Verbal Nouns 1

43. Verbal Nouns 1

When we want to talk about how we like or dislike doing something or being someplace, or that we are going to do something or be someplace,
we often use a verbal noun—a noun made from the verb.
In English, the verbal noun can either be like the present participle (writing), or use the word “to” with the simple form of the verb (to write).
In Basque, the verbal noun is made the same way as the present participle, with the final -n removed.
Ni inoiz ez hemen itxaoten naiz. I never wait here.(itxaoten/wait is a present participle)
Niri ez zait gustatzen itxaote. I don’t like to wait/waiting. Waiting is not pleasing to me. (itxaote/to wait/waiting is a verbal noun)
Note that a verbal noun is different from the present continuous case, even if both have -ing.
So “I am running.” “Ni korrika ari naiz” is present continuous and was covered earlier in 41 Ari Izan.