If you haven’t yet, check out the first post on gerunds versus infinitives. It gives some ground rules for when to use gerunds and what they are. 🙂 On to infinitives!
An infinitive is usually made up of the verb with to- to go, to eat, to sleep, to wonder, etc. We can call the verb without ‘to’ a bare infinitive (or verb without to haha)- go, eat, sleep, wonder, etc. Infinitives don’t change based on the tense or the subject:
She wants to go to the mall. I want to go to the mall. They wanted to go to the mall. We will want to go to the mall. Notice how want changes but to go does not.
Infinitives can be used like gerunds as the subject of the sentence, but it sounds incredibly formal and is something you’re more likely to read than to make yourself. Take this example: To err is human; to forgive, divine. Here ‘to err’ (to make a mistake or commit an error) and ‘to forgive’ are both the subjects of each clause. They sound very formal, very poetic, and quite old-fashioned. Something to keep in mind!
Infinitives, like gerunds, can be used after certain verbs (check out my third instalment on gerunds and infinitives for help here). Infinitives are also often used following an adjective.
It isn’t easy to wear high-heels every day to work. Many people think it’s difficult to learn how to sew.
You can also use the infinitive to give the purpose or intention of an action: She came to ask if she could borrow my car.
Infinitives can also be used with a noun phrase or a noun to make a judgement: That is an unkind thing to say.
It’s tricky, but you’ll get the hang of it! What kind of sentences can you make using the infinitive? Try it out in the comments!
English Class with Heather 