Infinitive verbs are one of the fundamental building blocks of the English language. For learners, understanding infinitive verbs is crucial as they appear frequently in both written and spoken English. An infinitive verb is essentially the base form of a verb, usually preceded by the word “to.” This article delves into the intricacies of infinitive verbs, their uses, and the rules governing them.
What is an Infinitive Verb?
An infinitive verb is the base form of a verb, often introduced by the word “to.” For example, in the phrases “to eat,” “to run,” and “to write,” the verbs “eat,” “run,” and “write” are in their infinitive forms. The infinitive form does not convey any tense, number, or subject. It simply states the action in its most basic form.
Types of Infinitives
Infinitives can be categorized into two main types:
1. **Bare Infinitives**: These are infinitive verbs without the “to” marker. For instance, in the sentence “She can dance,” the verb “dance” is a bare infinitive.
2. **Full Infinitives**: These include the “to” marker, as in “to dance,” “to read,” and “to play.”
Uses of Infinitive Verbs
Infinitive verbs serve various functions in sentences. Here are some of the primary uses:
1. As the Subject of a Sentence
Infinitives can act as the subject of a sentence. For example:
– **To read** is my favorite hobby.
– **To travel** around the world requires a lot of money.
In these examples, the infinitive phrases “to read” and “to travel” are the subjects of the sentences.
2. As the Object of a Verb
An infinitive can also serve as the object of a verb. For example:
– She wants **to learn** Spanish.
– He needs **to improve** his writing skills.
In these sentences, “to learn” and “to improve” are the objects of the verbs “wants” and “needs,” respectively.
3. As the Complement of a Verb
Infinitives can be used as complements to certain verbs, providing more information about the action. For example:
– Her dream is **to become** a doctor.
– His goal is **to write** a book.
Here, the infinitive phrases “to become” and “to write” complement the verbs “is.”
4. After Certain Adjectives
Certain adjectives are often followed by infinitives. For example:
– She is eager **to learn**.
– He is happy **to help**.
In these sentences, the adjectives “eager” and “happy” are followed by the infinitives “to learn” and “to help,” respectively.
5. After Certain Nouns
Infinitives can follow certain nouns to provide additional information. For example:
– She has a desire **to succeed**.
– He made an effort **to study**.
In these examples, the nouns “desire” and “effort” are followed by the infinitives “to succeed” and “to study.”
6. To Show Purpose
Infinitives are often used to express the purpose of an action. For example:
– She went to the store **to buy** groceries.
– He studied hard **to pass** the exam.
In these sentences, the infinitive phrases “to buy” and “to pass” indicate the purpose of the actions.
Common Verbs Followed by Infinitives
Certain verbs are typically followed by infinitives. Here are some common examples:
– Agree: She agreed **to help**.
– Decide: He decided **to leave** early.
– Hope: They hope **to visit** next summer.
– Plan: We plan **to travel** abroad.
– Promise: She promised **to call** later.
– Refuse: He refused **to cooperate**.
– Want: I want **to learn** French.
Split Infinitives
A split infinitive occurs when an adverb or other word is inserted between “to” and the verb. For example:
– She decided **to quickly leave**.
– He wants **to really understand**.
While traditional grammar rules often advise against splitting infinitives, modern usage has become more flexible. In many cases, splitting an infinitive can make a sentence clearer or more emphatic.
Negative Infinitives
To form a negative infinitive, place “not” before the verb. For example:
– She decided **not to go**.
– He promised **not to tell** anyone.
In these sentences, “not to go” and “not to tell” are negative infinitives.
Gerunds vs. Infinitives
One common challenge for learners is deciding whether to use a gerund (the -ing form of a verb) or an infinitive. Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, but the meaning may change. Here are some examples:
– **Remember**:
– I remember **meeting** her. (I have a memory of meeting her.)
– I remembered **to meet** her. (I did not forget to meet her.)
– **Stop**:
– He stopped **smoking**. (He quit smoking.)
– He stopped **to smoke**. (He paused what he was doing in order to smoke.)
– **Try**:
– Try **reading** this book. (Suggesting the activity of reading.)
– Try **to read** this book. (Attempting the action of reading.)
Special Cases and Exceptions
English, being a language full of exceptions, has some verbs that follow unique patterns. For example, after the verbs “make” and “let,” we use the bare infinitive:
– She made him **do** it.
– Let her **go**.
However, when these verbs are used in the passive voice, the full infinitive is used:
– He was made **to do** it.
– She was let **to go**.
Infinitive Phrases
An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive verb and any accompanying objects, modifiers, or complements. For example:
– She needs **to find a new job**.
– He wants **to learn how to cook**.
In these sentences, the phrases “to find a new job” and “to learn how to cook” are infinitive phrases providing more information about what the subjects need or want.
Infinitives in Passive Voice
When using infinitives in the passive voice, the structure changes slightly. For example:
– She wants **to be hired**.
– He needs **to be informed**.
In these sentences, the passive infinitives “to be hired” and “to be informed” indicate actions that need to be done to the subjects.
Infinitives with Modal Verbs
When using modal verbs like “can,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “must,” “shall,” “should,” “will,” and “would,” the bare infinitive form of the verb follows. For example:
– She can **sing** well.
– He might **come** to the party.
– They must **finish** their homework.
In these examples, the infinitives “sing,” “come,” and “finish” follow the modal verbs directly, without the “to” marker.
Infinitives with Question Words
Infinitives can follow question words like “what,” “where,” “when,” “why,” and “how.” For example:
– She didn’t know **what to say**.
– He wondered **where to go**.
– They couldn’t decide **how to proceed**.
In these sentences, the infinitive phrases “what to say,” “where to go,” and “how to proceed” follow the question words, providing more information about the action.
Infinitive Clauses
An infinitive clause consists of an infinitive verb and its subject, often introduced by the word “for.” For example:
– It is important **for you to understand**.
– The goal is **for everyone to participate**.
In these examples, the infinitive clauses “for you to understand” and “for everyone to participate” provide additional information about the main clause.
Infinitives and Causative Verbs
Causative verbs like “make,” “have,” and “let” often use the bare infinitive. For example:
– She made him **apologize**.
– He had her **write** the report.
– They let us **leave** early.
In these sentences, the infinitives “apologize,” “write,” and “leave” follow the causative verbs directly, without the “to” marker.
Infinitives in Reported Speech
When converting direct speech to reported speech, infinitives are often used. For example:
– Direct Speech: “I will help you,” she said.
– Reported Speech: She promised **to help** me.
– Direct Speech: “You should see a doctor,” he advised.
– Reported Speech: He advised me **to see** a doctor.
In these examples, the infinitive phrases “to help” and “to see” are used in the reported speech.
Common Mistakes with Infinitives
Learners often make mistakes with infinitives due to their various forms and uses. Here are some common errors and how to avoid them:
1. Using the Wrong Form
Incorrect: She enjoys **to dance**.
Correct: She enjoys **dancing**.
Remember that some verbs are followed by gerunds instead of infinitives.
2. Splitting Infinitives Unnecessarily
Incorrect: She decided **to not go**.
Correct: She decided **not to go**.
While splitting infinitives can sometimes improve clarity, it is often better to keep the infinitive intact.
3. Omitting “to” in Full Infinitives
Incorrect: He wants **go** home.
Correct: He wants **to go** home.
Ensure that the “to” marker is included in full infinitives.
Exercises and Practice
To master infinitives, practice is essential. Here are some exercises to help you:
Exercise 1: Identify the Infinitives
Underline the infinitives in the following sentences:
1. She plans to visit her grandmother.
2. They decided to stay at home.
3. He needs to finish his homework.
4. She loves to read mystery novels.
5. He was made to apologize.
Exercise 2: Complete the Sentences
Fill in the blanks with the correct infinitive form:
1. She wants _______ (learn) French.
2. They decided _______ (not/go) to the party.
3. He promised _______ (call) me later.
4. She needs _______ (find) a new job.
5. He hopes _______ (pass) the exam.
Exercise 3: Rewrite the Sentences
Rewrite the following sentences using infinitives:
1. She enjoys dancing.
2. He suggested going to the park.
3. They plan on traveling next summer.
4. She is interested in learning Spanish.
5. He talked about writing a book.
Conclusion
Infinitive verbs are an integral part of the English language, serving various roles and functions in sentences. By understanding their uses, forms, and common mistakes, learners can improve their fluency and accuracy. Remember to practice regularly and pay attention to context to master the use of infinitive verbs. Happy learning!
