Infinitive: Definition, Types, Examples

Infinitive: Definition,Types and Examples

Friends, in this article, you will know what is infinitive and what the use of infinitive is in English grammar.

What is Infinitive?

An infinitive is formed from the verb but does not act as a verb. It functions as a noun (subject/object),
adjective and adverb in a sentence. It is made up of two words (To + Verb). These two words act together as noun, adjective and adverb.

Types of Infinitive

1. Simple infinitive (to go)
2. Continuous infinitive(to be going)
3. Perfect infinitive(to have gone)
4. Present perfect continuous infinitive(to have been going)
5. Present infinitive in passive(to be gone)

1). Simple Infinitive

The simple infinitive denotes to the same time as the preceding verb. The simple infinitive has two forms:

A). To-infinitive
B). Bare infinitive

To-infinitive	Bare  Infinitive
To speak	Speak
To take	Take
To have	Have
To make	Make

A). To-infinitive

Infinitive as subject

• To advise is easy.
• To learn Chinese is not easy.
• To take exam is becoming difficult.
• To give exam has become easy.       
• Not to tell truth is bad habit.

Infinitive as object

• John always forgets to bring fees.
• I prefer to take tea.
• He decided not to go to abroad.
• I wanted to earn money for the my family.
• I cannot believe you knew to read English book.

Infinitive as adverb

• She promised to come first in the exam.
• To start a business, you must plan first.
• I bought a cell phone to call my parents
• To win this match, he must hit 3 sixes.

Infinitive as adjective

• I have the ability to teach 100 students at a time.
• Paris is the place to visit.
• Rohit has some fruits to eat
• The singer to watch is Joyce.

B). Bare infinitive

Bare infinitive after auxiliaries

• She can't write to her.
• You should give her some suggestions.
• Shall I go to his house?
• Would you like a glass of milk?
• You must reach there till 12.00 p.m.

Bare infinitive after verbs of perception

• He saw her fight with someone.
• I heard them tell a lie.
• They saw us have lunch.
• He felt the ant crawl up her hand.

Bare infinitive after the verbs 'make' and 'let'

• He lets her stay out late.
• Let's go to the club tonight.
• You made me laugh a lot.
• Don't make her go out today.

Bare infinitive After 'Had Better'

• We had better eat something before leave.
• He had better ask him not to dance.
• We had better take some food with us.
• You had better tell me her name.

Bare infinitive with 'why'

• Why wait until tomorrow?
• Why not tell him all?
• Why switch off the TV before the end of the movie?
• Why hire taxi when we have car?
• Why not open the door?

2). Continuous Infinitive

• I am very happy to be speaking to you.
• I would like to be taking tea in a five star hotel.
• I happened to be talking to him when the bomb exploded.
• It will be taking much time to complete work.
• She must be kidding.

3). Perfect Infinitive

• The perfect infinitive denotes to a time before that of the preceding verb:
• He pretended to have worked in the kitchen.
• Before I die, I want to have done good deed.
• If I had known they were stealing I would have called the police.
• Someone must have called me in late night.
• If you had earned money you would have your own car.

  

 4). Perfect Continuous Infinitive

• The police seemed to have been fighting.
• They pretended to have been playing game.
• He must have been playing for all day.
• She should have been preparing for the test.

 5). Passive Infinitive

• Your hair need to be cut.
• This task should be finished till tomorrow.
• I am expecting to be given highest salary.
• He could be given remuneration for his hard work.

Thank You !