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Understanding The Infinitive Worksheet

The infinitive is the basic form of a verb, represented as 'to' + base form, such as 'to eat' or 'to go,' and is not restricted by tense, person, or number. It serves various functions, including as a subject, after certain verbs, to express purpose, and after adjectives. The term 'infinitive' reflects its unlimited nature in grammar.

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9 views2 pages

Understanding The Infinitive Worksheet

The infinitive is the basic form of a verb, represented as 'to' + base form, such as 'to eat' or 'to go,' and is not restricted by tense, person, or number. It serves various functions, including as a subject, after certain verbs, to express purpose, and after adjectives. The term 'infinitive' reflects its unlimited nature in grammar.

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ellyisatwork
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Understanding the Infinitive

The term "infinitive" comes from the Latin word "infinitivus," meaning
"unlimited" or "not defined." This reflects how the infinitive form of a
verb is not restricted by tense, person, or number. It is the basic or
pure form of a verb.

What Is an Infinitive?

An infinitive is the "to" + base form of a verb. Examples include:

 to eat

 to go

 to study

It does not indicate who is performing the action, when it happens, or


how many people are involved. For instance, "to write" does not tell us
whether the action is happening now, in the past, or in the future.

Infinitive vs. Verb 1 (Base Form)

Although the infinitive looks similar to the base form of the verb, there
are key differences:

Feature Infinitive (to + base form) Verb 1 (Base Form)

Form to + verb (e.g., to read) Plain verb (e.g., read)

Used in present simple tense,


Used after specific verbs, as a
Function commands, and after modal
subject, or to express purpose
verbs

Examples I want to sleep. (infinitive) I sleep early. (verb 1)

After
Incorrect: She can to go. Correct: She can go.
Modals

Uses of the Infinitive

1. As a subject:

o To read is relaxing.

2. After certain verbs (e.g., want, need, decide):

o I want to sleep.

3. To express purpose:

o She studies English to travel.


4. After adjectives:

o It is easy to learn.

Why Is It Called "Infinitive"?

It is called "infinitive" because it is not bound by grammatical categories


such as tense (past, present, future), person (I, you, he), or number
(singular, plural). It represents the verb in its most flexible and
unlimited form.

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