English Grammar : Infinitive Verbs
 
INFINITIVE VERBS

Infinitive Verbs in English Grammar

What are Infinitive Verbs?

"When we use preposition ‘to’ before any base form of verb, it is called Infinitive Verb. The phrase 'to be' is acting as the subject of the sentence."

In a sentence if Infinite Verb is to be used, it is a Normal Verb, which come first and then second is Infinitive Verb.

Here are some Infinitive Verbs: to love, to eat, to run, to believe, to follow, to laugh, to stare, to wonder, to walk, to cook, to understand, to make, to have, to hold, to sleep, to dream etc.

Examples:
  • I like to read.
  • I need to run every day.
  • I didn't mean to hurt you.
  • I promise to love you forever.
  • You deserve to have all you want in life.
Functions of Infinitive Verbs as noun, adjective, or adverb.

An infinitive is a verbal that can function as noun, adjective, or adverb. It is formed by using "to" + the verb.

Infinitives or infinitive phrases used as nouns:
Examples:
  • I like to run. (functions as a direct object)
  • I wanted to cook dinner for my parents. (functions as a direct object)
  • To fly an airplane is a dream of mine. (functions as a subject)
  • I cannot believe you knew to put out grits to attract ants! (functions as a direct object)
Infinitives or infinitive phrases used as adjectives:
Examples:
  • The fair is the place to go. (tells us which place)
  • I have some jeans to wash. (tells us which jeans)
  • The singer to watch is Joyce. (tells us which singer)
  • The kind of flowers to plant are perennials. (tells us which flowers)
Infinitives or infinitive phrases used as adverbs:
Examples:
  • To complete the math problem, you divide by y. (tells why to divide)
  • I bought paint to finish the picture for my dad. (tells why I bought paint)
  • To make the cookies, you must add the flour first. (tells why we add flour)
  • The policeman returned to help us. (tells why policeman returned)
When we do not use ‘to’ in the Infinitive Verb?
When normal verbs like let, make, bid, see, feel, hear, watch are used in a sentence, we do not use ‘to’ in the Infinitive Verb.
Examples:
Look at the examples of Infinitive verbs in a sentence:
  • • Let her make the notes.
  • • Let me see your homework.
  • • I feel batter in monsoon season.
Verb 'HELP' can be used with or without ‘to’.
Examples:
  • • I like to help her. OR • Please help her.
  • • Please, help me to understand this. OR • Please, help me understand this.
  • • He helps him to learn English. OR • He helps him learn English.
  • • Raj helped a blind man to cross the road. OR • Raj helped a blind man cross the road.
Related Topics :
Types of Noun in English Language
Types of Pronoun in English Language
Types of Verb in English Language
Types of Adverb in English Language
Types of Adjective in English Language
Kinds of Preposition in English Language
Types of Conjunction in English Language
Uses of Interjection words in English Language

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