|
Tú
|
vuelves
|
a
|
estudiar
|
|
Él/Ella/Ud.
|
vuelve
|
a
|
estudiar
|
|
Nosotros
|
volvemos
|
a
|
estudiar
|
|
Vosotros
|
volvéis
|
a
|
estudiar
|
|
Ellos/Ellas/Uds.
|
vuelven
|
a
|
estudiar
|
Meanings
This construction indicates the repetition of an action. It functions as an aspectual periphrasis that replaces the adverb 'otra vez' or 'de nuevo'.
Repetition
Performing an action for a second or subsequent time.
“Volví a llamar a mi madre.”
“No quiero volver a verte.”
Correction
Repeating an action to fix a previous error.
“El examen estaba mal, tuve que volver a hacerlo.”
“La receta falló, volveré a cocinarla.”
Persistence
Emphasizing that someone keeps doing something despite warnings.
“¡No vuelvas a decir eso!”
“Él volvió a llegar tarde a la reunión.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Volver + a + Inf
|
Vuelvo a leer
|
|
Negative
|
No + Volver + a + Inf
|
No vuelvo a leer
|
|
Question
|
¿Volver + a + Inf?
|
¿Vuelves a leer?
|
|
Past
|
Volví + a + Inf
|
Volví a leer
|
|
Future
|
Volveré + a + Inf
|
Volveré a leer
|
|
Imperative
|
¡Vuelve + a + Inf!
|
¡Vuelve a leer!
|
Formality Spectrum
Debemos volver a evaluar los resultados. (Work/Business)
Tenemos que volver a evaluar los resultados. (Work/Business)
Hay que volver a ver los resultados. (Work/Business)
Toca volver a chequear eso. (Work/Business)
The Volver a Cycle
Actions
- leer read
- comer eat
Tenses
- presente present
- pasado past
Examples by Level
Vuelvo a estudiar.
I study again.
Él vuelve a comer.
He eats again.
Nosotros volvemos a jugar.
We play again.
Ellos vuelven a hablar.
They speak again.
Ayer volví a trabajar.
Yesterday I worked again.
¿Vas a volver a llamar?
Are you going to call again?
No quiero volver a salir.
I don't want to go out again.
Ella volvió a cantar.
She sang again.
Tuve que volver a explicarlo.
I had to explain it again.
Si fallas, vuelve a intentar.
If you fail, try again.
Volveremos a vernos pronto.
We will see each other again soon.
Nunca vuelvas a mentirme.
Never lie to me again.
El gobierno volvió a subir los impuestos.
The government raised taxes again.
No es posible volver a empezar de cero.
It is not possible to start from scratch again.
Volvió a manifestarse su descontento.
His discontent manifested again.
La empresa volvió a contratar personal.
The company hired staff again.
La crisis volvió a poner a prueba nuestra resiliencia.
The crisis tested our resilience again.
Volvió a emerger la vieja disputa territorial.
The old territorial dispute emerged again.
No volveré a tolerar tal insolencia.
I will not tolerate such insolence again.
Volvió a quedar patente su falta de preparación.
His lack of preparation became evident again.
El autor volvió a imbricar elementos de la tradición oral.
The author wove elements of oral tradition again.
Volvió a suscitarse un debate sobre la ética.
A debate about ethics was raised again.
La estructura volvió a colapsar bajo el peso.
The structure collapsed again under the weight.
Volvió a manifestarse una tendencia al alza.
An upward trend manifested again.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up the verb 'to return' with the iterative 'to do again'.
Learners use both, which is redundant.
Similar to 'otra vez', it creates redundancy.
Common Mistakes
Volví comer
Volví a comer
Volví a comí
Volví a comer
Volver comer
Volver a comer
Comer otra vez
Volver a comer
Volveré a comí
Volveré a comer
Vuelvo comer
Vuelvo a comer
Volver a hice
Volver a hacer
Volver a que comiera
Volver a comer
Volver a la comida
Volver a comer
Volver a de comer
Volver a comer
Volver a haber comido
Volver a comer
Volver a estar comiendo
Volver a comer
Volver a se comer
Volver a comer
Sentence Patterns
Yo ___ a ___.
No ___ a ___.
¿___ a ___?
Si ___, volveré a ___.
Real World Usage
¡Volví a subir la foto!
¿Volvemos a vernos?
Tuve que volver a analizar el mercado.
Volver a pedir este plato.
Quiero volver a visitar este lugar.
Por favor, vuelva a intentar el proceso.
Avoid Redundancy
Don't Conjugate Twice
Use for Emphasis
Regional Variations
Smart Tips
Use 'volver a' + infinitive instead of 'otra vez'.
Use the formal command 'vuelva a' + infinitive.
Use the negative 'No vuelvas a' + infinitive.
Conjugate 'volver' in the future tense.
Pronunciation
Linking
The 'a' often links to the next vowel, creating a smooth transition.
Command
¡Vuelve a hacerlo! ↘
Falling intonation for firm commands.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
V-A-I: Volver, A, Infinitive. Remember 'VAI' like 'Go' in Portuguese to keep going again!
Visual Association
Imagine a boomerang. You throw it (the action), it comes back (volver), and you throw it again (a + infinitive).
Rhyme
Si quieres repetir la acción, usa 'volver a' con mucha atención.
Story
Juan failed his test. He had to study again. He said, 'Voy a volver a estudiar'. He studied, but failed again. He said, 'Voy a volver a estudiar' once more.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences about things you did today that you want to do again tomorrow using 'volver a'.
Cultural Notes
Very common in both professional and casual settings.
Often used with 'volver a' even in very informal contexts.
Used frequently, sometimes with 'voseo' in the 'volver' conjugation.
Comes from Latin 'volvere' (to roll/turn).
Conversation Starters
¿Cuándo vas a volver a viajar?
¿Qué película volverías a ver?
¿Has tenido que volver a hacer algo hoy?
¿Qué error no volverías a cometer?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Yo ___ ___ estudiar.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
No vuelves a hiciste eso.
Hice la tarea otra vez.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
a / volver / estudiar / voy
Si el error persiste, ___ a reiniciar.
Ellos ___ a ganar el premio.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesYo ___ ___ estudiar.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
No vuelves a hiciste eso.
Hice la tarea otra vez.
Volveré a llamar
a / volver / estudiar / voy
Si el error persiste, ___ a reiniciar.
Ellos ___ a ganar el premio.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesEllos ___ (perder) el autobús otra vez.
a / no / mentir / vuelvas / me
I will call you again tomorrow.
Which sentence means 'I am reading the book again'?
Match the following:
Yo volvo a escribir el correo.
Nosotros ___ (encontrarnos) en el parque.
How do you tell a boss 'Please read it again'?
el / volver / a / va / sol / salir
Translate: I would do it again.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Almost any action verb, yes. It doesn't work well with state verbs like 'ser' or 'estar'.
It is neutral. It works in all registers.
You can, but 'volver a' is more natural and idiomatic.
Yes, 'Volveré a hacerlo' (I will do it again).
It is a major grammatical error. Always include it.
Yes, it is universal.
Yes, 'Volví a lavarme' (I washed myself again).
No, 'regresar' is for movement, 'volver a' is for repetition.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
do again
Spanish integrates the repetition into the verb structure.
re- + verb
French is synthetic (prefix), Spanish is analytic (periphrasis).
wieder + verb
German word order is more rigid.
verb + naosu
Japanese suffixation vs Spanish prepositional structure.
verb + 'marra ukhra'
Arabic lacks a direct verbal periphrasis for this.
zai + verb
Chinese 'zai' is an adverb, not a conjugated verb.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Videos
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