The infinitive form of a verb is one of the most fundamental concepts in English and many other languages. For English learners, understanding how to form and use infinitives is crucial for mastering the language. Infinitives can function in various ways within a sentence, and recognizing their versatility can significantly enhance your linguistic prowess.
What is an Infinitive?
An infinitive is the base form of a verb, often preceded by the particle “to.” In English, infinitives are used in several grammatical structures and can serve as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. For example, in the sentences “I want to eat,” “The best way to learn is by practicing,” and “He came to help,” the phrases “to eat,” “to learn,” and “to help” are all infinitives.
Types of Infinitives
Infinitives can be categorized into two main types: bare infinitives and full infinitives.
1. **Bare Infinitives**: These are infinitives without the particle “to.” They are often used after modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would) and certain other verbs like “let,” “make,” “see,” “hear,” “watch,” and “help.” For example:
– “You must go now.”
– “She can sing beautifully.”
– “Let him try.”
2. **Full Infinitives**: These are infinitives that include the particle “to.” They are more commonly used and appear in a variety of sentence structures. For example:
– “I need to study.”
– “He wants to travel the world.”
– “They decided to leave early.”
Uses of Infinitives
Infinitives can serve multiple functions in a sentence. Here are some of the primary uses:
Infinitives as Nouns
When infinitives act as nouns, they can be the subject or object of a sentence. For example:
– As the subject: “To read is enjoyable.”
– As the object: “She loves to dance.”
In these cases, the infinitive phrase functions similarly to a noun, representing an action or state of being.
Infinitives as Adjectives
Infinitives can also function as adjectives, modifying nouns. For example:
– “She has a lot of work to do.”
– “There are many places to visit in the city.”
In these sentences, the infinitive phrases “to do” and “to visit” describe the nouns “work” and “places,” respectively.
Infinitives as Adverbs
When acting as adverbs, infinitives modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, often indicating purpose or reason. For example:
– “He came to help.”
– “She is eager to learn.”
– “They left early to avoid traffic.”
In these examples, the infinitive phrases “to help,” “to learn,” and “to avoid” modify the verbs “came,” “is eager,” and “left,” respectively, explaining the purpose of the actions.
Special Cases and Common Pitfalls
While forming and using infinitives is generally straightforward, there are some special cases and common pitfalls to be aware of.
Split Infinitives
A split infinitive occurs when an adverb or other word is inserted between “to” and the verb. For example:
– “To boldly go where no one has gone before.”
While split infinitives are often considered acceptable in modern English, especially for clarity or emphasis, some traditional grammarians still frown upon them. It’s a stylistic choice, but be aware of your audience and the context in which you are writing or speaking.
Infinitive or Gerund?
Another common challenge is deciding whether to use an infinitive or a gerund (the -ing form of a verb). Some verbs can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund, but the meaning can change. For example:
– “I stopped to smoke.” (I paused what I was doing in order to smoke.)
– “I stopped smoking.” (I quit the habit of smoking.)
Other verbs may require either an infinitive or a gerund, but not both. For instance:
– “I enjoy reading.” (Correct)
– “I enjoy to read.” (Incorrect)
– “She wants to leave.” (Correct)
– “She wants leaving.” (Incorrect)
Common Verbs Followed by Infinitives
Some verbs are commonly followed by infinitives. Here are a few categories of such verbs:
Verbs Expressing Desire or Preference
– Want: “I want to travel.”
– Wish: “She wishes to see the world.”
– Would like: “They would like to meet you.”
– Prefer: “I prefer to stay home.”
Verbs Indicating Intention or Plan
– Plan: “We plan to visit Paris.”
– Intend: “He intends to buy a new car.”
– Decide: “They decided to move abroad.”
– Aim: “She aims to become a doctor.”
Verbs Showing Effort or Attempt
– Try: “He tried to fix the car.”
– Attempt: “She attempted to climb the mountain.”
– Strive: “They strive to achieve their goals.”
– Endeavor: “We endeavor to provide quality service.”
Infinitives with Modal Verbs
When using modal verbs such as can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would, the bare infinitive form is used without “to.” For example:
– “You can speak French.”
– “She must finish her homework.”
– “They should go now.”
In these sentences, the verbs “speak,” “finish,” and “go” are bare infinitives following the modal verbs “can,” “must,” and “should.”
Perfect and Continuous Infinitives
Infinitives can also appear in perfect and continuous forms to indicate different nuances of time and aspect.
Perfect Infinitive
The perfect infinitive is formed by using “to have” followed by the past participle of the verb. It is used to refer to a time earlier than that of the main verb. For example:
– “She seems to have forgotten the meeting.” (The forgetting happened before the seeming.)
– “They claim to have seen the suspect.” (The seeing happened before the claiming.)
Continuous Infinitive
The continuous infinitive is formed by using “to be” followed by the present participle (the -ing form) of the verb. It is used to indicate an ongoing action. For example:
– “He appears to be running late.”
– “She pretended to be reading.”
Infinitive Phrases
Infinitive phrases consist of an infinitive and its complements and modifiers. These phrases can act as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in sentences. For example:
– “I have a report to write.” (Adjective modifying “report”)
– “We need to finish our project.” (Noun acting as the object of “need”)
– “She went to the store to buy some milk.” (Adverb modifying “went”)
Common Expressions with Infinitives
Several common expressions in English use infinitives. Here are a few examples:
Be + Adjective + Infinitive
– “She is eager to learn.”
– “They were happy to help.”
– “He is ready to go.”
Too + Adjective + Infinitive
– “It’s too hot to handle.”
– “She is too tired to continue.”
– “He was too young to drive.”
Adjective + Enough + Infinitive
– “She is old enough to vote.”
– “He is strong enough to lift the box.”
– “They were brave enough to face the challenge.”
For + Noun/Pronoun + Infinitive
– “It is important for you to attend the meeting.”
– “It’s difficult for him to accept the truth.”
– “It was a pleasure for us to meet you.”
Practice and Application
To master the use of infinitives, practice is essential. Here are some exercises to help you practice forming and using infinitives:
Exercise 1: Identify the Infinitives
Identify the infinitives in the following sentences and determine their function (noun, adjective, or adverb).
1. “She wants to travel the world.”
2. “The best way to learn is by practicing.”
3. “He came to help with the project.”
4. “I need to finish my homework.”
5. “They decided to leave early.”
Exercise 2: Complete the Sentences
Complete the following sentences with the appropriate infinitive phrases.
1. “She is eager __________.”
2. “They were too tired __________.”
3. “He appears __________.”
4. “We plan __________.”
5. “It is important for you __________.”
Exercise 3: Rewrite the Sentences
Rewrite the following sentences using infinitives.
1. “She enjoys dancing.”
2. “He can swim very well.”
3. “They are planning a trip.”
4. “She is learning French.”
5. “He was asked to join the team.”
Conclusion
Infinitives are a versatile and essential component of English grammar. By understanding how to form and use infinitives, you can enhance your language skills and communicate more effectively. Remember to practice regularly and pay attention to the context in which infinitives are used. With time and practice, you’ll find that using infinitives becomes second nature, allowing you to express yourself with greater clarity and precision.
