The infinitive
An infinitive is a special form of verb that is formed from a verb. It is introduced by 'to' and made up of two words 'to+verb' but doesn't act as a verb. These two words act together as a noun, adjective or an adverb.
To err is human. (Noun)
I love to swim. (Noun)
The student to award is Rohan. (Adjective)
I can't wait to see. (Adverb)
Usually, infinitives are formed by adding the word to before the base form of the verb, as in to be, but sometimes the base form of the verb is used alone.
Kinds of Infinitives
A. Bare Infinitives
B. To-Infinitives
A. Bare Infinitives
I. The ‘to’ in the Infinitives is omitted after the following Verbs :
bid, let, make, dare, feel, hear, need, see, watch ; as :
1. Our teacher bid us do hard work.
2. They let me do my work.
3. The doctor made the patient walk
4. We need not stay outside.
5. I heard the child cry.
II. The infinitive without to is also used after had better, had rather, would rather, rather than, sooner than ; as :
1. You had rather leave this place.
2. She had rather work than play.
3. You had better get a clearance in time.
4. I would rather starve than beg.
5. He had sooner walk than ride.
III. ‘to’ before the infinitive is omitted after than and after but in the sense of except ; as :
We did nothing but enjoy.
She did no more than weep.
IV. “to” is omitted after may, can, shall, should, will, would, must etc ; as :
It may rain today.
He would help us with love.
She must pay her fees.
B. To-Infinitives
The Infinitive may be used :
1. As the subject of a verb ; as,
To err is human, to forgive is divine.
To see is to believe.
2. As the object of a verbs ; as,
The brave do not fear to die.
Everybody hopes to succeed.
3. As the complement of a Verb ; as,
My greatest desire is to stand first.
He seems to be stupid.
4. As the object of a preposition ; as,
The poor patient was about to die.
The enemy had no alternative but to yield.
5. As an adjective ; as,
He has a cause to repent.
Here is a house to repair.
6. As an adverb ; as,
(a) The infinitive modifying the Verb ; as :
We eat to live.
The doctor came to see the patient.
(b) The infinitive qualifying the adjective ; as :
He is too lazy to do anything.
I am glad to see the result.
(c) The infinitive qualifying the adverb ; as :
She went to America to study.
We went out to relax.
7. In passive voice ; as,
Everybody wants to be treated with love.
To have been selected for IAS is a great achievement.
