Infinitive
The infinitive in English
In English, there are two main forms of the infinitive:[1]
- the full infinitive (to-infinitive) has the word to at the beginning. For example: I want to run
- the bare infinitive does not have the word to. For example: I must go.
After a modal verb you must use an infinitive. For example, I must go, he must go (he must goes is not correct)
To express time relationships, here are 6 types of infinitives:
- simple infinitive, for example, to write
- continuous infinitive, for example, to be writing
- perfect infinitive, for example, to have written
- perfect continuous infinitive, for example, to have been writing
- passive infinitive, for example, to be written
- passive perfect infinitive, for example, to have been written
The infinitive in other languages
- In German, the infinitives end with -en, -eln or -ern. There are 2 exceptions - sein (to be) and tun (to do).
- In Esperanto, the infinitives end with -i, for example dormi (to sleep)
References
- "Infinitive in English".
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