Infinitive Verbs in English

Learning English, you’ve probably come across the term “infinitive,” which is fundamental to understanding and using verbs. But what is the infinitive? In this article, we’ll look at infinitive verbs, their types, uses, and examples to improve your understanding of this key grammatical element. Whether you are a beginner or want to brush up on your knowledge, this guide will be of great help.

What is an Infinitive Verb?

Infinitive verbs are a type of verb that can be used as the basic form of a verb. An infinitive verb is made up of two parts: the word “to” and the base verb. It’s a verb in its purest form, with no tens or person added. In other words, an infinitive is the basic form of a verb that you can find in a dictionary. For example, in English, “to eat,” “to sleep,” and “to think” are infinitive verbs.

An infinitive verb is made up of two parts: the word “to” and the base verb. For example, in the sentence “I want to go,” “go” is the base verb, and “to go” is the infinitive verb. The purpose of the infinitive is to mention an action in general, not a specific case of an action performed.

Infinitive verbs are not changed to indicate a particular tense or person. For example, the infinitive verb “to do” does not change to “does” or “did” like other verbs do. 

Infinitives are formed by adding “to” in front of the base form of a verb. To express negation, place “not” in front of them.

Why are Infinitive Verbs Important?

Infinitive verbs are key because they serve as the basis for all other verb forms. They are like the glue that holds sentences together. They help us to express a wide range of ideas, from desires (“I want to win!”) to plans (“We plan to visit Italy”) and even reasons (“She went to the library to study”) without being limited to a specific tense or subject. Infinitive verbs are the form of the verb that is used in most dictionaries and grammar books. As such, they are the foundation of the English language and are essential for understanding and using verbs correctly.

Infinitives are universal and can function in different roles in a sentence:

• Direct object
• Subject 
• Subject complement
• Adjective
• Adverb

Infinitive verbs are also important because they are used in many common expressions, such as “to be or not to be.” They are also used in many idiomatic expressions, such as “to make a long story short” and “to beat around the bush,” as well as in infinitive phrases such as “to be honest,” “to tell the truth,” “to sum up,” etc.

Among the most famous expressions with infinitives, for example:

“To be or not to be, that is the question.” William Shakespeare, Hamlet.

“To err is human; to forgive, divine.” Alexander Pope.

“To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other and to feel. That is the purpose of life.” James Thurber, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

Infinitive Verbs in English Grammar

Infinitive verbs are an important part of English grammar. They can function as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb in a sentence, and they can also complement the main verb.

Now, let’s see infinitives shine in sentences:

• Noun: “My dream is to become a doctor.” (Infinitive is as the dream.)
• Adjective: “There are many places to explore in this city.” (Infinitive describes places.)
• Adverb: “He went to the store to buy groceries.” (Infinitive describes the reason.)
• Complementing the main verb: “She helped to organize the event.” (“Helped” is the main verb, and “to organize” is the infinitive that complements the action described by the main verb).

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Types of Infinitive Verbs

There are three main types of infinitive verbs:

• Bare Infinitive: It's a base verb form without “to,” used after modal verbs and certain other verbs such as can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would. For example: “You should clean your room.”
• Split Infinitives: When one or more words are inserted between the word “to” and the base form of the verb in an infinitive. For example: “She decided to quickly finish her homework” (“quickly” splits the infinitive “to finish”).
• Full Infinitive (To-Infinitive): It's a base verb form with “to,” used in various roles such as noun, adjective, and adverb.

Full infinitives are common in all sorts of sentences and can act as nouns, adjectives, and adverbs:

• As a Noun. The infinitive can act as a noun, being the subject or object of a sentence. For example, “To travel is my passion.” (= Something is a passion.) or “Our dream is to travel.” (= Our dream is something.). 
• As an Adjective. When an infinitive functions as an adjective, it describes a noun. For example, “There is a lot of work to do.” (= Work that must be done.) or “The teacher gave us several exercises to complete.” (= Exercises that must be completed.). 
• As an Adverb. Adverb infinitives usually tell why and can be used as an adverb. For example, “They saved money to buy a new car.” (= “To buy a new car” is the reason.) or “To do well in college, you have to study hard.” (= “To do well in college” is the reason.).

Understanding these types and how they function will help you use infinitives more accurately in your sentences.

Examples of Infinitive Verbs in Sentences

Here are some examples of infinitive verbs used in sentences:

• To read books is my favorite pastime. (Infinitive used as the subject of the sentence.)
• She wants to travel the world. (Infinitive used as the object of the verb “wants.")
• They were eager to learn about new cultures. (Infinitive used as an adjective modifying “eager.")
• He decided to join the team. (Infinitive used as the object of the verb “decided.")
• We need to finish the project by tomorrow. (Infinitive used as the object of the verb “need.")
• To be honest, I didn’t enjoy the movie. (Infinitive is used as an adverb to modify the entire sentence and express the speaker’s honesty.)

These examples illustrate how infinitive verbs can be used in different roles within a sentence, acting as subjects, objects, adjectives, or adverbs.

How to Use Infinitive Verbs

Infinitive verbs are helpful in the passive voice, modal verbs, and phrasal verbs.

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that help express necessity, possibility, or permission. They are often followed by an infinitive verb. For example, in the sentence “I must go,” “must” is the modal verb, and “go” is the infinitive verb.

Phrasal verbs are verbs that are made up of a verb and a particle (such as “up,” “down,” “in,” or “out”). They are often followed by an infinitive verb. For example: “She set out to learn French this year.”

Passive voice can be constructed with an infinitive. In a passive construction, the subject of the verb becomes the recipient of the action, not the performer. The passive infinitive is formed by combining “to be” with the past participle of the verb. For example: “The project needs to be completed by Friday.”

List of Infinitive Verbs

Here is a list of common infinitive verbs in English:

• To be
• To have
• To do
• To go
• To make
• To take
• To say
• To see
• To get
• To give
• To think
• To know
• To find
• To tell
• To ask
• To use
• To seem
• To become
• To put
• To feel
• To try
• To work
• To call
• To play
• To show
• To change
• To keep
• To write

Summary

Infinitive verbs are the base form of verbs, usually preceded by “to,” and are essential in English grammar. They can act as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs, making them versatile in sentence construction. There are three types: bare infinitives, full infinitives, and split infinitives. Infinitives are also used in passive voice, modal verbs, and phrasal verbs. The best way to learn infinitive verbs is to practice using them in sentences and pay attention to the structure. With the right approach, you can master infinitive verbs in English and become a better speaker very quickly.