Using the actual root verb

Hola. When do you use the root verb, if it is used at all? For example, which of the following is correct? Voy a caminar a la tienda. Voy a camino a la tienda. Do these mean the same thing? Is the root verb, in this case caminar, ever used in conversation or is a conjugated form always used? Gracias.

Hola. I assume by "root verb" you mean the infinitive--the word preceded by "to" as in to walk, to go, to be, etc. If so, the answer to your question is yes, _absolutely_, the infinitive is used _a lot_, both in Spanish and in English. In Spanish, the infinitive is often preceded by another verb, as it is in the example you gave: Voy a caminar a la tienda (I am going to walk to the store). As far as I know, the second version you offered is not correct. When you say "I am going to" (Voy a) you don't follow that with "I walk" (camino) but rather with the infinitive, "to walk" (caminar). This is true in conversation and in writing. I hope that helps.

Yes, I do mean the infinitve form of the verb. Thank you for the input. I have it stuck in my head that I need to use a conjugated form of the verb every time. I forget to just use the infinitive form. So caminar just means "walk" and camino means "I will walk", correct? Are the following proper to say: Camino a la tienda diario. (I walk to the store everyday.) Voy a caminar a la tienda diario. (I _will_ walk to the store everyday) Gracias otra vez.

[quo]*Quote from * TPMaple So caminar just means "walk" and camino means "I will walk", correct?[/quo] Almost. "Camino" means "I walk." If you want to say "I will walk," you should probably say either "caminaré" or "voy a caminar" (caminaré is the first person singular future tense of caminar). I don't want to confuse you, but I think I should point out that "camino" can also be a noun, in which case it means road or path or journey. (You may have seen the term "el camino real," which means the royal road or the king's highway.) [quo]*Quote:* Are the following proper to say: Camino a la tienda diario. (I walk to the store everyday.) Voy a caminar a la tienda diario. (I _will_ walk to the store everyday)[/quo] Yes, I think they're correct. I would probably say "a diario" rather than "diario"; however, according to my dictionary, "diario" is often used to mean "every day" in Mexico and Central America.