An “infinitive” is the base form of a verb, typically preceded by the word “to.” In English, infinitives are versatile and can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. The most common form of an infinitive is “to” followed by the base form of the verb.
- Structure of an Infinitive: to + base form of the verb
- Examples of Infinitives:
To walk: In this example, “walk” is the base form of the verb, and “to” is the infinitive marker.
To sing : Here, “sing” is the base form of the verb, and “to” forms the infinitive.
To study: “Study” is the base form, and “to” introduces the infinitive.
Functions of Infinitives:
- Noun Function: To succeed requires effort and dedication.
In this case, the infinitive “to succeed” functions as a noun, serving as the sentence’s subject. - Adjective Function: The decision to postpone the meeting was wise.
Here, “to postpone” acts as an adjective modifying the noun “decision.” - Adverb Function: She worked hard to complete the project on time.
The infinitive “to complete” is an adverb, providing more information about the verb “worked.”
Infinitives are essential in expressing purpose, intent, or actions in a general sense. They are crucial in constructing various sentence structures and are fundamental to English grammar.
