Why infinitives are used

Note: The infinitive is also the usual dictionary form or citation form of a verb. Certain helping verbs do not have infinitives, such will , can , and may. It is percent grammatically sound. Part of the reason so many authorities have been against this construction is likely the fact that in languages such as Latin, the infinitive is a single word, and cannot be split.

However, in English the infinitive or at least the to -infinitive is two words, and a split infinitive is a perfectly natural construction. While this construction is acceptable in casual conversation, it is not grammatically correct and should not be used in formal situations.

As we mentioned previously, the infinitive can sometimes occur without the word to. The form without to is called the bare infinitive the form with to is called the to -infinitive. In the following sentences both sit and to sit would each be considered an infinitive:. Infinitives have a variety of uses in English. Certain contexts call for the to -infinitive form, and certain contexts call for the bare infinitive; they are not normally interchangeable, except in occasional instances like after the verb help , where either can be used.

As we mentioned earlier, some verbs require the bare infinitive instead of the to -infinitive:. The bare infinitive can be tricky, because it often looks exactly like the present tense of a verb. Look at the following sentences for an example:. So how can you tell which is which? The easiest way is to try changing the subject of the sentence and seeing if the verb should change:. Just like single-word adverbs, adverbial infinitives always describe verbs.

Listen to this next example and try to identify the purpose the speaker gives for his action:. I watch Learning English videos to improve my listening skills. Adverbial infinitives can also appear in other parts of a sentence, such as at the beginning.

For instance, a speaker could say this:. To improve my listening skills , I watch Learning English videos. When infinitives act as nouns, they can have several functions in a sentence. We will focus on them as direct objects and subjects. Nominal infinitives are generally part of longer phrases that, together, make a noun phrase.

In this case, the nominal infinitive is part of a noun phrase that acts as the direct object. Nominal infinitives can also act as subjects. But this sentence structure is neither common in everyday speaking nor in formal speech or writing. Generally, you will find it in creative writing and literature.

Alright, we have covered a lot. Now we just have one more thing to quickly touch on: bare infinitives. Often, you will see them used with modal verbs. September 4, Here are some of the main ways to do that: Using the infinitive as a noun Sometimes, the infinitive form of a verb is used not as a normal verb — but as a noun. Prev Next. Sign up with your email Would you like to get language learning tips sent straight to your inbox? Sign up today!