Infinitives in English with Types and Examples

Infinitives are one of the most essential parts of English grammar. They play a crucial role in creating meaningful sentences that convey the intended message. Infinitives are a type of verb that express an action or state without indicating tense or subject. They can be recognized by their prefix “to” and the base form of the verb that follows it. Infinitives can act as subjects, objects, complements, or modifiers. Understanding the proper use of infinitives is essential for effective communication in writing and speech. In this article, we will explore what infinitives are, how they are formed, and how to use them effectively with examples. So let’s get started.

What is an Infinitive?

An infinitive is a verb expressing an action or state but not indicating tense or subject. It is a verb’s base form and is often preceded by the word “to.” For example:

To walk
To eat
To read

They can be used as subjects or objects in a sentence, as well as complements or modifiers. They are often used to express ability, ideas, preferences, permissions, purpose, and more. However, some verbs, known as bare infinitives, do not require the “to” before them, as in “I must go” or “She should stay.”

Formation of Infinitives

Infinitives are formed by using the base form of a verb, typically preceded by the word “to. They are easily recognizable due to their distinctive structure: “to + base form of the verb.” This structure remains consistent regardless of the subject or tense of the sentence. Whether it’s “They want to travel” or “She wants to travel,” the infinitive structure remains the same.

To + Base Form of the Verb

For example:

To eat
To run
To study
To write
To walk

Types of Infinitives

Infinitives can be classified into four basic types based on their function in a sentence:

Bare Infinitive

Not all infinitives require the “to” before the base verb. In some cases, you may encounter what is known as the “bare infinitive.” This is when the base verb is used without “to.” It is used in various situations, including after modal verbs (such as can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, must) and certain other verbs (make, let, help, and see).

Examples:

You must go to the doctor.
Please sit
He must leave

To-Infinitive

The to-infinitive is the base form of the verb preceded by the word “to.” It is commonly used in a wide range of situations, including after most verbs, as well as after adjectives, nouns, and as part of certain verb phrases.

Examples:

He wants to travel to France.
He tried to convince her.
She likes to play the badminton.

Split Infinitive

A split infinitive occurs when an adverb is placed between “to” and the base form of the verb. This construction is called a “split” infinitive because the infinitive is split or separated by an adverb. In English, split infinitives are generally considered grammatically acceptable, although there has been historical debate and some traditionalists have discouraged their use.

She decided to quickly finish her work. (Split infinitive)
He wanted to carefully examine the evidence. (Split infinitive)
They wanted to quietly leave the room. (Split infinitive)

In these examples, the adverbs (“quickly,” “carefully,” “quietly”) are placed between “to” and the base form of the verbs (“finish,” “read,” “leave”).

Passive Infinitive

Infinitives can also be used in passive constructions. In passive infinitives, “to be” is followed by the past participle form of the verb. Passive infinitives are typically used when the focus is on the action rather than the doer of the action. Here are some examples: “to be” + past participle

She wants to be invited to the wedding. (Passive infinitive of “invite”)
The car is to be repaired (Passive infinitive of “repair”)
It’s important to be understood by everyone. (Passive infinitive of “understand”)

In these sentences, the passive infinitives “to be invited” and “to be understood” emphasize the action rather than who is doing it.

Infinitives in Different Tenses

Infinitives play a role in constructing verbs in various tenses. Understanding how infinitives work with different tenses is essential for expressing actions in the past, present, and future:

Present Infinitive: This form represents actions in the present. It is used with the present simple tense to convey habitual actions or general truths. For example:

I like to eat pizza.

Past Infinitive: To express actions that occurred in the past, we use the past infinitive. It is formed with “to have” and the past participle of the main verb. For example:

She claimed to have seen a ghost.

Future Infinitive: While English doesn’t have a distinct future infinitive, we can use the present infinitive with a future time marker to express future actions. For example:

I will call you tomorrow.

Perfect Infinitive: To emphasize the completion of an action before another action, we use the perfect infinitive. It is formed with “to have” and the past participle. For example:

He was happy to have finished his work.

Continuous Infinitive: The continuous infinitive is formed by adding “to be” before the present participle of the verb. It is used to express actions that are ongoing or in progress at a certain time

He seems to be studying all night.

Functions of Infinitives

Infinitives serve multiple functions in English grammar, making them versatile and indispensable in both written and spoken communication.

Noun Function

Infinitives can function as nouns in sentences, performing roles typically reserved for nouns, such as subjects, objects, and objects of prepositions. For example:

To travel is my dream. (Subject)
She loves to read. (Direct Object)
He has a strong desire to succeed. (Object of Preposition)

Infinitives as nouns help express ideas, desires, or actions in a more abstract and general way.

Adjective Function:

Infinitives can also function as adjectives, modifying nouns to provide additional information. For example:

The book to read is on the shelf. (Describes which book)
The decision to resign was unexpected. (Describes the decision)

Infinitives used as adjectives help specify or describe the qualities of the nouns they modify.

Adverbial Function:

Infinitives can serve as adverbs, providing information about how, why, when, or where an action takes place. They often answer questions like “why?” or “for what purpose?” For example:

She studies hard to succeed. (Purpose)
He worked tirelessly to finish the project on time. (Manner)
I woke up early to catch the bus. (Purpose)

Infinitives as adverbs help clarify the circumstances or motivations behind actions.

Infinitives vs Gerunds

Gerunds and infinitives are both verb forms that can be used as nouns in sentences. However, there are some key differences between them:

Gerunds: These are verbs ending in -ing that function as nouns. They are used to talk about actions or activities in a general sense. For example: “Swimming is good exercise.”

Infinitives: These are the base form of verbs with “to” (e.g., to swim, to eat) and can also function as nouns. Infinitives are often used to express purpose or intention. For example: “I like to swim for exercise.”

The choice between gerunds and infinitives depends on the context and meaning you want to convey. Some verbs can be followed by both gerunds and infinitives with a change in meaning. For example:

I like to swim. (I enjoy swimming as an activity.)
I like swimming. (I enjoy the general concept of swimming.)
He stopped smoking. (He quit the habit of smoking.)
He stopped to smoke. (He paused what he was doing in order to smoke.)

Infinitive Phrases

Infinitives can appear as part of larger structures known as infinitive phrases. An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive and any associated words that modify or complement it. Infinitive phrases can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in a sentence.

Here are some examples of infinitive phrases:

To study hard is the key to success.
She loves to read books in her free time.
He worked late to finish the project on time.

In each of these examples, the infinitive phrase is highlighted and its function is explained.

Examples of Infinitives

He studies hard to pass his exams.
They want to go on a vacation.
Please let me help
He wants to travel to Europe.
I like to swim in the morning.
I will eat lunch later.
He decided to quickly finish the project.
She ran fast to catch the bus.
His main goal is to succeed.
My dream is to travel the world.
She wanted to quietly leave the room.
He will arrive
They can’t wait to see the movie.
The gift is too expensive to buy.
He spoke softly to avoid waking the baby.

Infinitives Exercises

He asked her _______ (close, to close, closed) the window.
She can _______ (to speak/speak) three languages.
They must ____________ (to stop/stop/stopped) the car immediately.
It’s time ____________ (to leave / leaves / left) for the meeting.
We should _______ (to save/save) money for our future.
I enjoy ____________ (swim / to swim / swimming) in the ocean.
He offered ____________ (drive / to drive / driving) us to the airport.
We should _______ (to call/call) the police immediately.
I prefer _______ (to travel / travel) by train.
I need _______ (finish, to finish, finished) the report by tomorrow.

Answers:

a) to close
b) speak
b) stop
c) to leave
a) save
c) swimming
a) to drive
b) call
b) to travel
a) to finish

FAQs

Q1: What is an infinitive?

An infinitive is the base form of a verb, usually preceded by the word “to” in English. It can function as a noun, adjective, adverb, or simply as the base form of the verb. It is often used to express various functions and purposes in a sentence.

Q2: What are split infinitives?

Split infinitives occur when an adverb is placed between “to” and the base form of the verb (e.g., “to quickly learn”). While they were traditionally avoided in formal writing, modern English often accepts split infinitives when they enhance clarity or emphasis.

Q3: How do infinitives differ from gerunds?

Infinitives are the base form of a verb and are typically preceded by “to,” while gerunds are verbs in their -ing form and function as nouns. Infinitives often express intention or purpose, whereas gerunds represent an action.

Q4: When should I use a bare infinitive?

Use a bare infinitive after modal verbs (e.g., can, will, must), certain other verbs (e.g., make, let, have), and as the base form of a verb in various sentences. For example, “She can swim” (modal verb), and “He made her laugh” (after the verb “make”).

Q5: What is the zero infinitive?

The zero infinitive is the base form of a verb used without “to” in certain constructions. It is often found after verbs like “let,” “make,” and “help.” For example, “Let me go,” “She made him laugh.”

Q6: Give some example sentences of infinitives.

Here are some examples of infinitives: