One of the fundamental aspects of mastering any language is understanding its verbs and their various forms. In English, one important form of the verb is the infinitive. Infinitive verbs play a crucial role in sentence construction and convey a variety of meanings and nuances. Understanding infinitives can significantly enhance your fluency and accuracy in English. This article aims to provide a comprehensive look at infinitive verbs, including their definition, types, uses, and common pitfalls.
What is an Infinitive Verb?
An infinitive verb is the basic form of a verb, usually preceded by the word “to.” For example, “to eat,” “to sleep,” and “to run” are all infinitive verbs. The infinitive form of a verb is not conjugated, meaning it does not change to reflect tense, number, or person.
Infinitive verbs can be used in various ways, including as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. They are incredibly versatile and can be found in a wide range of grammatical constructions.
Types of Infinitives
There are two main types of infinitives in English:
1. Full Infinitive (with “to”)
The full infinitive is the most common form and includes the word “to” before the verb. Examples include:
– To eat
– To sleep
– To run
2. Bare Infinitive (without “to”)
The bare infinitive is the verb form without “to.” This form is less common and is usually found after certain modal verbs, auxiliary verbs, and some other specific verbs. Examples include:
– I can eat.
– She must sleep.
– They will run.
Uses of Infinitive Verbs
Infinitive verbs are versatile and can be used in various ways within a sentence. Understanding these uses can help you grasp their function and apply them correctly in your writing and speaking.
1. Infinitives as Subjects
Infinitive verbs can act as the subject of a sentence, helping to express an idea or action. For example:
– To travel is my dream.
– To learn a new language takes time.
In these sentences, the infinitive verbs “to travel” and “to learn” serve as the subjects, indicating what the sentence is about.
2. Infinitives as Objects
Infinitives can also function as the object of a verb. In this case, they indicate what action is being performed or considered. For example:
– I want to eat.
– She needs to study.
Here, “to eat” and “to study” are the objects of the verbs “want” and “needs,” respectively.
3. Infinitives as Adjectives
Infinitive verbs can modify nouns, acting as adjectives. They provide additional information about a noun, often indicating purpose or intention. For example:
– I have a book to read.
– She found a place to relax.
In these sentences, “to read” and “to relax” describe the nouns “book” and “place,” respectively.
4. Infinitives as Adverbs
Infinitive verbs can also function as adverbs, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They often indicate the reason or purpose of an action. For example:
– He came to help.
– She was happy to see him.
In these examples, “to help” and “to see” modify the verbs “came” and “happy,” respectively.
5. Infinitives after Certain Verbs
Some verbs are followed by infinitives to complete their meaning. These verbs include “agree,” “decide,” “hope,” “plan,” “promise,” and many others. For example:
– They agreed to meet later.
– She decided to leave early.
In these sentences, the infinitives “to meet” and “to leave” follow the verbs “agreed” and “decided,” respectively.
6. Infinitives after Certain Adjectives
Infinitives can follow certain adjectives to add meaning to the sentence. These adjectives include “happy,” “sad,” “eager,” “ready,” and more. For example:
– I am happy to help.
– She is eager to learn.
Here, “to help” and “to learn” follow the adjectives “happy” and “eager,” adding context to the emotions.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
While infinitive verbs are relatively straightforward, there are some common mistakes that learners often make. Being aware of these pitfalls can help you use infinitives more accurately.
1. Splitting Infinitives
A split infinitive occurs when an adverb or other word is inserted between “to” and the verb. While not always incorrect, it can sometimes make sentences awkward or unclear. For example:
– Incorrect: She decided to quickly leave.
– Correct: She decided to leave quickly.
In the correct sentence, the adverb “quickly” follows the infinitive “to leave,” making the sentence clearer.
2. Confusing Bare Infinitives and Gerunds
Bare infinitives can be confused with gerunds, which are verbs ending in “-ing” that function as nouns. For example:
– Incorrect: I can swimming.
– Correct: I can swim.
In this case, “swim” is the correct bare infinitive to use after the modal verb “can.”
3. Using Infinitives with Modal Verbs
Modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would) are always followed by a bare infinitive, not a full infinitive. For example:
– Incorrect: She can to go.
– Correct: She can go.
Here, “go” is the correct bare infinitive to follow the modal verb “can.”
4. Infinitives After Certain Verbs
Some verbs are followed by gerunds rather than infinitives. These verbs include “enjoy,” “avoid,” “consider,” “finish,” and others. For example:
– Incorrect: I enjoy to read.
– Correct: I enjoy reading.
In this case, “reading” is the correct gerund form to follow the verb “enjoy.”
Advanced Uses of Infinitive Verbs
Once you have a good grasp of the basic uses of infinitives, you can explore more advanced constructions and nuances.
1. Infinitive Phrases
An infinitive phrase includes the infinitive verb along with its objects and/or modifiers. These phrases can add more detail and complexity to your sentences. For example:
– I want to eat pizza for dinner.
– She needs to study hard for the exam.
In these sentences, “to eat pizza for dinner” and “to study hard for the exam” are infinitive phrases that provide more information about the actions.
2. Infinitives in Passive Voice
Infinitives can be used in passive voice constructions, often to emphasize the action rather than the subject. For example:
– The book is to be read by the students.
– The project is to be completed by the end of the month.
In these sentences, the passive infinitives “to be read” and “to be completed” shift the focus to the actions.
3. Perfect Infinitives
The perfect infinitive is formed by combining “to have” with the past participle of a verb. This form is used to indicate an action that was completed before another action. For example:
– She seems to have forgotten her keys.
– They claim to have seen the movie.
In these sentences, “to have forgotten” and “to have seen” are perfect infinitives indicating past actions.
Practice Exercises
To help solidify your understanding of infinitive verbs, try these practice exercises.
1. Identify the Infinitive
In each sentence, identify the infinitive verb.
– I want to learn Spanish.
– She hopes to travel next year.
– They decided to stay home.
2. Correct the Sentences
Correct the following sentences that contain mistakes with infinitive verbs.
– He can to play the guitar.
– I enjoy to swim.
– She decided quickly to leave.
3. Create Sentences
Create your own sentences using infinitive verbs in the following ways:
– As a subject
– As an object
– As an adjective
– As an adverb
Conclusion
Infinitive verbs are an essential part of English grammar, offering versatility and nuance to your language use. By understanding their forms, uses, and common pitfalls, you can improve your fluency and accuracy in both written and spoken English. Keep practicing and exploring different ways to use infinitives, and you’ll find that they become a natural and integral part of your language skills.
