Functions of the infinitive

The Spanish infinitive can perform the role of a real noun, and may function as the subject or object of a verb. It may also stand independently as a noun, as can be seen in the following list, in which all the nouns are masculine.

Verbs that can be used purely as nouns are as follows:

1. amanecer (dawn), andar (R3; gait, way of walking), anochecer (evening), atardecer (early evening), cantar (song, singing, poem [generally set to music]), deber (duty, obligation), haber (assets [finance], credit side), oscurecer (nightfall), parecer (opinion), pesar (grief), placer (pleasure), poder (power), ser (being)

2. Saldremos al amanecer. (We'll leave at sun- up/sunrise.)

3. el amanecer de la cultura árabe (the awakening of Arab culture)

4. El andar del tiempo hace que todo se olvide. (The march of time means that all is forgotten.)

5. Al anochecer/ atardecer llegamos a Salta [in Argentina]. (We arrived in Salta in the evening/ late afternoon.)

6. Que lo pases bien, pero volver a las cuatro de la madrugada es otro cantar. (Have a good time, but coming back at four in the morning is another story.)

7. No somos del mismo parecer. (We are not of the same opinion.)

8. María tiene un gran pesar por la muerte de su padre. (Maria is really grieving over her father's death.)

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