A2 · Elementary Chapter 29

Infinitives & Gerunds: Verb Nouns

6 Total Rules
1 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of turning verbs into nouns to describe your daily activities with precision.

  • Identify the infinitive and gerund forms in Armenian.
  • Apply these forms to function as subjects or objects.
  • Connect actions to purpose and perception smoothly.
Turn actions into nouns and level up your fluency.

What You'll Learn

Understand the infinitive ('to do') and gerund ('doing') forms and how they function as nouns or after prepositions. This chapter explores their various uses in sentences.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use infinitives and gerunds to describe hobbies and life goals.

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

Dictionary Secret

Always learn a new verb in its infinitive form. If you only learn 'khosum em' (I speak), you won't know if the verb is 'khosel' or 'khosal' for other tenses.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Infinitive Form: To Do
💡

The 'E' Rule

If you are unsure, just add '-ը' to the verb. It works for 99% of subject cases.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Using Infinitives as Nouns: Reading is good
💡

The -ը rule

Always add -ը when the verb is the subject. It makes it a noun!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Gerund Form: Doing
💡

Check the Preposition

Always look for 'առաջ', 'հետո', or 'առանց' to trigger the -ուց form.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Gerunds after Prepositions/Postpositions

Key Vocabulary (5)

kardal to read sovorel to learn tesnel to see gnal to go npatak purpose/goal

Real-World Preview

coffee

Planning a Study Day

Review Summary

  • Verb-root + el/al
  • Infinitive + u

Common Mistakes

You used the infinitive instead of the gerund for a present continuous action.

Wrong: Es gnal em.
Correct: Es gnum em.

When using a verb as a subject, you must add the definitive article -y.

Wrong: Kardal e lav.
Correct: Kardaly lav e.

To express purpose, add -u to the infinitive.

Wrong: Eka sovorel.
Correct: Eka sovorelu.

Next Steps

You have done a fantastic job navigating these complex structures! Keep practicing these forms in your daily speech.

Write 5 sentences about your hobbies using infinitives.

Continue to: Demonstratives & Indefinite Articles

Quick Practice (10)

Correct the sentence: 'Տեսա դու պարելիս:'

Find and fix the mistake:

Տեսա դու պարելիս:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Տեսա քեզ պարելիս:
'Դու' must change to the accusative 'քեզ'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Infinitives with Verbs of Perception: I saw him leave

Fill in the correct pronoun for 'him'.

Տեսա ___ (him) վազելիս:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: նրան
The object of the perception must be in the Accusative case.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Infinitives with Verbs of Perception: I saw him leave

Fill in the blank.

Նա եկավ առանց ___։ (հարցնել)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: հարցնելու
Preposition 'առանց' requires gerund.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Gerunds after Prepositions/Postpositions

Correct the mistake in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Կարող եմ օգնում ձեզ:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Կարող եմ օգնել ձեզ:
The modal verb 'կարող եմ' (I can) requires the infinitive 'օգնել', not the present participle 'օգնում'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Infinitive Form: To Do

Choose the correct form of the verb 'to sing' (երգել).

Լսեցի Անիին ___:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: երգելիս
The -իս suffix is required for hearing an ongoing action.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Infinitives with Verbs of Perception: I saw him leave

Choose the correct form.

Առանց ___ մի՛ խոսիր։

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: մտածելու
Preposition 'առանց' requires the gerund.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Gerunds after Prepositions/Postpositions

Add the correct article to the infinitive.

Լողալ___ առողջարար է:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ը
Since 'aroghjarar' starts with a consonant, we use -ը.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Using Infinitives as Nouns: Reading is good

Fill in the blank with the correct gerund form.

___ (Կարդալ) օգտակար է։

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Կարդալը
Subject requires the article -ը.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Gerund Form: Doing

Fill in the correct form of the verb 'սովորել' (to learn).

Ես դպրոց եմ գնում ______ համար:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: սովորելու
The purpose construction requires the genitive infinitive ending in -ու.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Purpose with Infinitives: To learn

Correct the mistake: 'Մենք եկել ենք տեսնել համար ձեզ:'

Find and fix the mistake:

Մենք եկել ենք տեսնել համար ձեզ:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ձեզ տեսնելու համար
The object (ձեզ) usually comes before the purpose phrase in natural Armenian.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Purpose with Infinitives: To learn

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

There is no strict rule, but most verbs end in -ել. Verbs ending in -ալ are fewer and often relate to physical actions or sounds. You must memorize them as you learn.
Yes! In Armenian, the infinitive can act as a noun. For example, Լողալը լավ է means 'Swimming is good'. You just add the definite article -ը or -ն.
In Armenian, general concepts used as subjects require the definite article. It's like saying 'The act of reading is good.'
Yes, but only if the next word starts with a vowel. For example: Կարդալն օգտակար է:
It depends on the verb conjugation group. Both function the same way as gerunds.
Use -ն if the verb ends in a vowel, though most end in consonants.
Previous Chapter
Expressing Obligation & Necessity
Next Chapter
Demonstratives & Indefinite Articles
Back to Roadmap