CHAPTER 19

THE INFINITIVE
19.1. Consider the following:
1. The boy is swimming.
2. The boy wants to swim.
3. Ifound the boy swimming.
4. Swimming is good for health.
In sentence 1, the verb is swimming is limited by the Number and
Person of its subject boy. The verb is swimming is in the Present Continuous
Tense and the main verb swimming takes the auxiliary is to form the
continuous tense. These verbs are called Finite Verbs.
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ACOMPREHENSIVE GRAMMAR OF

of its
Definition : Averb which is limited by the number and person
subject is called a Finite Verb.
and swimming are not
In sentences 2,3 and 4. the verbs to swim tenses and
number and person of any subject. They have no
the not
ed oy do
tnerefore, take any auxiliary to form tenses. These verbS are called
Non-Finite Verbs. the verb
Non-Finites are derived from verbs and have certain features of
Dut they have no subiect and. therefore., are not limited by the number and
person Iike averb that has a subiect: they may function as Noun, Adjective
or Adverb.
Definition : ANon-Finite Verb is that which is derived from a verb but
hâs no subject, and, therefore, is not limited by the number and persSon
of any noun or pronoun.
The Non-Finite in sentence 2 (to swim) is called an Infinitive, in sentence
3it (swimming) is a Participle and in sentence 4 (swimming) aGerund.
The Infinitive
19.2. The Infinitive consists of two words, to +verb. Thus an infinitive
Is formed from a verb. But after certain verbs and expressions, the infinitive
IS used without to. Such an infinitive without to is called bare infinitive.

Definition: An Infinitive is a Non-Finite Verb which is generally preceded

by to» and is used like a Noun, Adjective or Adverb.
There are two kinds of Infinitives -The Noun Infinitive and the Qualifying
Infinitive.
USES OF THE INFINITIVE
19.3. The Noun lnfinitive is used like a Noun:
(1) As the Subject of a Verb:
To err is human, to forgive is divine.
To solve this question is difficult.
(2) As the Object of a Verb:
He likes to play.
Rajesh wanted to do his work:
(3) As the Complement of a Verb:
He seems to be mad.
Children are to go home early.
(4) As the Object of a Preposition:
He is about to go.
She had no choice but ( = except) to cry.
When the Infinitive is used like a Noun, it is called Noun Infinitive or
Simple Infinitive.
Nouns and Noun Infinitives are compared below:
Used as: Noun Noun Infinitive
Subject of a verb Raghunath is our To study is our duty.
friend.
Object of a verb Ilike Raghunath. Ilike to study.
Complement of a verb My friend is My habit is to study.
Raghunath.
Object of apreposition He knows about He is about to study.
Raghunath.
 THE INFINITIVE
THE QUALIFYING INFINITIVE 104
19.4. The Qualifying Infinitive may be used:-
(1)To qualify a Noun like an Adjective:
Give me a chair to sit.
This is athing to admire.
12) To qualify a Verb like an Adverb:
came to see you.
The students are going to play the match.
(3) To qualify an Adjective like an Adverb:
The book is nice to read.
This picture is beautiful to look at.
(4) To qualify a sentence:
To tell the truth, he cannot be depended upon.
He was out of his mind, so to speak.
To be frank, Idon't like him.
When the Infinitive is used to qualify a Noun, Verb or Adjective, it is
called a Qualifying Infinitive or Gerundial Infinitive.
Adiectives or Adverbs and the Qualifying Infinitives are compared
below:
Adjective or Adverb Qualifying Infinitive Qualifies
This is a good thing. This is.a thing to eat. Noun
He came quickly. He came to eat. Verb
This mango is very good. This mango is good to eat. Adjective
19.5. In certain cases 'to' is omitted before the Infinitives. The
Infinitive without 'to is used:
(1)After certain verbs like-see, hear, feel, know, observe, make, help,
need, please, etc.:
Please go there.
Iheard her sing.
The police will not let the thief escape.
The teacher made the children wait.
You need not do it.
(2) After auxiliary verbs:
The man may go (= The man is allowed to go).
He shall work ( = He is compelled to work).
I will do it ( = Iam willing to do it).
(3) After but and after than in the sense of except:
She did nothing but( = except) cry.
He is better able to argue than work.
than, etc.:
(4) After had better, had rather, would rather, sooner
She had better ask permission.
such a place.
Iwould rather starve than work in
19.6. Read these sentences:
answer.
It is difficult to correctly give the
104 GRAMMAR OF CURRENT ENGLISH
A COMPREHENSIVE

secretly open the chest.

The thief the
In these sentences to
triedinfinitives to give and to open have been split
or separated by the adverbs correctly and secretly. These are named split
infinitives. It would reshape the sentences as under :
better to
answer correctly.
It is diffcult toaive the secretly.
chest
The thief tried to open the
one:
19.7. The Infinitives can helo tocombine two sentences into work.
Sentences: He was too tired. He could not
Two to work.
One Sentence: He was too tired
shocked.
Two Sentences : Lheard the news. I was
news.
One Sentence: Iwas shocked to hear the
of it
Two Sentences: I speak the truth, Iam not afraid
truth.
One Sentence: | am not afraid to speak the
FORMS OF INFINITIVES
below:
19.8. The different forms of the Infinitives are shown
Active Passive
Form
to love to be loved
Present
Perfect to have loved to have been loved

Present Continuous to be loving

Perfect Continuous to have been loving

Examples: There is a lot to be done. (Present Passive).

Iam sorry to have torn the book. (Perfect Active)
He is believed to be living in Australia. (Present Continuous)
Ihope to be earning my living in a year's time. (Present Continuous)
He pretended to have been studying. (Perfect Continuous)
sides. (Perfect
He seems to have been spying for both sides.
Continuous)