el + Infinitive
Nominalized Infinitives
El fumar names the activity of smoking. An infinitive can also be a subject without an article: Fumar es perjudicial.
How It Works
In Spanish, you can use an infinitive in a nominal expression by placing the definite article el before it. This process is called nominalization.
1. Using 'el' + Infinitive
This is the most common form. The article el treats the action of the verb as a singular, masculine, abstract noun. It can then function as the subject or object of another verb.
- As a subject: El viajar enriquece la mente. (Traveling enriches the mind.)
- As an object: Odio el madrugar en invierno. (I hate getting up early in winter.)
This structure often emphasizes the action as a general concept or habit.
2. Masculine Singular
Use el, not la, in the productive construction: El correr es mi ejercicio favorito. An imagined feminine noun such as acción does not license la correr. The article is often optional: Fumar es perjudicial is also correct.
3. With Modifiers
Some infinitival expressions have noun-like modifiers, while others retain verbal syntax. Determiners like possessive adjectives (e.g., 'mi', 'su') can also be used, and they take the place of the definite article 'el'.
- Su incesante hablar me distrae. (His incessant talking distracts me.)
- Prefiero el dulce no hacer nada. (I prefer the sweet doing of nothing.)
4. With Perfect Infinitives
This structure can also be used with the perfect infinitive (haber + past participle) to present an action as prior to a reference point.
- El haber estudiado tanto tuvo su recompensa. (Having studied so much had its reward.)
Compare a verbal expression, el haber estudiado tanto, with a lexical noun such as saber (knowledge). Lexical nouns can develop their own plural forms, such as saberes (bodies or kinds of knowledge).
Examples (5)
- El fumar es perjudicial para la salud.
Smoking is harmful to your health.
Word by Word: The to smoke is harmful for the health.
Here, 'El fumar' acts as the subject of the sentence. The action of smoking is treated as a noun.
- Me fascina el cantar de los pájaros al amanecer.
The singing of the birds at dawn fascinates me.
Word by Word: To me fascinates the to sing of the birds at dawn.
'el cantar' is the subject of the verb 'fascina'. It refers to the act of singing.
- Su constante quejarse es agotador.
His constant complaining is exhausting.
Word by Word: His constant to complain is exhausting.
The expression combines a possessive and adjective with quejarse. The infinitive keeps its reflexive pronoun while naming the repeated activity.
- El saber no ocupa lugar.
Knowledge takes up no space.
Word by Word: The to know not occupies place.
Here saber has the noun meaning knowledge. The proverb presents knowledge as something that does not occupy physical space.
- Agradezco el haber tenido la oportunidad de conocerte.
I am grateful for having had the opportunity to meet you.
Word by Word: I appreciate the to have had the opportunity of to know you.
This example uses the perfect infinitive 'haber tenido' as a noun, referring to a completed past action.
Common Mistakes
Treating a lexical noun and an infinitival expression as identical.
Los saberes no ocupan lugar.El saber no ocupa lugar.Los saberes is grammatical as a plural lexical noun meaning kinds or bodies of knowledge. El saber no ocupa lugar is the conventional proverb. Productive infinitival clauses do not acquire plural endings simply by adding los; lexical nouns such as saberes and deberes have separate uses.
Using feminine la to introduce the nominal infinitive.
La correr es mi ejercicio favorito.El correr es mi ejercicio favorito.The productive construction uses masculine singular el: el correr. An implied acción or costumbre is not a reason to use la correr.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- el/la/los/lasDefinite Articles
The definite article used with the productive nominal infinitive is masculine singular el. La does not alternate with it here.
Foundations - lo + AdjectiveNominalized Adjectives
El + infinitive can form a nominal expression about an activity. Lo + adjective forms a nominal expression about a quality or aspect. Neither construction automatically creates a new dictionary noun.
Level 5 - al + InfinitiveUpon/When Doing
This is another specific construction combining an article (in the contraction 'al' = 'a + el') with an infinitive to create a time clause. It shows how articles and infinitives work together in set phrases, similar to 'el + infinitive' but with a different function.
Level 1 - lo queLo Que Construction
This is a relative pronoun that creates a noun clause. It's related because both 'el + infinitive' and 'lo que' serve to create noun-like elements that can act as subjects or objects. Compare 'El saber es poder' (Knowing is power) with 'Lo que sabes es poder' (What you know is power).
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice el + Infinitive in Bubblegum
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