An Infinitive is a word form that can be used as a name, a term, or a phrase. They can help you talk about actions without actually doing them. Most of the time, infinitives are made by putting the phrase before the basic word. Regular and irregular verbs, auxiliary verbs, linking verbs, passive and active verbs, and many other types of verbs are all used in the English language.
Even though an infinitive has a verb, it can’t be used as a verb. Since they can’t show mood independently, words with them must also include a limited main verb. Learn more about the definition, types, and sentence usage of infinitives by reading the article.
What is Infinitive, and How do You Use Them?
What are Infinitives?
The infinitive is the root form of a word. When speaking English, we usually mean the present infinitive when we talk about the it. They used to talk about actions in general rather than a particular case of the action being performed. When “to” is used with a verb as an adjective, an adverb, or a word, the verb stays in its basic form. Some verbs need to be followed by infinitives to give the full picture of what the sentence is trying to say.
A collection of words known as an infinitive phrase begins with an infinitive verb. Various modifications, such as names, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, and conjunctions, then follow it. The infinitive sentence can serve as an expression, an adjective, or a word.
What are the Types of Infinitives?
Infinitives can be divided into two categories. The two types of infinitives are full and bare infinitives.
Full Infinitives
The most frequent infinitives used in writing are full infinitives, referred to as to-infinitives. When the infinitive verb signature “to” is present in front of the word that completes an infinitive, as opposed to when it is absent, the circumstance is referred to as a full infinitive. By taking a verb’s basic form and adding to it, you can turn it into a complete participle.
Example:
1. I’m writing this email to tell you something important.
2. Tom went to his friend’s house to play computer games.
3. He went to his friend’s house to study.
4. Don’t promise to do more than you normally can manage.
5. I decided to forget what Linda said.
6. It was a dumb thing to say, and I regret it.
7. You need to exercise regularly to lose weight.
8. We love to go away at weekends.
Bare Infinitives
When the infinitive marker “to” is removed from phrases, the result is a bare infinitive. A few basic verbs, such as create, let, assist, perceive, etc., permit the absence of the infinitive signature “to” in a phrase.
The basic form of a verb is used within a phrase to create bare infinitives, also referred to as zero infinitives, which are created without the use of to. Although this can be perplexing, bare infinitives are less frequent than complete infinitives.
Example:
1. We might be late tonight.
2. He let the kid climb the tree.
3. I should do my English homework.
4. I made him beg for the next candy.
5. He helped them do it.
6. I heard the car arrive before I saw it.
7. I don’t drink coffee in the evening.
8. I let the dog finish my food.
Infinitives vs. Prepositional Phrases
The word “to” and a verb make up an infinitive, which can be used as a name, an adjective, or an adverb. Don’t get an infinitive and a prepositional word that starts with “to” mixed up.
Prepositional sentences comprise the word “to” and a name, verb, or adjective.
Some infinitives are “to become,” “to enter,” “to draw,” and so on. Don’t get an infinitive and a prepositional word that starts with “to” mixed up. Prepositional sentences comprise the word “to” and a name, verb, or adjective.
Infinitives vs. Gerunds
An infinitive is the basic form of a verb that is preceded by “to,” whereas a gerund is a verb form that terminates in “-ing” and is used as a word (e.g., strolling, journeying, voting). (to walk, to travel, to vote).
Infinitives and gerunds can be used as a word’s subject or target. Verbal come from verbs and can accept compliments, subjects, and adverbs to create verbal sentences. An infinitive phrase is created using the infinitive and can be used as a word, modifier, or adjective. A gerund phrase employs the verb’s “-ing” form to act as a noun.
What is an Infinitive Phrase?
A collection of words known as an infinitive phrase begins with an infinitive. Various modifications, such as names, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, and conjunctions, then follow it. The infinitive sentence can serve as an expression, an adjective, or a word, just like an infinitive.
Any auxiliaries or qualifiers are added to an infinitive verb to form an infinitive sentence. A sentence requires complementary terms to make meaning. Direct subjects are typically used as supports in indefinite sentences.
An infinitive phrase defines a word or a name when it acts as a descriptor. Most indefinite sentences that serve as modifiers explain why the activity occurred. The majority of indefinite sentences that are used as adjectives could begin with “in order to.”
The indefinite sentence serves as the meant verb’s immediate target. An indefinite phrase does not require punctuation unless it is being used as a modifier and is the first phrase in a statement, in which case it should be separated with a semicolon.
How to Use Infinitives in a Sentence?
Sometimes, the infinitive form of a word is used as a name instead of a verb. This is done by making the participle the subject or goal of the sentence. You can also use the word by putting “to” instead of a common phrase like “in order to.” This would be done to show that the word in question means something.
After a few words, you can also use the vague form to explain what that word means. The infinitive verb can be used after a word that needs to be spoken to show what you want to say. You can also use the indefinite form of verbs like “agree,” “promise,” and “decide.”
Example:
1. He helped to build the roof.
2. Let’s go to see the new Marvel film.
3. I needed to gather my school supplies quickly.
4. I love crime books. I need one to read on holiday.
5. I told the kids to dress quickly.
6. On Saturdays, I help to clean up the park.
7. We intended to leave early.
8. We want to buy an electric car.
Identify the Infinitives in a Sentence
The term to is typically used before an infinitive, a basic verb form that can be used as a title, adjective, or phrase. Sentences with an infinitive describe activities. To + Verb creates an infinitive, which includes verbs like consume, sprint, stroll, clothe, scream, and more. A phrase or term that modifies the meaning of other words in a statement is known as a modulator.
Examples of Infinitives
The following are few examples of infinitives:
1. The students wanted the teacher to cancel the class.
2. I’m thinking about going back to school.
3. We’re going to the pool tomorrow.
4. They need to read translated manuscripts carefully.
5. He made him promise to behave.
Conclusion on Infinitives
A word form known as an infinitive can be used as a name, adjective, or phrase. They are frequently created by adding the term to the front of the basic action. Although an infinitive’s base form is a verb, infinitives can also be used as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in sentences. They are useful when you want to talk about a broad deed rather than a particular instance.
Practice Questions on Infinitives
The following are some practice questions on infinitives:
- I decided ___ on London.
- It’s natural ___ for your team to win.
- He asked me ___ late.
- I’m planning ___ a letter to the company.
- I’d like you ___ so loudly.
- I’m afraid ___ at the messy room.
- I’d like rather ___ meat.
- Dante dares ___ about getting the job.
- I might ___ today.
- It’s time ___ now.
Answers:
- not to go to
- to want
- not to be
- to write
- not to sing
- to look
- not eat
- to dream
- not come
- to sleep
FAQs on Infinitives
What is an Infinitive?
An infinitive is a verbal phrase composed of the preposition to and a verb that functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb. The term verbal indicates that, like the other two types of verbal, an infinitive is founded on a verb and therefore expresses action or a state of being.
What is an infinitive phrase?
An Infinitive Phrase consists of an infinitive and the modifier(s) and (pro)noun(s) or noun phrase(s) that serve as the actor(s), direct object(s), or complement(s) of the action or state expressed by the infinitive.
What are the types of Infinitives?
There are two primary infinitive forms. First, full infinitives, also called to-infinitives, are used before a verb’s root form. The second type of infinitive is bare infinitives, also known as zero infinitives, which use the verb’s root form without to.
Give some examples of Infinitives.
There’s too much sugar to put in this bowl.
This soup is too hot to eat.
He arrived too late to see the actors.
She’s old enough to make up her mind.
How do you use Infinitives in a sentence?
The infinitive (‘to’ + the simple verb form) is essential for identifying an infinitive phrase. Unless the infinitive phrase is located at the beginning of the sentence, it begins with to and ends at the end.
What are the different kinds of Infinitives?
There are four additional infinitive forms: the perfect infinitive, the continuous infinitive, the perfect continuous infinitive, and the passive infinitive. These are formed by combining various verb tenses with auxiliaries following the preposition to.
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