The Infinitive

2. Introduction

The infinitive is a plain verb stem which is usually preceded by the particle to, e.g. to take.

The infinitive has a double nature, nominal and verbal.

The nominal character of the infinitive is manifested in it syntactic functions, i.e.:

- the subject To wait for people made him angry.

- a predicative My ambition was to retire at thirty.

- an object My granny has never learnt to read or write.

The verbal characteristics of the infinitive are as follows:

• The infinitive can take a direct object.

Jack began to feel some curiosity.

• The infinitive can be modified by an adverb.

I thought it strange for her to be out so late.

• The infinitive has analytical forms expressing tense, aspect and voice distinctions.

3. Forms

The infinitive has the following forms:

	Active	Passive
Indefinite	To take	To be taken
Continuous	To be taking
Perfect	To have taken	To have been taken
Perfect Continuous	To have been taking

3.1. The Indefinite Infinitive expresses an action simultaneous with the action expressed by the finite verb. So it may refer to the present, past or future.

Roger seemed to know all about it.

I’ll be glad to run across an old schoolmate.

3.2. The Continuous (progressive) Infinitive also denotes an action simultaneous with that denoted by the finite verb but it is an action in progress.

It’s nice to be sitting here with you.

Why’s she so late? She can’t still be working.

I noticed that he seemed to be smoking a lot.

3. The Perfect Infinitive denotes an action prior to the action expressed by the finite verb.

He seemed to have guessed the truth.

I’m sorry not to have come on Thursday.

We often use perfect infinitives to talk about “unreal” past events: things that did not happen or might not have happened.

You should have told me you were coming.

After such verbs as to mean, expect, intend, hope, in the Past Indefinite, the Perfect Infinitive shows that the hope or intention was not carried out.

I meant to have telephoned but I forgot.(= I had meant to telephone … = I meant to telephone but never did.)

3. The Perfect Continuous Infinitive denotes an action which lasted a certain time before the action of the finite verb (and might be still going on).

They seemed to have been getting on a bit better.

He must have been feeling all along that there was something strange about the whole affair.

3. The infinitive of transitive verbs has passive forms which are used when the subject is not the doer of the action expressed by the infinitive but may undergo this action, be acted upon.

I have not come here to be insulted but to talk to you as a friend.

She ought to be told about it.

Sometimes active and passive infinitives can have similar meanings, especially after a noun, in sentences with the construction there is.

The people to interview / to be interviewed are in the next room.

There is a lot of work to do / to be done.

There are six letters to post / to be posted.

Perfect passive infinitives are common.

They were very lucky – they could have been killed.

Continuous passive infinitives are possible but unusual.

“What would you like to be doing now?”

“I’d like to be being massaged.”

Perfect Continuous passive infinitives do not normally occur, e.g. “It must have been being built then.”