Infinitives - Meaning, Definition, Types, How to Use and Examples (2024)

Infinitives are a form of verbs that are formed by adding the word ‘to’ in front of the verb. They can work as nouns, adverbs, or adjectives in a sentence. Explore the article to learn more about the meaning and definition of an infinitive, the types of infinitives, how to use infinitives in sentences, and the difference between infinitives, participles and gerunds. Also, go through the examples given in the article to understand better.

Table of Contents

• What Is an Infinitive Verb? – Meaning and Definition
• Types of Infinitives
• Some Verbs That Always Take the Bare Infinitive
• Some Verbs That Always Take the Full Infinitive
• Functions of an Infinitive Verb – Usage and Examples
• Infinitive Verbs as Nouns
• Infinitive Verbs as Adjectives
• Infinitive Verbs as Adverbs
• How Do You Use an Infinitive in a Sentence?
• Continuous Infinitives
• Split infinitives
• Passive Infinitives
• Difference between Infinitives, Participles and Gerunds
• Check Your Understanding of Infinitive Verbs
• Frequently Asked Questions on Infinitive Verbs

What Is an Infinitive Verb? – Meaning and Definition

An infinitive verb is a verb form that takes a ‘to’ before the base form, as in ‘to make’, ‘to bring’, ‘to exercise’, etc. It is a term that is also used to refer to the base verb that does not function as the verb in the sentence. The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines an infinitive as “the basic form of a verb, such as be or run. In English, an infinitive is used by itself, for example, swim in She can swim (this use is sometimes called the bare infinitive), or with ‘to’ (the to-infinitive) as in She likes to swim”. An infinitive is defined as “a verb form normally identical in English with the first person singular that performs some functions of a noun and at the same time displays some characteristics of a verb, and that is used with to (as in I asked him to go) except with auxiliary and various other verbs (as in No one saw him leave)”, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

Types of Infinitives

Infinitive verbs are divided into two based on how they appear in a sentence. The two types of infinitives are,

• Bare infinitives
• Full infinitives

Bare infinitives are verbs that are used in their base form and do not function as a verb. They occur after verbs such as ‘see’, ‘watch’, ‘hear’ and ‘feel’ and also after modal verbs such as ‘need’, ‘can’, ‘should’, ‘must’, ‘may’, ‘might’, ‘would’, ‘could’, and ‘will’. Full infinitives (also called to-infinitives) are verbs that take a ‘to’ before them and do not function as a verb. Both bare infinitives and full infinitives can be employed in the same sentence.

Look at the following example.

I want to see you cook.

You will see that there are three action words in this sentence – ‘want’, ‘see’ and ‘cook’. Among these, which one do you think is the main verb and the infinitive? Well, ‘want’ is the main verb, ‘to see’ is the full infinitive and ‘cook’ is the bare infinitive.

Some Verbs That Always Take the Bare Infinitive

Some verbs such as ‘make’, ‘do’ and ‘let’ always take the bare infinitive form of the verb. For example,

• Let me know if you need some help.
• Windy does not like brinjal and bitter gourd.
• The teacher made the students speak about their trip in one minute.

Some Verbs That Always Take the Full Infinitive

There is a list of verbs in English that are always followed by the ‘to-infinitive’ when they have a verb form following them. Here is the list of 35+ verbs. Check it out.

• Agree
• Need
• Ought
• Care
• Beg
• Appear
• Choose
• Resolve
• Ensure
• Decide
• Plan
• Wish
• Want
• Aim
• Mean
• Like
• Love
• Hate
• Deserve
• Learn
• Proceed
• Attempt
• Claim
• Forget
• Remember
• Demand
• Long
• Promise
• Threaten
• Hesitate
• Expect
• Hope
• Prepare
• Offer
• Seem
• Refuse
• Tend

Functions of an Infinitive Verb – Usage and Examples

An infinitive verb can perform three main roles – the roles of a noun, an adverb and an adjective. Let us learn how this particular form is used in sentences.

Infinitive Verbs as Nouns

When infinitive verbs are used as nouns, they answer the question ‘what’. Make sure you use the full infinitive form when the infinitive is employed as a noun in the sentence. A famous example is ‘To err is human; to forgive is divine’. Here are a few more examples.

Example 1:

To reach after sunset felt meaningless, but it was still worth the long trek.

In the above sentence, ‘to reach’ is the infinitive that takes the place of the subject in the sentence.

Example 2:

All we wanted was to rest.

In this sentence, ‘to rest’ is the infinitive that works as the object of the verb ‘was’.

Infinitive Verbs as Adjectives

Adjectives are words that modify nouns. When infinitive verbs modify or add extra information about the noun in a sentence, it is said to be an adjective.

Example 1:

We are expecting someone to help us.

Here, in this sentence, ‘to help’ is the infinitive that provides more information about the pronoun ‘someone’.

Example 2:

I haven’t bought all the ingredients to bake the cake.

In the above sentence, ‘to bake’ modifies the noun phrase ‘all the ingredients’.

Infinitive Verbs as Adverbs

Adverbs provide more information about the verb, adverb or adjective in a sentence; so does an infinitive verb that takes the place of an adverb. In this case, they explain why the particular action is being performed. Let us understand how this works with the help of a few examples.

Example 1:

I would like to eat some chocolates.

In this example, ‘to eat’ is the infinitive verb that tells what the subject ‘I’ likes to do.

Example 2:

Theola wanted to dance at the party.

‘To dance’ is the infinitive verb that functions as an adverb in the sentence.

Apart from these, bare infinitives are used when suggestions are made in the form of questions using ‘why’.

For example,

• Why ask if you have already decided?
• Why make a fuss over everything?

How Do You Use an Infinitive in a Sentence?

Infinitives can be used in sentences in three ways, such as,

• Continuous infinitives
• Split infinitives
• Passive infinitives

Continuous Infinitives

A continuous infinitive is one where the infinitive is formed using the verb ‘be’ followed by the present participle form of the verb you intend to use.

For example,

• You must be joking; I don’t think Derrick will want a bicycle.
• He might be participating in the Annual Accapella Competition this year.

Split Infinitives

A split infinitive has an adverb or adverbial phrase in between the ‘to’ and the base form of the verb in a to-infinitive. This is done, in most cases, to bring emphasis or since it does not make sense when you place the adverb anywhere else.

For example,

• This will help you to immediately understand how to work on the application.
• The students need to spontaneously and clearly present their ideas in a group discussion.

Passive Infinitives

When an infinitive is written in the passive voice, it is referred to as a passive infinitive. Take a look at the following examples to understand how it works.

• I have been waiting to be given a chance to showcase my talents.
• All lights and fans have to be turned off when you leave the classroom.

You can also go through the article on infinitive phrases to learn the difference between an infinitive and an infinitive phrase. Furthermore, try out the exercises in the article ‘Infinitive exercises’ to check your understanding of infinitive verbs.

Difference between Infinitives, Participles and Gerunds

Check Your Understanding of Infinitive Verbs

Identify if the underlined words are infinitives or prepositional phrases.

1. Tharini wants to watch a movie.

2. We are going to the market.

3. I will help you make the lasagne.

4. We were expecting to take the 9:20 train to Chennai.

5. Will you come with me to the hospital?

6. Riya wished to buy her friends tickets to the Rangers’ game.

7. Fiona tried to inform the police about the burglary in her apartment but her brother asked her not to.

8. You need to strictly follow the medication to get healthy.

9. The children ran to their buses as soon as the bell rang.

10. Can you teach me to play?

Check the answers to explore if you have the infinitive and the prepositional phrases in the given sentences.

1. Tharini wants to watch a movie. – Infinitive verb

2. We are going to the market. – Prepositional phrase

3. I will help you make the lasagne. – Infinitive verb

4. We were expecting to take the 9:20 train to Chennai. – Infinitive verb

5. Will you come with me to the hospital? – Prepositional phrase

6. Riya wished to buy her friends tickets to the Rangers’ game. – Infinitive verb

7. Fiona tried to inform the police about the burglary in her apartment but her brother asked her not to. – Infinitive verb

8. You need to strictly follow the medication to get healthy. – Infinitive verb

9. The children ran to their buses as soon as the bell rang. – Prepositional phrase

10. Can you teach me to play? – Infinitive verb