THE INFINITIVE

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THE INFINITIVE

Definition:

Infinitive are non-finite verbs. Infinitive is formed by adding to with a verb that acts as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb in a sentence

When a verb is in its infinitive state, it has no subject or object. It is used to define the action of the verb without tying it to a specific person. It is a verb acting without a subject. The infinitive is the verb in its purest form. An infinitive should be treated as a single word with a single meaning.

List of Infinitive Verbs

Infinitives in Regular Verbs

e.g.

To answer	To arrive	To ask	To dry
To carry	To clean	To close	To enjoy
To finish	To hate	To help	To hope
To invite	To listen	To locate	To look
To love	To need	To prefer	To rain
To receive	To remember	To repair	To repeat
To request	To smoke	To start	To stay
To study	To suggest	To talk	To try
To use	To visit	To wait	To walk
To want	To wash	To watch	To wish
To work	To believe	To join	To reform
To express	To catch	To consult	To present
To respect	To fit	To knowledge	To discuss

e.g.

They were the first to arrive, were not they?

I have to finish this book before march

Do not hesitate to help her

They refuse to talk

Infinitives in Irregular Verbs

e.g.

To begin	To buy	To build	To come
To bring	To cut	To do	To drink
To drive	To eat	To fall	To feel
To find	To forget	To get	To give
To go	To have	To hear	To keep
To know	To learn	To leave	To lend
To lose	To make	To meet	To pay
To put	To read	To run	To say
To see	To sell	To send	To shut
To sing	To sit	To sleep	To speak
To spend	To stand up	To swim	To take
To teach	To tell	To think	To shine
To understand	To wear	To write

e.g.

We have to eat that we may live

I tried to speak English

I do not know how to sing

It seems it is easy to learn English

What is a split infinitive?

Inserting a word or phrase between to and the verb creates a split infinitive

e.g.

Before the game, the team was told to warm up by running around the field.

What is an infinitive phrase?

A phrase beginning with the infinitive form of a verb that functions as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb in a sentence.

e.g.

Cena likes to swim and to fish

Cena likes to swim and fish

Other uses of Infinitives

To express purpose or reason

e.g.

I accepted him to go to the park

I wanted to buy vegetables in the market

Adjective + Infinitive

e.g.

The concept is easy to understand

English is interesting to read

Noun or Pronoun + infinitive

e.g.

He asked my brother to stop smoking

My parents asked my friend to read well for the examinations

Too + Adjective + Infinitive

e.g.

The coffee is too hot to drink

The man is too bulky to enter the room

Infinitive can be used to replace a clause

e.g.

I know how I can solve the problem

I know how to solve the problem

Generally verbs take to with them to make an infinitive but some verbs become infinitive without to. These are also called bare infinitive or plain infinitive.

e.g.

I made him go	Let him go
I saw him cross the railway track	The minister helped abolish poverty

The above verbs can take ‘to’ when it is used in the passive voice.

e.g.

He was made to go by him

He was seen to cross the railway track

The modal auxiliaries do not take to infinitive.

He will pay the bill	I can speak English
You should work harder	You must come to the office at nine