According to the norms of modern grammar, the English infinitive is one of the three main non-finite forms of the verb, along with the participle and the gerund. However, historical evidence suggests that in the Old English period the infinitive had an inflected 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 the verb in Russian, since, similarly to it, the English infinitive simultaneously has the properties of both a verb and a noun. However, at the same time, he has a number of specific qualities that significantly complicate the life of people who are just starting to learn English. To understand what the infinitive is and what it is "eaten with", 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! – Collect all the information in 2 hours completelyimpossible!
2. Parts of a compound nominal predicate:
To love is to believe. – To love is to believe.
3. Extras:
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 the 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 as 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.
c) course of action: He opened his month as if to speak. He opened his mouth like he was about to say something.
d) accompanying circumstance: He left his home never to return. – He left his home, never to return.
Expression of time and forms of the infinitive
The English infinitive has the category of aspect and voice. The first concept means that, depending on the context, the action expressed by the infinitive can be simultaneous or preceding the action of the predicate in the sentence. The second says that the infinitive has forms in both active and passivepledge.
| Infinitive form | Bail | |
| 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 the infinitive c to
The particle to is a grammatical feature of the infinitive, although it does not carry any semantic meaning by itself. The infinitive with to in English is always used after:
1. Words the last/first/next:
He is the next to get his passport in our family. – He is the next person in our family to get a passport.
2. Adjectives expressing a relationship:
We are more than happy to spend this weekend with you. – It will be our great pleasure to spend this weekend with you.
3. Question words:
Can you explain one more time how to fix it? – Can you explain again how to fix it?
4. Constructions verb + noun/local:
I helped my dad to clean the car. – I helped dad wash the car.
5. constructions for + noun/local:
She waited for the cab to come. – She was waiting for the taxi to arrive.
6. Verbs agree, ask, decide, help, plan, hope, learn, want, would like, promise, refuse, claim, decide and others:
She refused to date her boss. - She isrefused to meet her boss.
Note that some of the verbs on this list can use both the gerund and the infinitive. It all depends on what meaning of the word you want to convey.
Naked infinitive
What is the infinitive with the particle to, as well as the options for its use - we have considered. 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. 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. Phrase would rather/sooner, had better, why not, why should (not):
I would rather read a book than watch this film. – I would 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. verbs let/make + addition:
Mother let her daughter decide on her own. – A mother lets her daughter make her own decisions.
Of course, this is not all the language nuances associated with the use of the English infinitive. However, once you get the basics down, learning a foreign language will become much easier.
