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Lv 7

"To think is an intellectual work": Good grammar?

Is that phrase grammatically correct?

Wouldn't it be the same as:

  To think is an intellectual labor.

  To think is an intellectual occupation.

  To think is an intellectual effort.

  To think is an intellectual production.

Are those ^^ phrases grammatically correct?

Thank you for your help! :-)

Update:

Thank you both so much for your answers. :-)

@Bazza: I couldn't think of how to search for the answer, without the phrase you used: "infinitive as subject". Yes, you are right; it *can* be used as a subject. Thank you very much!

It isn't my sentence, btw. I'm learning French on Duolingo and it was a practice sentence. A site member complained that it was bad grammar, but it looked alright to me. However, I needed an authority to explain *why* it was alright. :-)

2 Answers

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  • Bazza
    Lv 7
    7 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Before you get to naming WHAT it is, this is an infinitive versus gerund issue.

    Yes - you can use an infinitive as the subject of the sentence. But be aware: you sound like René Descartes.

    Infinitives emphasize the POSSIBILITY or potential for something and sound more philosophical. 90% of the time, you will use a gerund as the subject or complement of a sentence.

    And here, you are talking about the ACT of thinking, rather than 'man's capacity for thought'.

    THEN - are you emphasizing that it is a cognitive activity; or that it takes labour, effort?

    So - choose:

    Thinking is an intellectual effort. (emphasizing 'intellectual', as opposed to all the other kinds of effort in life e.g. heavy lifting: physical effort

    Thinking is intellectual effort. (emphasizing the effort entailed in deep contemplation of a matter).

    Ya didn't think it wus so complicated, did yus.

  • Anonymous
    7 years ago

    i would use a semi colon or comma after - to think - for emphasis

    however my grammar skills are often awry

    they all have slightly different meanings also

    i like the work one best - because it is also evocative of the arts and effort

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