Learn how you can use the Spanish infinitive with the definite article "el"
We can use the definite article el + infinitivo in order to make the infinitive a noun.
Read and listen to these examples:
El beber en exceso puede ser peligroso.Drinking in excess can be dangerous.
El caminar todos los días es bueno para la circulación.Walking every day is good for circulation.
El vivir lejos del trabajo es un inconveniente.Living far away from work is an inconvenience.
In the examples above, the Spanish infinitive is translated as an -ing verb in English. However it would also be correct if we omit the article:
Beber en exceso puede ser peligroso.Drinking in excess can be dangerous.
Caminar todos los días es bueno para la circulación.Walking everyday is good for the circulation.
Vivir lejos del trabajo es un inconveniente.Living far away from work is an inconvenience.
Be careful, infinitives cannot use the plural article (los):
Los caminares todos los días son buenos para la circulación.
However, there are certain infinitives that can be converted to nouns and these can take both the singular and the plural article (el/los).
Have a look:
El ir y venir de los pasajeros nos entretenía mientras esperábamos nuestro tren.The coming and going of passengers kept us entertained while we waited for our train.
Los ires y venires de los pasajeros nos entretenían mientras esperábamos nuestro tren.The comings and goings of the passengers kept us entertained while we waited for our train.
El amanecer en este pueblo sureño es precioso.Sunrise in this southern village is beautiful.
Los amaneceres en este pueblo sureño son preciosos.Sunrises in this southern village are beautiful.
Disfrutamos viendo el anochecer en Casablanca.We enjoyed watching the sunset in Casablanca.
Los anocheceres en Casablanca son a veces espectaculares.Sunsets in Casablanca are sometimes spectacular.
It is not correct to omit the articles.
Amaneceres en este pueblo sureño son preciosos.
Extra note:
The indefinite article "un" is also used sometimes with infinitives as part of a "set expression", for example:
Empezó a diluviar en un abrir y cerrar de ojos.It started to pour with rain in the blink of an eye.
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