Learn Dutch: Een kind opvoeden is veel werk. - Raising a child is a lot of work.

In English, we often use the '-ing' form to make a verb act like a noun, like 'raising' in this sentence. Dutch doesn't use '-ing' words this way. Instead, it simply uses the full infinitive verb, opvoeden, to act as the subject of the sentence.

Why is the word order Een kind opvoeden instead of 'Opvoeden een kind'?

When an infinitive verb phrase is used as the subject of a sentence, the object comes before the verb in Dutch. So 'raising a child' structurally becomes 'a child to raise' (Een kind opvoeden).

How does the V2 (verb-second) rule apply to this sentence?

In Dutch main clauses, the conjugated verb must take the second position. Even though Een kind opvoeden is three words, it acts as a single subject block taking up position one. Therefore, the conjugated verb is comes right after it in position two.

Could I use erg instead of veel for 'a lot' here?

No, because werk is a noun. You use veel (meaning 'much' or 'a lot of') with nouns. You use erg (meaning 'very') with adjectives, for example: erg moeilijk (very difficult).