Spanish -ing Forms as Subjects: Saying 'Swimming Is Good Exercise'
Learn to use Spanish infinitives like nadar and leer as the subject of a sentence, the natural equivalent of English -ing subjects such as 'Swimming is good exercise.'
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In English, an -ing form can be the subject of a sentence: 'Swimming is good exercise.' Spanish does not use its -ndo form (nadando) this way. Instead, Spanish uses the infinitive: Nadar es buen ejercicio. This lesson focuses only on that subject position, so you can state opinions and general truths about activities clearly in Latin American Spanish.
By the end, you can…
- use a Spanish infinitive as the subject of a sentence.
- recognize when English -ing subjects must become infinitives in Spanish.
- state simple opinions about activities using es bueno, es malo, es importante, and me gusta.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Nadar es buen ejercicio.
Swimming is good exercise.
nah-DAR ess bwen eh-her-SEE-syoh
General statement about an activity; nadar is the subject.
Leer es importante.
Reading is important.
leh-ER ess eem-por-TAN-teh
A simple value judgment about an activity.
Caminar por la mañana me relaja.
Walking in the morning relaxes me.
kah-mee-NAR por lah mah-NYAH-nah meh reh-LAH-hah
The infinitive phrase is the subject; me relaja means 'relaxes me.'
Es bueno descansar después del trabajo.
Resting after work is good.
ess BWEH-noh dess-kan-SAR dess-PWESS del trah-BAH-hoh
Spanish often puts es bueno before the infinitive; the meaning is still 'Resting... is good.'
Aprender español requiere práctica.
Learning Spanish requires practice.
ah-pren-DER ess-pah-NYOL reh-KYEH-reh PRAK-tee-kah
Useful for talking about study habits; aprender is the subject.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Use an infinitive where English uses an -ing subject: Nadar es bueno. Leer es importante. Caminar me ayuda. The infinitive can be alone (Nadar) or in a phrase (Caminar por la mañana). Spanish does not use nadando as the subject: 'Nadando es bueno' is not standard. The -ndo form is for ongoing actions, as in Estoy nadando.
When to use it
Use this pattern for general truths, opinions, and definitions: Fumar es malo para la salud. Correr es divertido. Viajar abre la mente. If you want to say what you like, Spanish normally uses me gusta + infinitive: Me gusta nadar. That is a different structure, but it also uses the infinitive, not -ndo.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
¿Qué haces para relajarte?
What do you do to relax?keh AH-sess PAH-rah reh-lah-HAR-tehCaminar por el parque me relaja mucho.
Walking in the park relaxes me a lot.kah-mee-NAR por el PAR-keh meh reh-LAH-hah MOO-chohPara mí, leer es mejor que caminar.
For me, reading is better than walking.PAH-rah mee leh-ER ess meh-HOR keh kah-mee-NARSí, leer es importante, pero nadar es buen ejercicio.
Yes, reading is important, but swimming is good exercise.see leh-ER ess eem-por-TAN-teh PEH-roh nah-DAR ess bwen eh-her-SEE-syohA little context goes a long way
In Latin American Spanish, the infinitive-as-subject pattern is neutral and widely used in everyday speech. In casual conversation, speakers may also use a noun instead: La natación es buen ejercicio. Both are correct; the infinitive sounds more direct and general.
One thing to watch for
Using the -ndo form as the subject: Nadando es buen ejercicio.
Try this instead: Use the infinitive: Nadar es buen ejercicio. The -ndo form is for ongoing actions, as in Estoy nadando, not for subjects.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Translate: 'Reading is important.'
Show a sample answer
Leer es importante.
Spanish uses the infinitive leer as the subject, not leyendo. Es importante leer is also correct, with a slightly different focus.
2Is 'Corriendo es divertido' correct?
Show a sample answer
No. Say Correr es divertido.
The -ndo form is not used as a subject. Correr is the infinitive and works as the subject here.
3Complete: ___ español requiere práctica. (learn)
Show a sample answer
Aprender
The infinitive aprender fills the subject position: Aprender español requiere práctica. Estudiar could also fit if the meaning changes to 'studying.'
When English uses an -ing subject, Spanish normally uses the infinitive: Nadar es buen ejercicio, not Nadando es buen ejercicio.
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