Infinitive in English: a complete analysis of the initial form of the verb. Infinitive in English: forms and their use What does the word infinitive mean in Russian

Morphology of the Russian literary language*

VERB

Conjugation of verbs

Infinitive

In the verb conjugation system, the infinitive is opposed to predicative and attributive forms, which express the process in a certain relation to a person or object. In contrast, the infinitive itself does not express any syntactic relations to other words of speech and represents the most general abstract expression of the process: work, read, carry, search, go, guard, interfere, lie etc. Thus, in terms of its grammatical meaning, the infinitive is a negative verb form.

The relation of the infinitive to other forms of the verb can be compared with the relation of the nominative case of nouns to the oblique cases. Both of these forms, in relation to other forms of the same words, are negative, or “direct” forms, which only express the characteristics they designate as a process or object, without indicating their relationship to other words of speech. Due to the grammatical proximity of the nominative case of the noun and the infinitive of the verbs, which is reflected in their syntactic use, nouns in the nominative case denote actions in abstraction from the person or thing that produces them, for example: work, reading, walking, smoking etc., are similar in meaning to the infinitives of verbs denoting the same actions without indicating the person or object performing them: work, read, walk, smoke etc. The main difference between them lies in the way of expressing the designated attribute - action. A noun, denoting an action, expresses it as an object, and an infinitive expresses the same action as a process. Being a form expressing the subject, the nominative case is opposed to the indirect cases of the noun, indicating the various relations of this subject to other words of speech. The infinitive, being an expression of the process, is opposed to other forms of the verb, as forms that express the relationship of the process to a person or object.

Since the infinitive is a form that does not express relations to other words of speech, it can act, like a noun in the nominative case, as the subject of a sentence: Smoking is prohibited, but you will be scared to die too.(A. Chekhov), To be freed was his cherished dream.(I. Goncharov), It would be up to his friends to write his biography.(A. Pushkin) , Living life is not a field to cross(last). In addition, the infinitive can be used as a secondary member of a sentence (but not attributions and circumstances, for which the verb has special forms - participle and gerund) to express it: He will come to say goodbye, I lay down to rest, The doctor ordered the patient to lie down, He loves to play the violin, Well, you are a master at singing songs!

In emotional speech, the infinitive is widely used in the meaning of predicative forms of the verb. So, it can act in the indicative mood: I called out to him, and he ran! The thrush grieves, the thrush grieves! The infinitive with negation and, less often, without negation can be used in the sense of the imperative mood: Keep quiet! Don't talk! Don't play around! Be silent! Sit still! and etc.

Such diversity in the syntactic use of the infinitive is explained by its grammatical meaning as a form that does not express any specific syntactic relationship. For the same reason, it is used to form analytical forms of verb conjugation, for example, the complex future tense: I will read, I will work, or complex forms of the imperative mood: let's work, let's read. In these forms, the infinitive is the carrier of only real meaning and non-syntactic formal meanings, and formal syntactic meanings are expressed by auxiliary particles or words attached to it.

Formation of the infinitive

The infinitive form is formed using suffixes -t, -sti (-st), -ti, -ch. Of all these suffixes, only one suffix is ​​productive -th. Through it, the infinitive is formed for all verbs of productive classes: play, white, draw, white, push, and also for most verbs of non-productive classes: knitting, pricking, screaming, grief, freezing, baby, hitting, rubbing etc. Other suffixes of the infinitive -sti (-st), -ti, -ch unproductive: they are represented in a small group of verbs, and only verbs of unproductive classes.

Infinitive with suffix -sti (-st) have verbs with a non-derivative base past. and now vr. to consonants b, s, h: rowing, rowing - rowing; scraper, scraper - scrape; carried, carried-ut - carry; pass, pass-ut - pa-sti; carried, carried-ut – transported, climbed, climbed-ut – climbed etc. The only exception is one verb with a stem in b: -shit, -shit-ut – -shit. In addition to these verbs, by means of the suffix -sti (-st) Infinitives are also formed by verbs with a non-derivative base present. vr. to consonants t, d, n, falling out at the base of the past. time: met-ut, me-l – revenge; weave-ut, weave-l – weave; treasure-ut, cla-l – cla-st; spin-ut, spin-l - spin-st; swear-ut, swear-l - curse; eat-yat, e-l – e-is etc. All verbs that have a suffix -sti (-st), except for isolated verb There is, belong to the III unproductive class.

Of the two options for the infinitive suffix -sti And -is option -is have verbs with fixed stress based on the past tense: gry"z, gry"zli - gry"zt; kla"l, kla"li - kla"st; se"l, se"li - se"is etc., as well as one verb in which, due to the loss of a fluent vowel at the base of the past tense, the emphasis is transferred to the ending: -chel, -chli" – -che" is (for-, pro-, u-). Another variant of this suffix -sti is represented in verbs with past tense stress on the ending (except, of course, for the masculine form, where, due to the lack of ending, the stress is naturally placed on the stem): rowed" - to row", carried" - to carry", carried" - to carry", shoaled" - revenge"etc. Option -sti always has stress on itself and only on verbs with the prefix You-, transferring the stress to itself, it is unstressed: row" - you" row, carry" - you" carry, lead - you" lead etc.

With suffix -whose the infinitive is formed in verbs with a non-derivative stem of the past and present tense ending in velars To And G: bake, bake-ut - bake; attracted, attracted - attracted; shore, shore-ut - take care; burnt, burnt - wow etc. These verbs also belong to the III unproductive class. But besides them, the suffix -whose in the infinitive there is another verb of the II unproductive class, which in the past tense has a non-derivative base on the velar G, and in the present tense a derivative base with a suffix -n-: reached – reached – reached. In parallel with reach the infinitive form, usual for the II unproductive class, is also used achieve.

Infinitive suffix -ti represented only by one isolated verb: walked - go - go(spelling . go And go).

When forming an infinitive, these suffixes are usually added to the past tense stem. From this stem the infinitive is formed for all verbs of productive classes: play-l - play, white-l - white, draw-l - draw, white-l - white, push-l - push, and for most verbs of non-productive classes: knit-l - knit, kol-l - kol-t, shout-l - scream, grief-l - grief, de-l - de-de, live-l - live etc. But in some verbs of non-productive classes the infinitive suffix is ​​attached to a stem different from the past tense stem. These are, firstly, almost all verbs of the II unproductive class (except create, become, erase), i.e. verbs with a non-derivative past tense base and a derived present tense base with a suffix -n-: they form an infinitive from a special stem with a suffix -Well-, cf.: black - black-out - black-well, tremble - tremble-ut - tremble-well, chilly - chilly-ut - chilly-well, sluggish - wyan-ut - wow-well and etc.; secondly, most of the verbs of class III are unproductive, namely verbs with a non-derivative base of the past and present tense on consonants j, d, b, s, h, in which the infinitive is formed from the stem without these consonants: bake - bake-ut - bake, guard - guard-ut - guard, row - row-ut - row, carry - carry-ut - don't-sti, carry - carry-ut - carry etc., then verb -shib – -shib-ut, in which the infinitive is formed from the stem to the suffix -And-: -shit, – and, finally, verbs with a non-derivative base on a consonant R, forming the infinitive from the stem to the vowel -e-: ter - tr-ut - ter-e-t, per - pr-ut - per-e-t and etc.; thirdly, one isolated verb forms the infinitive not from the past tense stem, but from the present tense stem, cf.: walked - go-ut - go-ti.

Verb inflections

A distinctive feature of verbs is the presence of special predicative forms, i.e. forms in which the verb acts as a predicate in a sentence. Other parts of speech themselves cannot be predicates, because they do not have such forms. Nouns, adjectives, numerals and adverbs act as a predicate only with the help of a special linking word, which expresses the predicative forms they lack, cf.: Here the city will be founded in spite of the arrogant neighbor. (A. Pushkin), You'll be a hero in sight. (M. Lermontov) etc. Thus, by the formation of predicative forms, the verb is opposed to other parts of speech, as a part of speech that has predicative forms, to parts of speech that do not have these forms.

Predicative forms of a verb are expressed by special forms called inclinations. Through these forms, differences in the nature of the statement are indicated, which is expressed by the verb, as the predicate of the sentence, in relation to the reality or unreality of this statement. In modern Russian there are three main forms of mood: indicative, conditional and imperative.

Indicative means that the process expressed by the verb is considered as real, as really happening, for example: He wrote a letter, He writes a letter, He will write a letter; or: He didn't write a letter, He won't write a letter etc. The indicative mood is opposed to the conditional and imperative moods.

Conditional mood means that the process expressed by the verb is considered not as real, but as expected, for example: He would write to you, If only he would write, You would write something to us, I would write if I were not so busy; etc. In the same way, the process in imperative mood, expressing the motivation to action: Write a letter, Let's write, Let him write. Expressing the volitional attitude of the speaker towards the person prompted to action, the imperative mood is an emotional, expressive form and in this regard is opposed to the indicative and conditional moods, which do not represent forms of expression of will.

Indicative tense forms

The indicative mood is expressed by tense forms indicating the time when the process expressed by the verb takes place. The designation of the time of the process is made in relation to the moment of speech, i.e. in relation to the time at which the speaker's speech occurs. Consequently, time forms indicate the relationship between the time of the process and the moment of speech. In relation to the moment of speech, the process can be designated either as occurring before it, or simultaneously with it, or after it, or, finally, the process can be designated as occurring regardless of the moment of speech. In the Russian language, only the indicative mood has forms of time, while in the conditional and imperative moods they are absent, and the process expressed in these moods is always designated as occurring regardless of the moment of speech. The indicative mood, thus, as a form denoting the time of the process in relation to the moment of speech, is opposed to the conditional and imperative moods, as forms denoting a process that occurs without regard to the time of speech.

In modern Russian, the indicative mood has three tense forms: past, present and future. Their formation and meaning are closely related to the type of verb. All three forms of tense are found only in imperfective verbs, while perfective verbs form only two tenses: past and future.

The past tense form indicates that the process expressed by the verb preceded the moment of speech. Moreover, in imperfective verbs the process is expressed as unfolding in the past without indicating its completeness, for example: In the evening, do you remember, the blizzard was angry, there was darkness in the cloudy sky, the moon, like a pale spot, looked through the gloomy clouds...(A. Pushkin) In perfective verbs, the process is designated as completed at the moment of speech, at the moment it reaches its limit: I took your book, Clouds hung over the forest, A delegation arrived in Moscow, Father went on a business trip. By denoting a process completed at the time of speech, perfective verbs in the past tense form can express that the results of this process exist at the very moment of speech. Therefore, the given examples can mean: “I have your book,” “clouds over the forest,” “father is currently on a business trip.”

Only imperfective verbs have the present tense form. The main temporary meaning of this form is the expression of a process that occurs regardless of the moment of speech, constantly or usually, cf.: The earth revolves around the sun, the Volga flows into the Caspian Sea, fish swim and birds fly, the tram stops right next to our house, it comes to us often etc. Denoting a process that occurs constantly or usually, this form thereby includes in the total time of the process the time coinciding with the moment of speech. This meaning of this form allows it to be used in the meaning of the actual present tense, i.e. to express a process occurring simultaneously with the moment of speech: I fly quickly along the cast iron rails, thinking my thoughts.(N. Nekrasov), And now look out the window: under the blue skies with magnificent tents, shining in the sun, the snow lies, the transparent forest alone turns black, and the spruce turns green through the frost, and the river glitters under the ice. (A. Pushkin) The meaning of the present tense itself, therefore, is a particular, although not rare, case of using this form. Only this form can indicate the process that takes place at the moment of speech, which is why it is called the present tense form.

The meaning of the present tense form allows it to be used to express a process occurring in the time preceding the moment of speech. This happens, for example, when a speaker, reporting about the past, depicts it as if it were happening at the present time, cf.: I went to him, called, knocked: no one unlocked... In this case, the time of the process does not correspond to the moment of speech, but to the time of any event or process that occurred before it. For verbs with the meaning of movement, the present tense form can denote a process that occurs immediately, in the near future after the moment of speech, for example: Say that I’m going now, Tomorrow we’re going out of town, I’m running, I’m running!

The future tense form means that the time of the process expressed by the verb will follow the moment of speech. The form of the future tense has such a meaning, strictly speaking, only in imperfective verbs, i.e. the so-called future complex, for example: I will think that you are bored in a foreign land.(M. Lermontov), He will constantly put them in difficult situations.(Ch. Uspensky) , You will carefully receive the same as before.(A. Chekhov) The future tense of perfective verbs (the so-called future simple) is similar in its temporal meaning to the meaning of the present tense form of imperfective verbs, just as these forms are similar in their formation. Namely, for verbs of the perfect form, the form of the future tense means that the time of the process is irrespective of the moment of speech, cf.: Whatever he notices or hears about Olga, he writes about it.(A. Pushkin), Tatyana is in the forest... either a long branch will suddenly catch her by the neck, then the golden earrings will be torn out of her ears by force, then a wet shoe will get stuck in the fragile snow from her sweet little foot, then she will drop her handkerchief, she has no time to pick it up. (A. Pushkin) However, unlike the present tense, this form denotes the process in its completeness, and this allows us to imagine it as carried out in the future, i.e. as finished after the moment of speech: In the morning the ray of the morning star will flash and the bright day will sparkle; and I - perhaps I will descend into the mysterious canopy of the tomb, and the memory of the young poet will be absorbed by the slow Lethe, the world will forget me. (A. Pushkin) By expressing the process in its completeness after the moment of speech, the future tense for verbs of the perfect form (future simple) is opposed to the future tense for verbs of the imperfect form (future complex), which also means that the process will occur after the moment of speech, but not contains indications of the completeness and completion of this process. Thus, the form of the future tense in perfective verbs is correlated, on the one hand, with the form of the present tense and, on the other hand, with the form of the future tense in imperfective verbs.

To be continued

* From the book: Avanesov R.I., Sidorov V.N. Essay on the grammar of the Russian literary language. Part I. Phonetics and morphology. M.: Uchpedgiz, 1945.

The infinitive translated from Latin means “indefinite.” It is more common to hear and use the term indefinite form of the verb. The infinitive of a verb in Russian is an interesting and complex phenomenon.

Linguistics about the infinitive

The infinitive denotes the action of the verb and always answers the questions what to do? (nesov. v.) or what to do? (Soviet century).

Linguistic scientists have different opinions about the functions and use of the infinitive. The final ones cause debate. Some argue that it is a suffix, while opponents call it an ending.

The word in this form also denotes an action, but without relation to person, number, grammatical tense and mood. In the infinitive it is impossible to determine these inconsistent features. But there are constant grammatical features, they are determined. This is aspect, transitivity, conjugation.

Any verb in the dictionary is represented by the infinitive form. Just as the initial form of a noun is the nominative case, so the initial form of a verb is the infinitive.

In the linguistic dictionary you can find out that historically this is not a verb form, but a form of a noun of the 3rd declension in the indirect case (to know - to know, to become - stati, stove - ovens). Linguistic scientists are almost unanimous on this.

In syntax, the infinitive also shows originality. Nominal origin allows different members of the sentence to appear in a sentence.

Infinitive - subject and predicate

The infinitive subject in a two-part sentence usually takes a position before the predicate. It can easily be replaced with a verbal noun.

Example.

Smoking is prohibited here. (Wed. Smoking is prohibited here.)

Smoking is harmful to health. (Smoking is harmful to health.)

The infinitive can be part of a simple verbal predicate (future complex tense, indicative tense). The lexical meaning expresses the imperfective verb in an indefinite form, and the grammatical meaning expresses the conjugated verb to be.

Example.

I will talk to the whole world.

Smoke will curl up by the river.

In a compound verbal predicate, the infinitive is an indispensable component that contains the lexical meaning.

Example.

I couldn't look around for a long time.

I was ready to love the whole world.

Infinitive as an object

This word form can denote an action as an object of someone’s activity.

Example.

The rain started forcing us to return to the tent.

My father asked me (about what?) to put the kettle on.

The object should not be confused with the predicate. Actions are performed by different objects. (Father asks, but I will put the kettle on).

Infinitive as a definition

Often a verb in the indefinite form refers to a noun and is an inconsistent modifier.

Example.

The regiment received an order (what?) to cross the river.

Infinitive as adverbial

The indefinite form acts in a sentence as an adverbial adverbial goal. She explains the predicate with the meaning of movement, answers questions about the circumstances of the goal. The adverbial clause can be easily converted into a subordinate clause.

Example.

I went out into the air (why?) to freshen up. (I went out into the air to freshen up).

The doctor came to arrange a vacation. (The doctor came in to arrange a vacation.)

The infinitive is the main member of a one-part sentence.

I like to sleep sweetly, but I’m ashamed to get up late. (Definitely personal).

Listen, you need to know the honor. (Impersonal).

Our language keeps many secrets; the infinitive of a verb in Russian is not the last mystery.

Infinitive in English– this is a non-personal form. Like a verb, an infinitive names an action, but unlike a verb, it does not indicate person or number. In its basic form (Simple Infinitive), the infinitive answers the questions: what to do? what to do?

to purchase – to purchase.

The infinitive is also called the “infinitive form of the verb” or the “initial form of the verb.”

Table: infinitive forms in English (briefly)

The infinitive can have 4 forms in the active voice and 2 in the passive voice.

However, the most common and relevant for study is the form “simple infinitive in the active voice” (to ask). In fact, when they say “infinitive”, usually, in most cases, I mean this particular form - most of this article is devoted to it.

Below we will look at the same table again and analyze each form in detail, but first we need to clarify two more points:

• The infinitive can be with or without the particle to.
• How is the negative form of the infinitive formed?

After that, let's return to the analysis of each form.

Infinitive with the particle to and without the particle to

The infinitive can be used with or without the particle to:

• I want to help you. - I want to help you.
• I must help you. - I have to help you.

Most often the infinitive is used with to, but there are a number of cases when the infinitive is used without the particle to, they apply to all forms of the infinitive(i.e. all forms from the table above). I note that most often the infinitive without to occurs after modal verbs, other cases are quite rare.

1. After modal verbs (the most common case)

Negative infinitive

The negative form is formed using a particle not– it is placed before the infinitive. If the infinitive has the particle to, the negation not is placed before it.

I decided not to go to London. – I decided not to go to London.

He asked me not to be late. - He asked me not to be late.

I might not come. – I may not come.

All forms of the infinitive in English (details)

Let's look again at all forms of the infinitive:

There are six forms in total in the table:

1. Simple Infinitive:

I want to ask you – I want to ask you.

2. Simple Infinitive Passive:

I want to be asked- I want to be asked.

3. Continuous Infinitive:

I happened to be asking her about you when you came in. “It so happened that I asked her about you when you came.”

4. Perfect Infinitive:

You could have asked me first - You could ask me first.

5. Perfect Infinitive Passive:

She could have been asked by anybody – Anyone could have asked her.

6. Perfect Continuous Infinitive:

He doesn't seem to have been asking wrong people - Looks like he was asking the wrong people questions.

Please note that the most common, necessary and important form to study is Simple Infinitive. In second place - Simple Infinitive Passive. Other forms are used less frequently.

Forms Perfect And Perfect Continuous(that is, those where there are have) – largely overlap with the themes “ and . If you already know these topics, you will see familiar things, but just from a different perspective - everything is explained in more detail below.

Simple Infinitive - simple infinitive (the most necessary form)

The most common and important form of the infinitive to study is the simple infinitive in the active voice (Infinitive Indefinite Active or Simple Infinitive Active). It is used to denote an action that:

1. Occurs simultaneously with the action of the main verb:

Tell him to stop. - Tell him to stop.

2. Refers to the future tense:

I want you to come with me tomorrow. – I want you to come with me tomorrow.

3. Regardless of the time of commission:

To know such tricks are useful. – Knowing such tricks is useful.

Let's name the main cases of its use.

1. With verbs that do not give full meaning

The infinitive is often used in combination with verbs that do not make full sense without it, for example:

• Tell- say/command something,
• Begin- start,
• Continue- continue,
• Want- want,
• Intend- intend
• Try- try, try,
• Hope- hope
• Promise- promise,
• Decide- decide, make a decision.

I want to see your permission. - I want to see your permission.

Do you promise to quit smoking? – Do you promise to quit smoking?

Nina decided not to sing the agreement. – Nina decided not to sign the agreement.

I'll try to help you. - I'll try to help you.

These verbs include modal verbs. I remind you that after them the infinitive is used without the particle to:

I must see your permission. - I need to see your permission.

Can you quit smoking? -Can you quit smoking?

2. To indicate the purpose of an action

In Russian, when we need to express the purpose of an action, we say “to” or “with a purpose.” In English we use the infinitive:

She came to collect her letter. - She came (to) pick up her letter.

We came to help you. - We came (to) help you.

I am calling to ask you about dad. – I’m calling you (to) ask about dad.

You sister has gone to finish her homework. – Your sister left to finish her homework (left to finish).

In this case to can be replaced by a union in order to(with a purpose), the meaning will be the same, but sentences with in order to sounds more formal:

You sister has gone in order to finish her homework. – Your sister left to complete her homework.

3. Infinitive as subject

The infinitive is used as a subject in formal speech, often in writing.

To be or not to be, that is the question. – To be or not to be, that is the question.

To know she is to love her. “To know her is to love her.”

To visit the Grand Canyon is my life-long dream. – Visiting the Grand Canyon has been my life’s dream.

To understand statistics, that is our aim. – Understanding statistics is our goal.

4. To indicate the purpose of the item

If I had known you were coming I would have baked a cake. “If I had known you were coming, I would have baked a pie.”

You could have helped him. – You could have helped him (but you didn’t).

In the case of the verb should there is a hint of regret or reproach:

Where should have taken more gas. – We should have taken more gasoline (but, unfortunately, we didn’t).

You should have been prepared for anything! “You should have been ready for anything!” (but you weren't and therefore you let us down)

Perfect Continuous Infinitive - an infinitive denoting a continuous-perfect action

Scheme: to have been + Present Participle. Example: to have been talking.

This form is used in the following cases:

1. Long completed action

The infinitive denotes a continuous action that was performed but completed before the action expressed by the verb.

The woman seemed to have been crying. “The woman looked like she was crying.

He pretended to have been working all day. “He pretended that he had been working all day.”

2. After modal verbs must, may, should

The assumption is expressed that some long-term action took place, but has already ended.

You must have been waiting for hours! “You must have waited for hours!”

They might have been talking before you came in. “They must have been talking before you came in.”

In the case of a modal verb should there is a tinge of regret or reproach that some long-term action could have occurred, but in reality did not occur.

You should have been studying for your test. – You should have studied for the test (but you didn’t).

Note:

Please note that in all perfect forms of the infinitive, that is, in forms where there is have, the word itself have never takes shape has, as in the case of a verb in its personal form. Word have in this case it is part of the infinitive, therefore it cannot be correlated with person and number, and accordingly cannot take a personal form has(has = 3rd person, singular).

He has a fox. - He has a fox.

The has form is used because it is the personal form (3rd person, singular) of the verb.

He might have a fox. - He might have a fox.

Here have– infinitive, it has no person and number.

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This article will tell you about the infinitive in English.

The infinitive is the indefinite form of the verb. This form expresses action but does not show person or number. The infinitive answers the questions “what to do?”, “what to do?”: to run– run/come running, to cook– cook/cook. In a sentence, the infinitive can be used with a particle to and without her. In the article “” we talked in detail about these rules.

The infinitive can freely “travel” around the sentence. Typically it plays the role of:

1. Subject
   

   To walk alone late at night is very dangerous. – Walk Alone late at night is very dangerous.

2. Parts of the predicate
   

   My decision is to stay here for a couple of days. - My decision - stay here for a couple of days.

3. Add-ons
   

   Many people hate to lose. - Many people hate lose.

4. Definitions
   

   She was the best to solve this problem. - She is the best decided this task.

5. Circumstances
   

   You can break this model. It was made to be tested. – You can break this model. She was done for testing.

Now we will move on to the most interesting part of our article - the infinitive forms.

Infinitive forms in English

In English, the infinitive has no less than four forms: simple ( simple), long ( continuous), perfect ( perfect), perfect continuous ( perfect continuous). They can exist in reality ( active) and passive voices ( passive).

Let's look at the table showing the verb to ask(ask) in different forms.

Russian does not have such a variety of infinitive forms as English. For this reason, when translating, we will most often use a simple infinitive or a verb in the personal form.

To be fair, it should be said that the continuous and perfect continuous passive infinitives are used extremely rarely in English.

Let's find out more about the forms themselves and cases of their use:

1. Simple Infinitive– simple infinitive

   This is the form that we are used to seeing in the dictionary. It is usually used to indicate action in the present or future tense.

   I am really glad to see you again. - I am very happy see you again.

   This work should be done immediately. – This work should do immediately.

2. Continuous Infinitive– long infinitive

   The continuous infinitive indicates a continuous action. This infinitive, like the simple one, denotes an action in the present or future tense.

   He must be still reading a magazine. - He's probably still is reading magazine.

   Please note that according to the classical rules between a particle to and other words are not used as infinitives. But in modern spoken language an adverb may appear between them. This sentence construction is not considered an error, but in formal English it is better to avoid splitting the infinitive.

3. Perfect Infinitive– perfect infinitive

   The perfect infinitive names an action that occurred before the moment of speech indicated in the sentence or before another action.

   I am sorry to have told him this secret. - I'm sorry that I told this secret to him.

   There is a drawing on the table. This sketch must have been made by George. - There is a drawing on the table. This sketch must be was made George.

4. Perfect Continuous Infinitive– perfect continuous infinitive

   This infinitive shows an action that lasts until a specific moment or other action in the present.

   He is dissatisfied to have been living here for five years. - He is very dissatisfied with the fact that lives here for five years.

In conclusion, we invite you to watch a video in which the teacher Alex talks about the features of infinitives in the active and passive voices. And don’t forget to take a little test that will help you remember the infinitive forms better.

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Test

Infinitive in English: forms and their use

The infinitive, or indefinite form of the verb, refers to the non-finite forms of the verb and combines the properties of the verb and the noun. The infinitive answers the questions “what to do?”, “what to do?”: to read - read, to write - write, to learn - learn, to remember - remember, to promise - promise etc.

The formal sign of the infinitive is the particle to, which comes before it. In some cases the to particle is omitted.

The Indefinite Infinitive Active is the only simple form of the infinitive.

I want to play chess.
I want to play chess.

All other forms are complex, as they are formed using the auxiliary verbs to be, to have and participle.

Rules for the formation and use of the infinitive in English

1. Indefinite Infinitive Active is formed from the stem of a verb with the particle to (for example, to write) and is used to express an action that occurs simultaneously with the action expressed by the predicate verb, in the present, past and future tense or regardless of the time of its occurrence.

I am glad to hear it. I'm glad to hear that.
He wanted to play chess. He wanted to play chess.
I shall hope to see you tomorrow. I hope to see you tomorrow.
To swim is pleasant. It's nice to swim.

Indefinite Infinitive Passive is formed using the auxiliary verb to be + 3rd form of the verb (Participle II) (for example, to be written) and is used to express an action simultaneous with the action expressed by the predicate verb.

Didn't want her article to be translated.
He wanted her article to be translated (= to have her article translated).

2. Continuous Infinitive Active is formed using the auxiliary verb to be + Participle I of the semantic verb (for example, to be writing) and is used to express a long-term action that occurs simultaneously with the action expressed by the predicate verb. This form is often used after verbs to seem, to appear - seem and after auxiliary verbs.

Doesn't seem to be writing much. He seems to write a lot.
Doesn't seem to be waiting for us. It seems (that) he is waiting for us.

3. Perfect Continuous Infinitive Active is formed using the auxiliary verb to be in the Perfect Infinitive (to have been) + Participle I of the semantic verb (=ing form) - (for example, to have been writing) - and expresses a continuous action preceding the action expressed by the predicate verb.

He is reported to have been writing a new novel.
It is reported that he is writing a new novel. (They are reporting now, but he started writing a new novel before that, so the verb to write is used in the Perfect Continuous Infinitive Active.)

4. Perfect Infinitive Active is formed using the auxiliary verb to have + Participle II of the semantic verb (for example, to have written).

Perfect Infinitive Passive is formed using the auxiliary verb to be in the Perfect Infinitive (to have been) + Participle II of the semantic verb (for example, to have been written).

Perfect Infinitive (Active, Passive) is used:

1. To express an action preceding an action expressed by a predicate verb.

Not said to have won the Olympic Gold (medal).
He is said to have won a gold medal at the Olympic Games.

She seems to have forgotten about our request.
It seems she forgot about our request.

2. After the modal verbs should, would, ought to, could, might to express an unfulfilled moral duty or obligation.

Not should have helped her.
He should have helped her but he didn't).

You ought to have congratulated him with the defense of his thesis.
You should congratulate him on defending his dissertation.

3. After was, were to express unfulfilled plans and contracts.

The school was to have been ready by the 1st of September, but it is still only half finished.
The school was supposed to be ready by September 1, but it is still only half ready.

4. After the modal verbs must, may to express assumptions, conclusions.

Not must have read this book. He must have read this book.
She may have married. She may have gotten married.
He must have come this way. Here are his footprints.
He must have come this way. Here are his traces.

5. After verbs to hope ( hope), to expect ( expect), to want ( want), to intend ( mean) to express an action that, contrary to hope and expectation, did not take place.

She hoped to have met a good man.
She hoped to meet a good man ( but didn't meet).

He intended to have put up an advertisement yesterday.
He intended to make the announcement yesterday ( but didn't).

Infinitive with the particle to

1. The infinitive is usually used with the particle to: to read, to write, to work. But if in a sentence there are two infinitives next to each other, connected by the conjunction and or or, then the particle to is usually omitted before the second infinitive.

She decided to go and buy something for supper.
She decided to go and buy something for dinner.

2. The particle to is sometimes used at the end of a sentence without a verb. This is done to avoid repeating the same verb in the same sentence. This use of the particle to usually occurs after the verbs to wish - want, to want - want, to try - try, to allow - allow, to have to - be to and etc.

I didn’t want to take a taxi but I had to(take one) as I was late.
I didn’t want to take a taxi, but I had to (take a taxi) because I was late.

He wished to go but he wasn’t able to.
He wanted to go, but was not able (could not go).

Did you get a ticket? -Did you get a ticket? -
No, I tried to, but there weren’t any left.
No. I tried, but there was not a single ticket left.

3. After verbs to be, to have used as modal verbs, the particle to is added.

I am to meet him here.
I must meet him here.

Not has to do it in September.
He should do this in September.

4. After the words the first, the second… the last, the only.

He loves parties: he is always the first to come and the last to leave.
He loves parties: he is always the first to arrive and the last to leave.

Infinitive without particle to

1. After auxiliary and modal verbs.

Not can play chess. He plays (can play) chess.
We shall go by foot there. We'll go there on foot.

2. After the verbs to make - force, to let - allow and sometimes after to help - to help.

She made him give up smoking. She made him quit smoking.
I let him read this book. I allowed him to read (read) this book.

3. After the verbs to see - see, to hear - hear, to feel - feel, to watch - observe, to make - force and some others in the phrase “Objective case with infinitive”.

I heard her leave the house.
I heard her leave the house.

They made us work all night long.
They made us work all night.

BUT: If the verbs listed in the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs are used in the passive voice, then the infinitive that follows them is used with the particle to.

Not was made to open the door.
He was forced to open the door.

She was seen to go to the institute.
We saw her go to college.

4. After the expressions had better - better be, would rather, would sooner - would prefer...(would) rather.

You had better talk to the doctor.
You'd better talk to your doctor.

I would rather see him alone.
I'd rather see him alone.

Will + infinitive in English is used to express an action or state in the future tense.