Infinitive facts for kids

The infinitive is a verb form. It has no person, number, mood, or tense.

The infinitive in English

In English, there are two main forms of the infinitive:

• the full infinitive (to-infinitive) has the word to at the beginning. For example: I want to run
• the bare infinitive does not have the word to. For example: I must go.

After a modal verb you must use an infinitive. For example, I must go, he must go (he must goes is not correct)

To express time relationships, here are 6 types of infinitives:

1. simple infinitive, for example, to write
2. continuous infinitive, for example, to be writing
3. perfect infinitive, for example, to have written
4. perfect continuous infinitive, for example, to have been writing
5. passive infinitive, for example, to be written
6. passive perfect infinitive, for example, to have been written

The infinitive in other languages

• In German, the infinitives end with -en, -eln or -ern. There are 2 exceptions - sein (to be) and tun (to do).

• In Esperanto, the infinitives end with -i, for example dormi (to sleep)

See also

In Spanish: Infinitivo para niños