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What Is the Infinitive

Form of a Verb? (with
Examples)
The infinitive form of a verb is the verb in
its basic form. It is the version of the verb
that appears in the dictionary. The
infinitive form of a verb is usually
preceded by "to" (e.g., "to run," "to
dance," "to think").

An infinitive is a non-finite verb. In other

words, it cannot be the main verb in a
sentence. An infinitive can be used as a
noun, an adjective, or an adverb.

Table of Contents

Examples of Infinitives as Nouns

Examples of Infinitives as Adjectives

Examples of Infinitives as Adverbs

Bare Infinitives (When Not Preceded

by "To")

Real-Life Examples of Infinitive

Verbs

Why the Infinitive Form of a Verb Is

Important

Printable Test

Examples of Infinitives
as Nouns
Here are some examples of infinitive
verbs as nouns:

To dance was her passion.

(The infinitive is the subject of
"was.")

Compare it to this:

Dancing was her passion.

(This proves that the infinitive "to
dance" is being used as a noun.)

Here is another example:

He likes to hunt.
(The infinitive is the direct object of
"likes.")

Compare it to this:

He likes hunting.
(This proves that the infinitive "to
hunt" is being used as a noun.)

Examples of Infinitives
as Adjectives
An adjective modifies a noun to tell us
something about the noun (e.g., its colour,
type, or number). You have to bear this in
mind when working out how infinitives
function as adjectives. Here are some
examples of infinitive verbs as adjectives:

Give him an ornament to polish.

(The infinitive modifies "ornament."
This means it is functioning as an
adjective.)

Compare it to this:

Give him an ornament that he can

polish.
(The clause "that he must polish"
is an adjective clause. This proves
that the infinitive "to polish" is
being used as an adjective.)

Here is another example:

I need a volunteer to take the

minutes.
(The infinitive modifies "volunteer."
This means it is functioning as an
adjective.)

Compare it to this:

I need a volunteer who is

prepared to take the minutes.
(The clause "who is prepared to
take the minutes" is an adjective
clause. Therefore, the infinitive "to
take" is being used as an
adjective. Note how "to take" is
grouped with "the minutes." This is
an infinitive phrase.)

An infinitive that acts as an adjective

usually appears immediately after the
noun it is modifying.

Examples of Infinitives
as Adverbs
An adverb usually modifies a verb to tell
us when, where, how, in what manner, or
to what extent an action is performed. You
have to bear this in mind when working
out how infinitives function as adverbs.
Here are some examples of infinitive
verbs as adverbs:

The officer returned to help.

(The infinitive modifies the verb
"returned." This means it is
functioning as an adverb.)

Compare it to this:

The officer returned so he could

help.
(The clause "so he could help" is
an adverbial clause. This proves
that the infinitive "to help" is being
used as an adverb.)

Here is another example:

He will complete the mission to set

an example.
(The infinitive modifies the verb
"will complete." This means it is
functioning as an adverb.)

Compare it to this:

He will complete the mission so he

can set an example.
(The clause "so he can set an
example" is an adverbial clause.
Therefore, the infinitive "to set an
example" is being used as an
adverb. Note how "to set" is
grouped with "an example." This is
an infinitive phrase.)

Bare Infinitives (When

Not Preceded by "To")
The infinitive form is not always preceded
by "to." Look at these examples:

I need to run every day.

(The infinitive form with the word
"to" is called the "full infinitive" or
"to-infinitive.")

I must run every day.

(After certain verbs, the "to" is
dropped. The word "to" is not a
preposition. It is often called the
"sign of the infinitive.")

I run every day.

(This is not in the infinitive form.
This is a finite verb, i.e., a verb
functioning as the main verb.)

So, most infinitives are preceded by "to,"

but after certain verbs, the "to" is dropped.
The most obvious example is when an
infinitive follows "can," "could," "may,"
"might," "must," "shall," "should," "will," or
"would" (i.e., a modal verb). For example:

More examples (bare infinitives shaded):

He should go home.
(This is called a "bare infinitive.")

They might finish by Wednesday.

Bare infinitives also follow other verbs.

The main ones are "feel," "hear," "help,"
"let," "make," "see," and "watch." This
time, there is a direct object involved. For
example:

More examples (bare infinitives shaded):

Mark helped his friend finish.

(The "special" verb is "helped."
The direct object is "his friend.")

I watched them bake the bread.

(The "special" verb is "watched."
The direct object is "them.")

Real-Life Examples of
Infinitive Verbs
In these examples, the infinitives are
shaded and the infinitive phrases are in
bold. Remember that an infinitive phrase
is the infinitive form of a verb plus all the
bits that go with it (i.e., complements and
modifiers).

In these two examples, the infinitive verbs

are functioning as nouns:

Wine is constant proof that God

loves us and loves to see us
happy. (Founding Father of USA
Benjamin Franklin)

Some guys like to fight on even

playing grounds, and some guys
like to cheat. (Boxer Deontay
Wilder)

In these examples, the infinitive verbs are

functioning as adjectives:

Friends give you total freedom to

be yourself. (Singer Jim Morrison)

If one is wise, it is a profitable thing

to seem foolish. (Greek tragedian
Aeschylus)

In these examples, the infinitive verbs are

functioning as adverbs:

Sins, like chickens, come home to

roost. (Author Charles W.
Chesnutt)

To succeed in life, you need

three things: a wishbone, a
backbone, and a funny bone.
(Singer Reba McEntire)

Here's a bit more about infinitive phrases.

Look at this example:

He likes to knead the dough

slowly.

Apart from the infinitive verb itself (here,

"to knead"), the most common
components of an infinitive phrase will be
the thing being acted up (here, "the
dough") and an adverb telling us how,
when, or where (here, "slowly"). In this
example, "the dough" is a verb
complement (in this case, it's a direct
object) and "slowly" is a modifier (in this
case, an adverb of manner).

Why the Infinitive Form

of a Verb Is Important
There are three good reasons to care
about infinitives.

(Reason 1) Use the

infinitive form to name
the verb.
When discussing grammar, the full
infinitive (e.g., "to play") is used to name
the verb.

The verb to play has the participles

playing and played.

In the present tense, to be has the

forms "am," "is," and "are."

Also, you will definitely need to know what

infinitive verbs are if you decide to learn a
foreign language. If you don't use the
term "infinitive verb" in lesson 1, you'll use
it in lesson 2 and most other lessons
thereafter.

(Reason 2) Split
infinitives are okay.
A split infinitive occurs when a writer splits
the full infinitive with an adverb (e.g., "to
really laugh," "to better understand," "to
secretly plot").

You shouldn't be surprised if you find

yourself using a split infinitive because it
is often the most succinct, accurate, and
natural-sounding way to write. But, there's
bit of an issue with the split infinitive:
some regard it as non-standard English or
even a grammar mistake. (Just so we're
clear, it's neither. It's perfectly
acceptable.)

The issue doesn't end there though. Your

readers who think a split infinitive is wrong
might consider you sloppy for using one.
So, what's the answer? Avoid or use?
Here's the final advice: Have a quick go at
rewording, but if your new sentence
doesn't read as well (and it probably
won't), go with the split infinitive.

(Reason 3) An infinitive
can usually replace "in
order to."
To reduce your word count, you can
usually replace "in order to" with "to"
without any loss of meaning.

The doctors joined the A&E team

in order to gain experience.

In 2008, scientists discovered

bacteria that had adapted in order
to live in hairspray.

Even though it adds to your word count,

"in order to" does have an advantage: it
makes it clear that the text that follows is
the reason for performing the action. (It's
like using "so as to.")

Jack built a metal detector to find

gold nuggets.
(Here, "to find gold nuggets" could
be an adjective modifying
"detector." Jack's device might be
a gold-nugget-only detector.)

Jack built a metal detector in

order to find gold nuggets.
(With "in order to," it's clear that "to
find gold nuggets" is an adverb
modifying "built." It tells readers
why he built the metal detector,
which readers will now take to be a
standard metal detector.)

There's another advantage. Using "in

order to" puts a little more emphasis on
the reason for the action.

These two advantages are not normally

why people use "in order to." Mostly, it's
used because writers think it sounds more
highbrow. It's not highbrow. It's inefficient.

That said though, "in order not to" (i.e.,

the negative version) flows far better than
"not to."

In order not to offend anybody, in

order not to seem to be partisan,
the term "terrorist" is virtually
outlawed in US-run news
agencies. (Journalist Kevin
Meyers)
(This reads far better than "Not to
offend anybody, not to seem to be
partisan....")

Key Points

There is no need to actively

avoid a split infinitive, which is
often the most succinct,
accurate, and natural way to
convey your thought.

If "in order to" adds no clarity and

you're not looking for emphasis
on the reason, delete "in order."

Printable Test

0 0

1 not attempted

Select the verb in its full infinitive form:

I never forget a face , but in your

case I'll be glad to make an

exception .

2 not attempted

True or false? In the sentence below,

"leave" is in its infinitive form.

I should leave now to avoid rush hour

traffic.

A. True

B. False

3 not attempted

Select a verb in its infinitive form: