English Language Guide
Add to Favorites
Contact us
Advertising

  ENGLISH LANGUAGE FACTS



  ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION






  ENGLISH GRAMMAR






  ENGLISH VOCABULARY





  ENGLISH LANGUAGE TOOLS




  LEARNING ENGLISH



  TEACHING ENGLISH



  ENGLISH CULTURE



  ENGLISH BUSINESS


  ABOUT US




Sponsored by:

English courses

   English language » English Grammar » Infinitive

INFINITIVE



Definition: Infinitive is the base form of the verb. The infinitive form of a verb is the form which follows "to".

For example:

  • (to) go, (to) be,(to) ask, (to) fight, (to) understand, (to) walk .
  • Infinitives may occur with or without the infinitive marker "to". Infinitives without "to" are known as "bare infinitives".

    For example:

  • Help me open the door.
  • OTHER FORMS
    The infinitive can have the following forms:

    1. The perfect infinitive
      to have + past participle

      For example: to have broken, to have seen, to have saved.
      This form is most commonly found in Type 3 conditional sentences, using the conditional perfect.

      For example:
      • If I had known you were coming I would have baked a cake.
      • Someone must have broken the window and climbed in.
      • I would like to have seen the Taj Mahal when I was in India.
      • He pretended to have seen the film.
      • If I'd seen the ball I would have caught it.

    2. The continuous infinitive
      to be + present participle

      For example: to be swimming, to be joking, to be waiting

      Examples:
      • I'd really like to be swimming in a nice cool pool right now.
      • You must be joking!
      • I happened to be waiting for the bus when the accident happened.

    3. The perfect continuous infinitive
      to have been + present participle

      Examples: to have been crying, to have been waiting, to have been painting

      Examples:
      • The woman seemed to have been crying.
      • You must have been waiting for hours!
      • He pretended to have been painting all day.

    4. The passive infinitive
      to be + past participle

      For example: to be given, to be shut, to be opened

      Examples:
      • I am expecting to be given a pay-rise next month.
      • These doors should be shut.
      • This window ought to be opened.

    NOTE: As with the present infinitive, there are situations where the "to" is omitted.

    Examples
    • He claimed to be an expert.
    • I managed to reach the top of the hill.
    • Don't pretend that you know the answer.
    • She failed to explain the problem clearly.
    • The customs man demanded to search our luggage.
    • I can't afford to go out tonight.

    » Verbs
    » Finite Verb
    » Gerund


    Back to: Sponsored by:
    English Grammar
    English Language
    English language courses
    English Resources

    Contact Us | Advertising | How to link to us | Partners | Site Map

    French language  |  German language  |  Italian language  |  Portuguese language  |  Spanish language



    © 2010 - English Language Guide
    http://www.englishlanguageguide.com