The infinitive is a non-finite form of the verb which names a process in a most general way. The Infinitive is usually treated as the initial form of the verb. F.e. To err is human. In modern English the Infinitive has a double nature, that is nominal and verbal.
The nominal features(revealed only in its syntactic functions):
- Can be used as a subject. F.e. To succeed takes courage.
- As a predicative. F.e. The purpose of the lecture is to teach you.
- As an object. F.e. I want to sleep.
The verbal features:
- The infinitive of the transitive verbs takes a direct object. F.e. I began to feel some pain.
- Can be modified by an adverb. F.e. I want to finish it quickly.
- Morphologically the infinitive has the following verb categories(of voice, aspect, relative tense)
Grammatical forms and categories of the infinitive.
Forms:
- The simple inf. is used is used when the actions expressed by the inf. and the main verb are simultaneous. F.e. I seem to know him.
- The continuous inf. also denotes simult. actions, but the action, expressed by the inf. is in progress. F.e. He seems to be falling asleep.
- The perfect inf. denotes the action prior to the main verb. F.e. He seems to have bought this book.
- The perfect cont. inf. denotes an action that lasted a period before the action of the main verb. F.e. He seems to have been waiting for you for an hour.
Categories:
- Of voice – only in the inf. of trans. verbs. F.e. I want to love(act.) and be loved(passive).
- Of aspect(continuous::non-continuous). F.e. At that moment I happened to be standing there.
- Of relative tense(simult::prior). F.e. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.
