Cocinar pasta es divertido.

to be

Breakdown of Cocinar pasta es divertido.

• cocinar: to cook
• divertido: fun
• la pasta: the pasta

Questions & Answers about Cocinar pasta es divertido.

Why is the infinitive cocinar used as the subject in this sentence?

In Spanish, when talking about an activity in general, the infinitive functions as a noun. Here, cocinar (“to cook”) acts as the subject, much like using the gerund “cooking” in the English sentence “Cooking pasta is fun.”

What does cocinar mean, and is it always used to indicate an activity in this way?

Cocinar is a verb that means “to cook.” Although it can be conjugated for different tenses, when used in its infinitive form—as in this sentence—it names the action in a broad or general sense, without reference to a particular time.

Why is the verb es (from ser) chosen instead of está (from estar)?

Es comes from the verb ser, which is used to describe inherent qualities, general truths, or defining characteristics. In “Cocinar pasta es divertido,” the sentence states a general fact about the activity of cooking pasta. Using estar would imply a temporary or changing state, which doesn’t fit the context.

Given that pasta is a feminine noun in Spanish, why is the adjective divertido in the masculine singular form?

When an infinitive like cocinar is used as the subject, it represents an abstract idea or activity, and adjectives referring to this concept typically appear in the masculine singular form. Even though pasta is feminine, the overall subject “cocinar pasta” is treated as a single, neutral notion, so the adjective agrees with that structure.

Is the word order in “Cocinar pasta es divertido” similar to the English structure “Cooking pasta is fun”?

Yes, it is quite similar. Both languages use the form of the verb that represents an activity as the subject of the sentence combined with a linking verb and an adjective. In English, the gerund “cooking” performs a similar role to the Spanish infinitive “cocinar.”