According to the norms of modern grammar, the English infinitive is one of the three main impersonal forms of the verb along with the participle and gerund. However, historical data indicate that in the Old English period the infinitive had a declined form, which presumably indicates its origin from a noun. So how do you know what an infinitive really is? In general, it can be compared with the indefinite form of a verb in the Russian language, since similarly to it, the English infinitive simultaneously possesses the properties of both the verb and the noun. However, at the same time, it has a number of specific qualities that significantly complicate the lives of people who are just beginning to learn English. To understand what the infinitive is and what it is "eaten" with, we will consider its main functions, forms and the most common examples of use.
Infinitive Functions
Depending on the role in the sentence, the infinitive can act as:
1. Noun:
To collect all this information for 2 hours would be completely impossible! - It is completely impossible to collect all the information in 2 hours!
2. Parts of a compound nominal predicate:
To love is to believe. - To love is to believe.
3. Additions:
Pamela quietly began to open the box. - Pamela began to calmly open the box.
4. Definitions (usually after a noun):
She brought new movies to watch. “She brought new films to watch.”
5. Parts of a
compound verb predicate :
The wind stopped blowing. - The wind stopped blowing.
6. Introductory phrase:
To put it bluntly, he was frightened to death. - Honestly, he was scared to hell.
7. Circumstances:
a) goals: He came to my office in order to sign a contract. “He came to my office to sign the contract.”
b) consequences: The offer was too favorable to decline. - The offer was too tempting to refuse it.
c) mode of action: He opened his month as if to speak. - He opened his mouth as if about to say something.
d) related circumstances: He left his home never to return. “He left his house, never to come back again.”
Expression of time and form of infinitive
The English infinitive has a view and collateral category. The first concept means that, depending on the context, the action expressed by the infinitive can be simultaneous or preceding with respect to the action of the predicate in the sentence. The second suggests that the infinitive has forms in both active and passive voice.
| Infinitive form | Pledge |
| Active | Passive |
| Simple | To bite | To be bitten |
| Perfect | To have bitten | To have been bitten |
| Continuous | To be biting | - |
| Perfect Cont. | To have been biting | - |
What is c to infinitive
The particle to is a grammatical sign of the infinitive, although in itself it does not carry any semantic meaning. The infinitive with to in English is always used after:
1. The words the last / first / next:
He is the next to get his passport in our family. “He's the next one to get a passport in our family.”
2. Adjectives expressing any relation:
We are more than happy to spend this weekend with you. “We will spend this weekend with you with great pleasure.”
3. Question words:
Can you explain one more time how to fix it? “Can you explain again how to fix it?”
4. The constructions of the verb + noun / place .:
I helped my dad to clean the car. “I helped dad wash the car.”
5. Designs for + noun / place .:
She waited for the cab to come. - She was waiting for a taxi to arrive.
6. The verbs agree, ask, decide, help, plan, hope, learn, want, would like, promise, refuse, claim, decide and others:
She refused to date her boss. - She refused to meet with her boss.
It should be remembered that with some verbs from this list you can use both gerund and infinitive. It all depends on the meaning of the word you want to convey.
"Naked" infinitive
What is the infinitive with the to particle, as well as its use cases, we have examined. Now let's pay attention to the main cases when it can be used without it. So, in English, the “naked” infinitive comes after:
1. The modal verbs shall, can, will, may, must / mustn't, needn't, could, would, might and should:
I shall bake a cake for his birthday. “I should bake a cake for his birthday.”
2. The phrase would rather / sooner, had better, why not, why should (not):
I would rather read a book than watch this film. “I'd rather read a book than watch this movie.”
3. Verbs of sensory or intellectual perception feel, hear, notice, see, watch + addition:
I heard Peter sing a song. “I heard Peter sing.”
4. The verbs let / make + addition:
Mother let her daughter decide on her own. - A mother allows her daughter to make decisions herself.
Of course, this is not all the language nuances associated with the use of English infinitive. However, if you understand the basics, then learning a foreign language will go much easier.