Nominalized Infinitive

Level 3

In German, any verb can become a noun by capitalizing its infinitive form and using the neuter article das. It is the equivalent of the English '-ing' form (gerund).

How It Works

The nominalized infinitive (substantivierter Infinitiv) is a powerful tool in German to talk about activities abstractly.

1. Formation and Rules:

  • Capitalization: Since it becomes a noun, it must be capitalized.
  • Gender: It is always das (neuter).
  • Plural: These nouns typically do not have a plural form.

2. The 'am-Progressiv' (Ongoing Actions):
In spoken German, you can express that you are currently doing something by using am + nominalized infinitive. This is similar to the English '-ing' form:

  • Ich bin am Arbeiten. (I am working.)
  • Wir sind am Essen. (We are eating.)

3. Handling Objects:
If you want to include what you are doing the activity to, you have two main options:

  • Compound Nouns: Combine the object and verb into one word (e.g., das Klavierspielen - piano playing).
  • Genitive or 'von': Use the genitive case or von + dative (e.g., das Lesen des Buches or das Lesen von Büchern).

4. Common Usage with Prepositions:
These nouns frequently appear with contracted prepositions:

  • Beim (bei + dem): 'While doing...' (e.g., Beim Essen - While eating)
  • Zum (zu + dem): 'For the purpose of...' (e.g., Ruhe zum Arbeiten - Quiet for working)

5. Nuance vs. -ung Nouns:
While nouns ending in -ung often refer to a specific result (e.g., die Planung - the plan), the nominalized infinitive usually refers to the process itself (e.g., das Planen - the act of planning).

Examples (6)

  1. Das Lesen macht mir viel Spaß.

    Reading gives me a lot of joy.

    Word by Word: The reading makes me much fun.

    Here, the verb 'lesen' is used as the subject of the sentence.

  2. Ich bin gerade am Kochen.

    I am currently cooking.

    Word by Word: I am currently at-the cooking.

    The 'am-Progressiv' uses the nominalized infinitive to show an action is currently in progress.

  3. Das Lesen eines Buches entspannt mich.

    The reading of a book relaxes me.

    Word by Word: The reading of-a book relaxes me.

    When adding an object to the activity, we often use the genitive case.

  4. Beim Essen darf man nicht schmatzen.

    While eating, one must not smack one's lips.

    Word by Word: At-the eating may one not smack.

    'Beim' is a contraction of 'bei dem'. It is a very common way to say 'while doing something'.

  5. Ich brauche absolute Ruhe zum Arbeiten.

    I need absolute quiet for working.

    Word by Word: I need absolute quiet for-the working.

    'Zum' (zu + dem) indicates the purpose or goal of the quiet.

  6. Das ständige Warten nervt ihn.

    The constant waiting annoys him.

    Word by Word: The constant waiting annoys him.

    Adjectives like 'ständig' (constant) can describe nominalized infinitives just like any other noun.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting to capitalize the noun.

    Ich bin beim essen.
    Ich bin beim Essen.

    In German, all nouns must be capitalized. Even though it comes from a verb, 'Essen' is a noun here.

  • Using the wrong gender (der/die instead of das).

    Die Laufen ist gesund.
    Das Laufen ist gesund.

    Nominalized infinitives are strictly neuter. Always use 'das'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Nominalized InfinitiveLevel 3

Learn This First

To understand nominalized infinitives, you need to know that verbs can function as nouns. This requires knowledge of the neuter article 'das', the rule that all German nouns are capitalized, and how prepositions often contract with the articles that precede these verbal nouns.