Italian Infinitives as Subjects: Using the Infinitive to Start a Sentence
Learn to use Italian infinitives (e.g., nuotare, leggere) as the subject of a sentence, as in 'Nuotare è un buon esercizio.' Focus on subject position, not infinitives after verbs.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In English, we often use -ing forms as the subject of a sentence: 'Swimming is good exercise.' In Italian, the equivalent is the infinitive, not a gerund. This lesson teaches you to put the infinitive at the start of a sentence to express an activity as a subject. You will learn the pattern, common verbs, and how to avoid typical mistakes. By the end, you will be able to say what activities are good, bad, useful, or fun in Italian.
By the end, you can…
- use an Italian infinitive as the subject of a sentence.
- form simple sentences like 'Leggere è utile' and 'Nuotare è divertente.'
- ask and answer questions about activities using this structure.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Nuotare è un buon esercizio.
Swimming is good exercise.
NWOH-tah-reh eh oon bwohn eh-zehr-CHEE-tsyo
Use this to state that an activity is healthy. 'Nuotare' is the infinitive used as subject.
Leggere è utile.
Reading is useful.
LEHD-jeh-reh eh OO-tee-leh
A simple opinion about an activity. The adjective 'utile' has the same form for masculine and feminine singular, so it does not change here.
Cucinare mi piace.
I like cooking. (Literally: Cooking pleases me.)
koo-chee-NAH-reh mee PYAH-cheh
Here the infinitive is the subject of 'piacere': the activity is what pleases me. Common in everyday speech.
Studiare le lingue è interessante.
Studying languages is interesting.
stoo-DYAH-reh leh LEEN-gweh eh een-teh-reh-SAHN-teh
You can add an object after the infinitive. The whole phrase 'Studiare le lingue' is the subject.
Fare sport fa bene alla salute.
Doing sports is good for your health.
FAH-reh sport fah BEH-neh AHL-lah sah-LOO-teh
A common expression. 'Fare sport' is the subject; 'fa bene' means 'is good/does good.'
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
In Italian, when an activity is the subject of a sentence, use the infinitive, not a gerund. The pattern is: Infinitive + third-person singular verb + adjective/noun. For example: 'Nuotare è divertente' (Swimming is fun). 'Mangiare troppo fa male' (Eating too much is bad for you). The verb after the infinitive is usually 'è' (is) or another third-person singular form. Adjectives that describe the subject normally appear in the masculine singular form, because infinitive subjects are treated as masculine: 'Leggere è utile' (not 'utile' in the feminine).
When to use it
Use this structure to express general opinions, habits, or truths about activities. It is common in speech and writing when you want to say that an activity is good, bad, important, fun, boring, etc. For example: 'Viaggiare è bello' (Traveling is beautiful). 'Aspettare è noioso' (Waiting is boring). You can also use it with 'piacere': 'Ballare mi piace' (I like dancing). Note that after verbs like 'volere' or 'potere', you use the infinitive without a subject: 'Voglio nuotare' (I want to swim). But when the infinitive is the subject, it stands at the beginning and the verb agrees with it in the third person singular.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Cosa ti piace fare nel tempo libero?
What do you like to do in your free time?KOH-zah tee PYAH-cheh FAH-reh nehl TEHM-poh LEE-beh-rohMi piace leggere, ma trovo che nuotare sia più divertente.
I like reading, but I find that swimming is more fun.mee PYAH-cheh LEHD-jeh-reh mah TROH-voh keh NWOH-tah-reh SEE-ah pyoo dee-vehr-TEHN-tehAnche a me piace nuotare. È un ottimo esercizio.
I like swimming too. It's excellent exercise.AHN-keh ah meh PYAH-cheh NWOH-tah-reh eh oon OHT-tee-moh eh-zehr-CHEE-tsyoSì, e poi nuotare rilassa molto.
Yes, and swimming is very relaxing.see eh poy NWOH-tah-reh ree-LAHS-sah MOHL-tohA little context goes a long way
In Italian, the infinitive as subject is standard in both formal and informal contexts. However, in casual speech, speakers sometimes use the noun form (e.g., 'il nuoto' for 'swimming') instead of the infinitive, especially for sports: 'Il nuoto è uno sport completo.' Both are correct, but the infinitive is more general and common for everyday activities. In writing, the infinitive is preferred for abstract subjects.
One thing to watch for
Using the gerund form (e.g., 'nuotando') as the subject, influenced by English: 'Nuotando è un buon esercizio.'
Try this instead: In Italian, the gerund is used for ongoing actions ('Sto nuotando' = I am swimming) or manner ('Ho imparato nuotando' = I learned by swimming), not as a subject. Use the infinitive: 'Nuotare è un buon esercizio.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Translate: 'Reading is important.'
Show a sample answer
Leggere è importante.
The infinitive 'leggere' is the subject, followed by 'è' and the adjective 'importante' (masculine singular).
2Complete: '_____ mi piace molto.' (I really like dancing.)
Show a sample answer
Ballare
The infinitive 'ballare' is the subject of 'piacere'. You could also say 'Mi piace ballare,' but in the given structure, the infinitive comes first.
3Is this sentence correct? 'Cucinando è divertente.' If not, correct it.
Show a sample answer
No, it should be: 'Cucinare è divertente.'
The gerund 'cucinando' cannot be a subject. Use the infinitive 'cucinare'.
To make an activity the subject in Italian, use the infinitive, not the gerund: 'Nuotare è divertente.' Remember that the verb after it is third-person singular, and adjectives are masculine singular.
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