Can "meditar" be a noun?

Question

I am proofreading a course on biblical studies and worship. The sentence is:

El silencio y la meditar son importantes.

"Meditar" is a verb. Should this be changed to "la meditación"? Or is this used.

Thanks

Sí, change it to a noun, la meditación. - annierats, Jan 3, 2013

I think your best choice is "la meditación" given the way the sentence reads. I'm old and I'm religious in case it matters! - Jubilado, Jan 3, 2013

Answer 1

I would use either of Annie´s answers (both infinitives or both nouns) because when we group two or more things together as subjects, the sentence flows better than a noun and an infinitive together.

In either case "la meditar" is incorrect. When we use an article with an infinitive, it´s always masculine.

very good point. I hadn´t even paid attention to gender there. - rogspax, Jan 3, 2013

Answer 2

2nd attempt:

Quedarse en silencio y meditar es importante.

That's if you want to use the verb, otherwise I stick withmy first answer. Have a think!

Answer 3

Yes,

The form of a noun with an ´ing´ ending in English (Gerund, I think, though I´m a bit rusty) is expressed with the infinitive. So,meditar is used for ´meditating´ as a noun.

Don´t confuse this with the other use of ´ing´ in English, which is the present participle, as in ¨I am meditating¨ This is equivalent to ¨Estoy meditando¨

We use ´ing´ for both the present participle and gerund, but they´re two different things

nice job Rog :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 3, 2013

Answer 4

Sí, el silencio y la meditación son importantes.

Answer 5

That is a stylistic, and possibly very tiny meaning, difference. It just depends on which you want to say. A native speaker might be able to tell you of a different or larger connotation difference, but I can´t.

Which would you choose in English?

Answer 6

I would use the noun meditation in English, so I'm going to change it. Thanks again.

Answer 7

Thanks for the help!

Answer 8

So, which would be best here? The gerund "meditating" or the noun "meditation"? It is not a big difference.

Silence and meditating are important. versus Silence and meditation are important.

I guess either way?