Infinitive Verb - Definition, Uses, Examples

What is an Infinitive Verb?

An infinitive verb is the base form of a verb. It usually appears with the word “to” before it, like “to read,” “to run,” or “to dance.” In this form, the verb does not show tense, person, or number. It is not limited by subject or time.

So, what is an infinitive verb? It is a form of the verb that acts like a noun, adjective, or adverb instead of a regular verb. This means you can use an infinitive to name an action or describe something, rather than show someone doing it.

For example:

• I want to learn French.

• She hopes to win the prize.

In both examples, the infinitive verbs “to learn” and “to win” are used to express an idea or goal. They do not show when or how the action happens; they simply express the action as a concept.

Read More: What Are Modal Verbs?

Infinitive Meaning

The infinitive meaning is closely tied to the idea of an action without tying it to a specific subject or time. It is the most basic form of a verb, free from tense, number, or subject.

In English, there are two main ways infinitives appear:

1. With “to” – called a full infinitive or to-infinitive (e.g., to go, to sleep)

2. Without “to” – called a bare infinitive (e.g., go, sleep)

Though both forms are infinitives, they are used in different situations, which we will cover next.

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Types of Infinitives

There are two main types of infinitives. Let’s look at each one closely.

1. Full Infinitive (To-Infinitive)

This is the most common type. A full infinitive is made by placing the word “to” in front of the base form of the verb.

Examples:

• He likes to read.

• They agreed to help.

• We need to study more.

Full infinitives are used after certain verbs, adjectives, and nouns. They are also used to explain purpose, intent, or desire.

2. Bare Infinitive

The bare infinitive is the base verb without “to.” It is used after modal verbs (can, could, may, must, should, etc.) and certain verbs like let, make, see, hear, and help.

Examples:

• She can drive.

• I heard him sing.

• They made me wait.

Although less common than full infinitives, bare infinitives are important in specific sentence structures.

Check Out: Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

How to Use Infinitive Verbs in Sentences?

Infinitives play several roles in English sentences. This makes them quite flexible and useful in both writing and speaking. Let’s explore how infinitives function in different parts of a sentence.

Infinitive Verbs as Nouns

When an infinitive verb is used as a noun, it usually answers the question “what?” and can act as the subject or object of a sentence. In this case, the to-infinitive (to + base verb) is always used.

Example:

To volunteer at the animal shelter was her weekend plan.
("To volunteer" is the subject of the sentence.)

 He prefers to walk instead of taking the bus.
("To walk" is the object of the verb "prefers.")

These infinitives are used in place of a noun and refer to actions or ideas.

Infinitive Verbs as Adjectives

An infinitive verb acts as an adjective when it describes or modifies a noun. It tells us more about the purpose or nature of the noun it follows.

Example:
She needs a notebook to write her daily thoughts.
("To write" describes the purpose of the notebook.)

We brought a blanket to sit on during the picnic.
("To sit" modifies "blanket" and explains its intended use.)

These infinitives work like adjectives by giving more detail about the nouns they follow.

Infinitive Verbs as Adverbs

An infinitive functions as an adverb when it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, often explaining why something is done.

Example: 

They moved to the city to find better job opportunities.
("To find" explains the reason for moving.)

 He trains daily to improve his performance.
("To improve" modifies "trains" and gives the purpose.)

Infinitives used as adverbs typically express intent, purpose, or result.

Read More: Auxiliary Verbs

Infinitive Examples

Let’s look at more infinitive examples to make sure everything is clear.

• They want to travel to Europe.

• We need to buy some groceries.

• I heard him play the piano.

• The teacher asked the students to sit quietly.

• She decided to quit her job.

In each sentence above, the infinitive expresses an idea, goal, or action without being tied to a specific tense. These infinitive examples help demonstrate how commonly infinitives are used in everyday English.

Common Verbs That Take Infinitives

Some verbs are followed by to-infinitives, while others are followed by bare infinitives.

Verbs that take full infinitives:

want, need, hope, decide, plan, learn, agree, offer, refuse, promise

Example: He promised to help me.

Verbs that take bare infinitives:

make, let, help, see, hear, feel, watch (and modal verbs)

Example: She made me laugh.

Learning these verb patterns will help you avoid mistakes when forming sentences with infinitives.

Read More : Phrasal Verbs

Difference Between Infinitives and Gerunds

A very common question among students is about the difference between infinitives and gerunds. Both are verb forms that can act like nouns, but they are not the same.

Infinitives:

• Base verb with or without “to”

• Can be used as noun, adjective, or adverb

• Example: I like to swim.

Gerunds:

• Verb ending in “-ing” used as a noun

• Only used as a noun (subject or object)

• Example: I like swimming.

Here’s a table showing the difference between infinitives and gerunds:

Some verbs can take both, but the meaning might change slightly.

Example:

• I stopped to smoke. (I paused what I was doing in order to smoke.)

• I stopped smoking. (I quit the habit of smoking.)

Read More: Irregular Verbs

Special Types of Infinitives

In addition to the basic forms, infinitives can also appear in more advanced structures. These are known as special types of infinitives, and they are used to express time, continuous actions, or passive meaning more precisely. Though these forms are less common in everyday speech, they are especially useful in formal and academic English.

1. Continuous Infinitive

The continuous infinitive is used to describe an action that is in progress at a particular time.

Structure: to be + verb-ing

Example: He seems to be sleeping.

 This suggests that the action (sleeping) is happening at the moment.

2. Perfect Infinitive

The perfect infinitive expresses an action that was completed before another action.

Structure: to have + past participle

Example: She claimed to have finished the work.

 It shows that the work was already completed when she made the claim.

3. Passive Infinitive

The passive infinitive is used when the subject receives the action rather than doing it.

Structure: to be + past participle

Example: The documents need to be signed.

This focuses on the action being done to the subject.

Also read:  What Is Gender in Grammar?

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