o + Infinitive
The Infinitive as a Noun
Put o before an infinitive to turn it into a noun: o seu andar lento (his slow way of walking), o ir e vir da xente (the coming and going of people).
How It Works
An action named as a thing
With the article, often followed by a possessive, an infinitive names an action or a way of doing it:
- Espertoume o cantar dos paxaros (the birds' singing woke me up).
- Recoñecino polo seu andar lento (I recognised him by his slow walk).
- O madrugar custa moito en inverno (getting up early is hard in winter).
Agreement. The infinitive-noun is masculine singular, so its adjectives are too: o seu falar pausado.
Words that became nouns. Some infinitives are now ordinary nouns and take the plural in -es: o xantar (lunch), o poder (power), os deberes (homework), os cantares (songs).
Without the article. A plain infinitive can also be a subject: Madrugar custa. With the article it works more fully as a noun, and the article is needed when the infinitive takes an adjective, a possessive or de + a noun: o seu andar lento, o cantar dos paxaros. When the infinitive needs its own subject, Galician can use the personal infinitive.
Examples (6)
- Cansoume o ir e vir da xente.
The coming and going of people tired me out.
- Recoñecino polo seu andar lento.
I recognised him by his slow walk.
Lento is masculine because o andar is masculine.
- Espertoume o cantar dos paxaros.
The birds' singing woke me up.
- O madrugar custa moito en inverno.
Getting up early is hard in winter.
- Imos preparar o xantar.
We are going to make lunch.
Xantar is an infinitive that has become an everyday noun.
- Os deberes están enriba da mesa.
The homework is on the table.
Deberes is the plural of the noun deber.
Common Mistakes
Making the adjective feminine.
Gústame o seu andar lenta.Gústame o seu andar lento.An infinitive used as a noun is masculine, so its adjective is masculine too.
Forgetting the plural ending on an infinitive that has become a noun.
Os deber xa están feitos.Os deberes xa están feitos.Deber is now a real noun, so its plural takes -es, like other words ending in -r.
How It Connects
Learn This First
An infinitive can function as a masculine singular noun.
Related Patterns
- The Personal Infinitive
The personal infinitive lets an infinitive carry its own subject.
Level 3 - ao + InfinitiveUpon Doing: Ao + Infinitive
Another pattern with the article and an infinitive, meaning when or upon doing.
Level 4 - Noun Gender
Explains noun gender; infinitive-nouns are always masculine.
Level 1 - Plural With -es
Explains the plural of words in -r, such as deberes and cantares.
Level 1 - Nominal Style in Formal Writing
Shows how formal writing turns actions into nouns.
Level 6
Words in This Pattern
Practice o + Infinitive in Bubblegum
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