Infinitive (infinitive) is an impersonal verb form that only names an action, without indicating either person or number. The infinitive answers questions what to do? what to do?:to read read, read; to write write, write; to buy buy, purchase; to sell sell, sell.

The infinitive has no special ending; its formal sign is the particle to, which has no independent meaning and does not take stress, but shows that the word following it is an infinitive. However, it often goes down. Thus, the particle to is not placed before the infinitive if it is used after modal verbs or verbs of sensory perception as part of the “complex object” construction.

The infinitive came from the verbal and retained the properties of this part of speech, performing in a sentence, like the infinitive in Russian, the syntactic functions of a noun.

№
p/p

FUNCTION

EXAMPLE

Subject

That skate is pleasant.
Ride It's nice to skate.

To read is a great pleasure.
Read (reading) - great pleasure.

Predicative

Your duty was to inform me about it immediately.
It was your responsibility to report tell me about it immediately.

The duty of every student is to master at least one foreign language.
The duty of every student is master at least one foreign language.

Part of a compound verb predicate in combination with modal verbs and with verbs expressing the beginning, continuation or end of an action ( to begin, to continue, to end, to stop) or attitude to an action indicated by the infinitive ( to want, to decide, to intend)

She began to translate the article.
She started transfer article.

She must translate this article today.
She must translate this article today.

He began to translate this article.
He started transfer this article.

Addition

I asked him to help me.
I asked him help to me.

He had promised me to draw this map.
He promised me draw this map.

Definition. The infinitive in the defining function comes after the word being defined

Not expressed a desire to help me.
He expressed his desire help to me.

The device to be tested has been brought to our library.
device, which must be experienced (testable), brought to our laboratory.

Circumstance of the goal or consequences. As an adverbial function, the infinitive can appear either at the beginning or at the end of a sentence. In the function of adverbial purpose, the infinitive may be preceded by conjunctions: in order, so as so that, in order to

I went to the station to see off a friend. I went to the station to see my friend off.

You must work much in order to master a foreign language. = In order to master a foreign language you must work much.
You have to work hard to master foreign language.

He went there so as to help you.
He went there to help to you.

№ p/p	PROPERTY	EXAMPLE
	The infinitive of a transitive verb can be followed by a direct object	I told him to post the letter. I told him send letter. I was asked to send this letter. I was asked to send this letter.
	The infinitive can be determined by a circumstance expressed by an adverb	I asked him to speak slowly. I asked him speak slowly. He hoped to finish his work soon. He hoped soon finish work.
	The infinitive has tense and voice forms. IN English language Transitive verbs have four forms in the active voice and two in the passive voice		Active	Passive
		Indefinite	to ask	to be asked
		Continuous	to be asking	does not exist
		Perfect	to have asked	to have been asked
		Perfect Continuous	to have been asking	does not exist

The infinitive can express an action that does not refer to a specific person or thing:

In most cases, however, the action expressed by the infinitive refers to a specific person or thing:

(The action expressed by the infinitive to go refers to the subject I.)

Ask him to come early.

Ask him come early.

(The action expressed by the infinitive to come refers to the object him.)

When an action expressed by an infinitive is performed by the person or thing to which it refers, the infinitive in the Active form is used:

When an action expressed by an infinitive is performed on the person or object to which it relates, then the infinitive is used in the Passive form:

FEATURES OF USING INFINITIVE FORMS
№ p/p	CAN EXPRESS	EXAMPLE
	INDEFINITE INFINITIVE
	Action (or state) simultaneous with the action indicated by the personal form of the verb (predicate)	We want to learn. We want study.
	An action (or state) regardless of the moment of its commission	We know aluminum to be one of the lightest metals. We know that aluminum is one of the lightest metals (= is one of...).
	An action related to the future tense, after the modal verbs may, must, should, ought, as well as after the verbs to expect expect, assume, to intend to intend , to hope to hope , to want to want and a number of others	You must leave tomorrow. You must leave Tomorrow. I intend to begin the experiment. I intend begin experiment.
	CONTINUOUS INFINITIVE
	An action in its development, occurring simultaneously with the action indicated by the verb in the personal form	I knew him to be writing an article. I knew that he writes article.
	PERFECT INFINITIVE
	Action preceding the action expressed by the verb in the personal form	I know him to have written this article last night. I know that he wrote this article last night.
	After past tense of verbs to intend, to hope, to expect, to mean expresses an action that did not occur contrary to expectation, hope, intention or assumption	I meant to have done it. I supposed do This.
	The assumption that an action has already taken place. In combination with the modal verbs must and may is translated by a verb in the past tense with the words " probably, should be, perhaps"	My watch must have stopped during the night. My watch must be stopped at night.
	After modal verbs should, would, could, might, ought And was (were) expresses regret or reproach regarding an action that should or could have happened, but in fact did not happen. Translated into Russian by the verb in subjunctive mood with the words “should”, etc.	You might have asked me about it. Could you ask me about this (but they didn’t ask - reproach).
	PERFECT CONTINUOUS INFINITIVE
	Expresses an action that took place over a period of time previous action expressed by a verb in personal form	I know him to have been writing this article for 2 hours. I know that he wrote this article within 2 hours.

INFINITIVE WITH PARTICLE TO

The infinitive is usually preceded by the particle to: to speak, to buy, to read.

If in a sentence there are two next to each other, connected by the union and or or, then the particle to before the second of them is usually omitted:

The particle to is sometimes used at the end of a sentence without a verb when that verb is previously mentioned in the sentence. In this case, the emphasis falls on it. This use of a particle is often found after the verbs to want, to wish, to mean, to try try, try, to allow, to be going to gather, ought should, to have in the meaning “must”, should (would) like I would like, etc.:

CASES OF USE OF THE INFINITIVE WITHOUT THE PARTICLE TO
№ p/p	CASE OF USE	EXAMPLE
	After modal verbs must, can (could), may (might) and need	You must do it at once. You must This do immediately. Not can speak German. He can speak in German. May I come in? Can to me to come in? Need he come here? Need to should he come here?
	After the verbs to make to force, to let to allow, and sometimes also after to help to help (especially often in the USA)	Not made me read this book. He forced me read this book. I let him go there. I allowed to him go there. Help me (to) do it. Help to me do This.
	In circulation “complex subject” after verbs of sensory perception: to see see, to watch observe, to hear hear, to feel feel and some others	I saw her leave the room. I saw her leave the room. I heard her sing. I heard, how is she sings. I felt him put his hand on my shoulder. I felt, How is he put hand on my shoulder.
	When the verbs listed in paragraphs 2 and 3 are used in the passive voice, the following infinitive is used with the particle to	Not was made to do it. His forced This do. Not was seen to leave the house. Seen, How is he came out from home.
	After the expressions had better, would rather, would sooner would prefer	You had better go there at once. To you it would be better go go there immediately. I would rather don't tell them about it. I would prefer don't talk them about it. Didn't say he would sooner stay at home. He said that he would prefer stay Houses.

Infinitive is the basic, impersonal form of the verb. Sign infinitive in English is a particle to, For example: (to) go, (to) be, (to) ask, (to) fight, (to) understand, (to) walk.

English infinitive combines the characteristics of a verb and, to some extent, a noun. The latter is expressed in the fact that the infinitive can act in a sentence as a subject, object, predicative, definition, circumstance and some others.

For example:
To learn is important.
Teaching important. ( The infinitive functions as a subject.)

The most important thing is to learn.
The most important thing is study. (The infinitive performs the function of a predicate.)

He wants to learn.
He wants study. (The infinitive functions as a complement.)

Negative forms of the infinitive are formed by adding a negative particle not to the infinitive.

For example:
I decided to invite them. – I decided not to invite them.
I solved them invite. - I solved them don't invite.

Infinitive forms in English

There are several forms of the infinitive in English, which are discussed in detail below. To better understand the difference between the listed infinitive forms, you need to have a good understanding of tenses and voice in English.

Continuous Infinitive / Progressive Infinitive

Method of education: (to) + be + present participle

Examples: (to) be writing, (to) be reading, (to) be walking, etc.

Continuous Infinitive(also called Progressive Infinitive) is used to show that actions or events will occur at the time of speech.

For example:
I happened to be waiting for the bus when the accident happened.
It so happened that I waited bus when the accident occurred.

You must be joking.
You probably, you're kidding.

Perfect Infinitive

Method of education: (to) have + past participle

Examples: (to) have received, (to) have broken, (to) have seen, etc.

Perfect Infinitive can be used in the same situations in which the past tense or perfect tenses are used (see verb tenses).

For example:
I am happy to have left school. (= I am happy that I have left school.)
I am glad that graduated school.

You seem to have announced him. (= It seems that you have annoyed him.)
It seems you are him annoyed.

It's nice to have finished work. (= It is nice that I have finished work.)
Nice finish work.

Perfect Infinitive often used to describe impossible actions in the past tense.

For example:
If you had run a bit faster, you would have won.
If you ran a little faster, you would won.

You should have told me you were coming.
I needed it say that you will come.

Passive Infinitive

Method of education: (to) be + past participle

Examples: (to) be given, (to) be seen, (to) be loved, etc.

Passive Infinitive passive voice).

For example:
Everybody wants to be loved.
Everybody wants them loved.

There is a lot of work to be done.
Need to execute a lot of work.

She ought to be told about it.
She should talk about it say.

Perfect Passive Infinitive

Method of education: (to) + have been + past participle

Perfect Passive Infinitive has the same meaning as regular verbs in Passive Voice (see passive voice).

For example:
They were lucky – they could have been killed.
They were lucky - they could have been kill.

Perfect Continuous Infinitive / Perfect Progressive Infinitive

Method of education: (to) have been + present participle

Examples: (to) have been crying, (to) have been wanting, etc.

Perfect Continuous Infinitive(also called Perfect Progressive Infinitive) is used in Perfect Continuous tenses (see verb tenses).

For example:
We have been waiting for ages.
We we wait for ages now.

How long have you been living here?
How long have you been here? live?

Using the infinitive without the particle to

Usually infinitive in English used with particle to. But in some cases the infinitive is used without a particle to. Such cases are discussed below.

1. After modal verbs:

We can manage it.
We can handle this.

We must get someone to paint the roof.
We need to get someone to paint our roof.

You may go now.
You can go.

2. After modal constructions ( would rather, had better):

You had better consult a doctor.
You better go see a doctor.

I would rather go alone.
I'd rather go alone.

3. After the verb do, used as an intensifying verb:

I do admit that I was wrong.
Yes, I admit that I was wrong.

But you did say that!
But you said it!

4. With a verb let in the meaning of “allow” or incentive sentences:

Let's him go.
Let him go.

Let's me help you with the translation.
Let me help you with the translation.

5. In combination with verbs of perception to see, to hear, to watch etc., if they are not in the passive voice:

I saw her light the lamp.
I saw her light the lamp.

We heard her sing a song.
We heard her sing a song.

We watched them play.
We watched them play.

6. After the verb make meaning “to force”, if it is not in the passive voice:

They made me wait.
They kept me waiting.

He made me come.
He made me come.

7. After the verb help it is allowed to omit the particle to:

She helped the child (to) lift the box.
She helped the child lift the box.

If in cases 5-7 the passive voice is used, then the particle to required:

She was heard to sing a song.
They heard her sing a song.

She was made to pay back the money.
She was forced to pay money.

He was helped to lift the box.
They helped him lift the box.

8. After alliances and, or, except, but, than, as And like in the case when they are used to connect two infinitives:

It is as easy to smile as frown.
Smiling is as easy as frowning.

Do you want to have lunch now or wait till later?
Do you want to have lunch now, or wait?

We had nothing to do except look at the cinema posters.
We had nothing to do but look at movie posters.

9. After why And why not in question:

Why pay more at other shops? We have the lowest prices.
Why pay more at other stores? We have the lowest prices.

Why not make it up with him?
Why not apologize to him?

The infinitive and its use are discussed in more detail in the section

This article will tell you about the infinitive in English.

The infinitive is called indefinite form verb. This form expresses action but does not show person or number. The infinitive answers the questions “what to do?”, “what to do?”: to run– run/come running, to cook– cook/cook. In a sentence, the infinitive can be used with a particle to and without her. In the article “” we talked in detail about these rules.

The infinitive can freely “travel” around the sentence. Typically it plays the role of:

1. Subject
   

   To walk alone late at night is very dangerous. – Walk Alone late at night is very dangerous.

2. Parts of the predicate
   

   My decision is to stay here for a couple of days. - My decision - stay here for a couple of days.

3. Add-ons
   

   Many people hate to lose. - Many people hate lose.

4. Definitions
   

   She was the best to solve this problem. - She is the best decided this task.

5. Circumstances
   

   You can break this model. It was made to be tested. – You can break this model. She was done for testing.

Now we will move on to the most interesting part of our article - the infinitive forms.

Infinitive forms in English

In English, the infinitive has no less than four forms: simple ( simple), long ( continuous), perfect ( perfect), perfect continuous ( perfect continuous). They can exist in reality ( active) And passive voice (passive).

Let's look at the table showing the verb to ask(ask) in different forms.

Infinitive	Simple	Continuous	Perfect	Perfect Continuous
Active	to ask	to be asking	to have asked	to have been asking
Passive	to be asked	to be asked	to have been asked	to have been asked

Russian does not have such a variety of infinitive forms as English. For this reason, when translating, we will most often use a simple infinitive or a verb in the personal form.

To be fair, it should be said that the continuous and perfect continuous passive infinitives are used extremely rarely in English.

Let's learn more about the forms themselves and cases of their use:

1. Simple Infinitive– simple infinitive

   This is the form that we are used to seeing in the dictionary. It is usually used to indicate action in the present or future tense.

   I am really glad to see you again. - I am very happy see you again.

   This work should be done immediately. – This work should do immediately.

2. Continuous Infinitive– long infinitive

   The continuous infinitive indicates a continuous action. This infinitive, like the simple one, denotes an action in the present or future tense.

   He must be still reading a magazine. - He's probably still is reading magazine.

   Please note that according to classical rules between particles to and other words are not used as infinitives. But in modern spoken language an adverb may appear between them. This sentence construction is not considered an error, but in formal English it is better to avoid splitting the infinitive.

3. Perfect Infinitive– perfect infinitive

   The perfect infinitive names an action that occurred before the moment of speech indicated in the sentence or before another action.

   I am sorry to have told him this secret. - I'm sorry that I told this secret to him.

   There is a drawing on the table. This sketch must have been made by George. - There is a drawing on the table. This sketch must be was made George.

4. Perfect Continuous Infinitive– perfect continuous infinitive

   This infinitive shows an action that lasts until a specific moment or other action in the present.

   He is dissatisfied to have been living here for five years. - He is very dissatisfied with the fact that lives here for five years.

In conclusion, we invite you to watch a video in which the teacher Alex talks about the features of infinitives in the active and passive voices. And don’t forget to take a little test that will help you remember the infinitive forms better.

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Test

Infinitive in English: forms and their use

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An infinitive is an impersonal form of a verb that denotes an action or state regardless of the person performing it. The formal sign of the infinitive is the particle to:

The infinitive has the following syntactic functions of the subject in a sentence:

1. Can be the subject of a sentence:

To sleep in the open air is healthy.

To walk uphill was rather difficult.

2. Can be a direct object:

He likes to write with a fountain-pen.

I asked my friend to go there with me.

3. Can be a nominal part of a compound predicate:

Her duty is to answer all telephone calls.

To do it meant to break the promise.

Verb functions of the infinitive in a sentence:

1. It is followed by a direct object:

I like to read interesting books.

They wanted to buy flowers for their mother.

2. The infinitive is determined by an adverb:

We tried to walk quickly.

3. Can be part of a complex predicate:

I cannot do anything for him.

They began to learn English last year.

4. The forms of tense and voice of the infinitive are shown in the table:

The infinitive also has other syntactic functions:

1. The infinitive can act as a definition that replaces an entire subordinate attributive clause:

The captain was the last to leave the ship (= who left the ship).

2. The infinitive is an adverbial result that replaces the adverbial clause of the result:

The question is too difficult to answer(= so difficult that it cannot be answered).

3. The infinitive is part of a complex object, i.e. The construction contains a direct object + infinitive, which is usually translated into Russian by an additional clause:

I don't want you to do it. - I don't want you to do this.

I heard her sing.- I heard her sing.

Usually the infinitive is used with the particle to, however, in some cases it is used without to:

1. In constructions of a complex predicate after modal verbs can, must, may:

I can play the piano.

You must leave this place immediately.

She may stay there as long as she likes.

2. In a complex object after verbs expressing perception, such as to see, to hear, to watch, to feel, and also after verbs to make, to let:

I saw him cross the street.

We made him tell us the truth.

Let me help you, please!

If you want to learn a language, start with verbs. After all, it is this part of speech that occupies highest place in all reference books and dictionaries of any language, including English. Despite the fact that the verb has several forms, in these same dictionaries it is usually given in its simple (initial) form, and for good reason. After all, the infinitive in English is perhaps used more often than others. This is exactly what we will talk about today.

First, let's figure out what an infinitive is.

An infinitive in English is an indefinite or initial form of a verb that names actions and can serve as both a noun and a verb. The infinitive refers to impersonal verb forms, that is, to English forms, which do not have number, person, tense or mood.

The infinitive has certain features that characterize and distinguish it from any other type of verb:

1. The particle to is placed before the infinitive, which, however, can be omitted in certain cases. However, if a particle is present, it almost always comes before the infinitive.
2. The infinitive answers the questions “what to do?”, “what to do?”

Infinitive in English: forms

While Russian has only one infinitive form, English has six. Table for clarity:

The infinitive in the passive voice is simply not used in the Continuous and Perfect Continuous. Other forms are used extremely rarely, with the exception of simple. Due to the lack of similar forms in Russian, all of them are usually translated into a simple form.

Infinitive phrases

Infinitive phrases in English are divided into the following 3 types:

1. Complex object, also known as The Objective Infinitive Construction.
2. Complex subject (Complex subject) or The Subjective Infinitive Construction (Subjective infinitive construction). The subject infinitive is usually used with verbs in the passive voice.
3. The For-to-Infinitive construction or infinitive phrase with a preposition

Despite such a variety of infinitive phrases, they are not always used. The objective infinitive phrase is the most used phrase in the list, while the second most popular is the subjective infinitive phrase.

Functions of the infinitive in a sentence

In a sentence, the infinitive can act as almost any part of the sentence.

1. As the subject:

1. And the verb part of the compound predicate:

1. In the definition function:

It is worth noting that the word that defines a noun in Russian may not always look like a standard definition.

1. Purpose circumstance:

In this case, conjunctions can often be used before the infinitive: in order to (in order to) and so as (to):

Use with the particle to

The infinitive with the particle to is used in 99 percent of cases. For example:

1. An objective infinitive almost always requires the particle to. This infinitive phrase is characterized by verbs that express:

• Desire: want (want), wish (desire), desire (want):

• Mental activity: think, believe, expect, suppose:

• The objective infinitive phrase also includes words expressing an order, permission or prohibition: order (order), encourage (encourage), allow (allow), permit (allow), prohibit (prohibit):

1. The subjective infinitive phrase also did not stand aside. It uses the particle to with verbs:

• say (say), state (declare), allow (allow) in the passive voice:

• perception and mental activity in the passive voice:

• with verbs such as appear / seem (seem), happen (happen):

• And also with to be (un)likely - probably / unlikely, to be certain / to be sure - to be sure / definitely:

1. The particle to in English is also inherent in the infinitive phrase with the preposition for. This construction is formed by attaching the preposition for to a noun or pronoun with an infinitive. The noun in this case uses the general case, and the pronoun uses the objective case. Personal pronouns in English in the objective case should in no case be confused with their subject (or subjective) case:

Subjective case	Objective case
I - I	me - me / me / by me
we - we	us - us / to us / by us
you - you	you - to you / by you
you - you	you - you / to you / by you
he - he it - this / it	him - his / him / them her - her / her
they - they	them - their / them / by them

As you can see, the objective case tends to be used as a complement, while the subject pronouns are characterized by the role of the subject.

The objective case can be translated different ways, however, since it is preceded by the preposition for (for), accordingly, in this case, the objective case of the pronoun will answer the questions “for whom?” or “who?”

Let's look at the objective case and the infinitive using an example:

1. A verb in the infinitive without the particle to can also be used in short imperative sentences. They usually do not pay attention to the subject and other parts of the sentence. Moreover, these terms can be omitted.

Go!	Forward!
Look at the picture.	Look at this picture.

Infinitive in English: gerund or infinitive

Using the infinitive in English can sometimes cause a number of difficulties. It seems that everything is simple, you take a verb from the dictionary and insert it into English sentence. However, with further development of the forms of English verbs, when the study reaches the gerund or a verb with an ing suffix, confusion begins to occur in the head. To avoid this problem, let's look at verbs that are used only in the infinitive or only in the ing form:

1. Verbs such as agree, refuse, manage, decide, plan, offer, attempt, forget, promise, deserve deserve) are always used with an infinitive. These English verbs you just need to remember. Examples from the table:

1. At the same time, there are verbs that are used in gerunds and do not have an infinitive form after them. These include: miss (get bored), give up (stop), go on (continue), carry on (continue), involve (include), finish (finish). A few examples:

1. There are also words that can be used in both forms without significantly changing the meaning:

1. The meaning of other words can change depending on whether you use the infinitive or gerundial form. Study the table with the following examples:

Infinitive in English: infinitive without the particle to

There are also situations in which you need to use infinitives, but without the particle to. So, for example, the to particle is omitted after:

1. English verbs make (to force) and let (to allow) with a noun or object pronoun:

1. Verbs of perception feel (feel), see (see), hear (hear), for which the objective infinitive phrase is responsible.

1. Modal verbs:

Exceptions are modal verbs, which contain the particle to. These include: have (got) to, ought to and be to.

Infinitive in English: negation

Particular attention should be paid to education negative sentences. The fact is that to use the infinitive in a sentence, you can use two forms of negation. You cannot confuse them, because otherwise you may simply be misunderstood.

• To sentences for the negation of the main action (verb before the infinitive), a simple English negative form is added with auxiliary verb and the negative particle not:

• To negate an action in the infinitive, the negative not is placed before the particle to:

Infinitive in English: other features

1. If a sentence uses several verbs with infinitive forms, and the particle to is used in their case, then it is placed only on the first infinitive:

1. The English sentence is characterized by one more feature: if in a sentence the infinitive, which was used at the beginning, is used again at the end, the verb itself is usually omitted, and only the particle to remains in the sentence, which implies it (this verb):

She asks me to go to the party but I don’t want to (go).

She asks me to go to the party, but I don't want to (go).

Today we looked at the infinitive in English. As you can see, using the infinitive is not very difficult, but there are certain aspects of its use that are worth considering. To consolidate the topic, periodically return to the rules and examples in the tables, do exercises and reinforce each such exercise with practice. After all, there is nothing simpler and more effective in learning a language than communicating with native speakers.