o + Infinitive

Infinitivo Substantivado

Level 5

In Portuguese, any verb in its infinitive form can function as a noun. This is called the Infinitivo Substantivado. It is usually triggered by placing a determiner (like the article o) before the verb.

How It Works

The Infinitivo Substantivado is a versatile tool in Portuguese that allows verbs to behave syntactically like nouns.

1. Morphological Characteristics:
When a verb is substantivized, it is always treated as a masculine noun. It can be modified by masculine adjectives (e.g., o cantar suave) and, in some lexicalized cases, it can take plural forms (e.g., os afazeres - chores, os pesares - sorrows). This process generally applies to the impersonal infinitive.

2. Syntactic Triggers:
The most common trigger is the masculine definite article o. Other masculine determiners like um, meu, or este can also perform this function. Feminine determiners are never used.

3. Verbal vs. Nominal Government:
A unique feature of the substantivized infinitive is that it can retain its verbal nature or adopt a nominal structure. You can say o ler livros (maintaining the direct object) or o ler de livros (using the preposition de). Both are grammatically correct, though the version with the preposition emphasizes the noun-like quality of the action.

4. Nuance and Register:

  • Process vs. Result: Using the infinitive often emphasizes the process or style of the action. For example, o olhar refers to the 'way of looking' or the 'gaze', whereas the noun a vista refers to the 'sight' or 'view'.
  • Formal/Poetic Use: In literature, it is used to discuss abstract concepts like o ser (being). Occasionally, even the personal infinitive can be substantivized for poetic effect (e.g., o teu quereres).
  • Regional Note: Using o comer as a synonym for 'food' or 'the meal' is common in European Portuguese, whereas Brazilian Portuguese typically prefers the noun a comida.

Examples (5)

  1. O olhar dela me fascina.

    Her gaze (way of looking) fascinates me.

    Word by Word: The look of-her me fascinates.

    Here, the verb 'olhar' (to look) is turned into a noun meaning 'gaze' or 'manner of looking' using the article 'o'.

  2. O cantar dos pássaros é relaxante.

    The singing of the birds is relaxing.

    Word by Word: The to-sing of-the birds is relaxing.

    In English, we use the gerund 'singing'. In Portuguese, we use the substantivized infinitive 'o cantar'.

  3. Apesar dos pesares, ele está feliz.

    Despite the sorrows, he is happy.

    Word by Word: Despite of-the to-grieve-plurals, he is happy.

    'Pesares' is the pluralized form of the infinitive 'pesar' (to grieve/weigh), functioning here as a fixed noun meaning 'sorrows' or 'regrets'.

  4. Este seu falar me irrita um pouco.

    This way of speaking of yours irritates me a little.

    Word by Word: This your to-speak me irritates a little.

    The demonstrative 'este' and possessive 'seu' are used here to substantivize 'falar', focusing on the specific manner of speech.

  5. Viver é um eterno aprender.

    Living is an eternal learning process.

    Word by Word: To-live is a eternal to-learn.

    Both 'viver' and 'aprender' are used as nouns here. 'Aprender' is modified by the adjective 'eterno', proving its noun-like status.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the gerund (-ando/-endo) as a subject noun like in English.

    Fumando é proibido aqui.
    Fumar é proibido aqui.

    In English, we say 'Smoking is prohibited'. In Portuguese, you must use the infinitive (Fumar) for this function. Using the gerund is a common anglicism.

  • Treating the substantivized infinitive as feminine.

    A jantar estava ótima.
    O jantar estava ótimo.

    Even if a related noun is feminine (like 'a janta' in informal Brazilian Portuguese), the substantivized infinitive itself is always masculine.

Words in This Pattern