Infinitive in English language

Infinitive in English language

The infinitive in English is a non-finite verb form that answers the questions “what to do? / what to have done?”. The infinitive expresses an action that is not tied to person, number, or tense. Its basic structure is the particle to + the base form of the verb (e.g., to write, to learn). In speech, the infinitive serves multiple functions: it can act as a subject, a predicate in a compound nominal structure, an object, an attribute, or an adverbial of purpose. Why it matters for business and students: properly chosen infinitive constructions save time in negotiations and correspondence — we analyze such cases in our courses at https://gubanov-school.ru/.

Forms of the Infinitive: Full and Bare
There are two forms: to-infinitive and bare infinitive (without to). The first is used more often: want to meet, plan to expand. The bare infinitive is used after modal verbs (can do, must pay), after verbs of perception and causative verbs in the active voice (make her sign; let them go), in expressions with would rather / had better (You’d better call), as well as in short interrogative patterns like Why wait?. A separate case is the negative infinitive with not to. The particle not comes before to (try not to be late; decided not to proceed).

Grammatical Forms: Aspect and Voice
The infinitive encodes relative time and voice while remaining non-finite.

• Simple: to do — general action or after verbs of desire/plan.

• Continuous: to be doing — process simultaneous with the moment in question (seems to be growing).

• Perfect: to have done — prior action (claims to have finished).

• Perfect Continuous: to have been doing — duration up to a moment (appears to have been working).

• Passive: to be done / to have been done — focus on the object (to be delivered by Friday; to have been approved).

Functions in the Sentence and Key Positions

• Subject: To learn is essential for growth. Often used with formal it: It is essential to learn.

• Object: We plan to launch; She refused to comment.

• Attribute: the first person to arrive; the only option to consider.

• Adverbial of purpose: We met to discuss the contract; in order to reduce costs.

• After adjectives: easy/difficult/ready/eager + to Verb (The team is ready to start).

• After nouns: a plan/decision/ability + to Verb (a decision to invest).

• After what/how/where/when: how to use, what to do.

• Constructions with too/enough/only: too heavy to lift; experienced enough to lead; only to find (undesired result).