15.8.5 Substantivation of the infinitive - infinitive as subject

As in English verbs can be substantivated. In English it is done by adding -ing, in French the infinitive is used.

  Examples
  Pour lui, manger c'est quelque chose d' important.
  For him, eating is important.

Further, again as well as in English, a verb can be used as subject of a phrase, either as substantivated verb or as infinitive (in English). For French it does not make a difference.

  Examples
Fumer est mauvais pour la santé.
    Smoking is bad for the health.
  Apprendre quelque chose diminue le risque de se trouver au chômage.
  To learn something decreases the risk of being unemployed.






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