Revised as of
13 Feb 2023
The infinitive can be both easy and touchy to identify. You’d think it would be very simple what with to + infinitive, but sometimes that to is a preposition instead.
Besides the to version, there is also the infinitive + -ing version, which can be tricky to differentiate from the gerund or participle -ings.
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. . . an evolving list of the structural rules and principles that determines where words are placed in phrases or sentences as well as how the language is spoken. Sometimes I run across an example that helps explain better or another “also known as”. Heck, there’s always a better way to explain it, so if it makes quicker and/or better sense, I would appreciate suggestions and comments from anyone on an area of grammar with which you struggle or on which you can contribute more understanding.
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Infinitive | ||||||||||||||
Definition: Verbal in its to form. To call, to eat, to drive, to play, to anything . . .
NOTE: A present participle also uses a verb + -ing ending BUT is used as an adjective while the gerund uses a verb + -ing as a noun.
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Infinitive vs Gerund vs Participle: | ||||||||||||||
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The main problem is that participles and gerunds look alike, especially in their -ing form. It’s all the fault of those 18th century grammarians who finally settled down to make sense of the English language. You can see how much success they had, lol. Seriously, though they did do a great job with what they had at the time.
Latin was the classic language at the time, and this is where those linguists started. Gerunds and participles were treated differently in Latin, which is why they’re thought of as different now. Today’s grammarians are beginning to refer to them as gerund-participles. It’ll take awhile for this concept to catch on, so it’s important that writers today know what the current differences are. I know . . . it’s a pain. Return to top or post contents |
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The difference is that: | ||||||||||||||
Verb | What It Does | Examples | ||||||||||||
Gerund | Functions as a noun
Always has an -ing ending |
Hiking is a favorite sport in Colorado.
After running into Helen, George knew it meant a three-hour lunch. |
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Infinitive | Base form of a verb, to ___, that functions as an adjective, adverb, or noun | She had a gift to give me.
She wanted to buy the hat. Jamie likes to hike. |
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Participle
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Functions as an adjective
Depending on tense, it may have an -ing or -ed [+] ending |
He had hiked to Pike’s Peak.
Running into Helen meant a three-hour lunch. Jamie’s snoring was enough to keep Marge awake all night. |
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Infinitive Marker | ||||||||||||||
Definition: To is the word which can “mark” a verb as an infinitive.
CAUTION: To can also mark a preposition. Rule: When to is followed by the verb in its base or simple present form, then it’s an infinitive marker. If to is followed by the verb as a gerund or participle, then it’s a preposition. |
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Exceptions: The construction surrounding used to can be confusing. Barbara suggested a way to determine when an infinitive OR a preposition follows used to. | ||||||||||||||
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Use the To + Infinitive | ||||||||||||||
After Adjectives | Rule: Always use an infinitive after adjectives. | |||||||||||||
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Partial List of Adjectives | |||||||||||||
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Examples: | ||||||||||||||
Legend:
I was happy to help them. She will be delighted to see you. |
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too + adjective . . . | Rule: . . . is followed by the to + infinitive. | |||||||||||||
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Legend:
The water was too cold to swim in. My tea is too hot to drink. |
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adjective + enough . . . | Rule: . . . is followed by the to + infinitive. | |||||||||||||
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Legend:
He was strong enough to lift it. She is rich enough to buy two. |
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After Certain Verbs | Rule: Always use a to + infinitive after certain verbs. | |||||||||||||
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Examples: | ||||||||||||||
Legend:
I forgot to close the window. Mary needs to leave early. Why are they encouraged to learn Spanish? We can’t afford to take a long holiday. |
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Use the Infinitive + -ing | ||||||||||||||
After Certain Verbs | Rule: Always use an infinitive -ing after certain verbs. | |||||||||||||
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Partial List of Certain Verbs | |||||||||||||
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Examples: | ||||||||||||||
Legend:
I dislike getting up early. Would you mind opening the window? |
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After a Preposition | Rule: Always use an infinitive -ing after a preposition. | |||||||||||||
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Legend:
I look forward to meeting you. They left without saying goodbye. |
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When Subject of a Clause | Definition: An infinitive clause that is a dependent clause whose verb is in the infinitive form.
It may have a subject, object, complement, or modifier. A.k.a. infinitival clause, infinitive clause, to-infinitive clause Credit to: Nordquist Rule: Always use an infinitive -ing when it is the subject of a clause. |
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Legend:
Swimming is good exercise. Doctors say that smoking is bad for you. |
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Use Either to or -ing | Rule: Occurs when a “verb can be followed by the -ing form (gerund) or the to form (infinitive) without a big change in meaning” (Infinitive). | |||||||||||||
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Partial List of “Certain” Ambivalent Verbs | |||||||||||||
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Examples: | ||||||||||||||
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Infinitive Phrase | Rule: Consists of an infinitive — to + verb + any modifiers or complements associated with it.
Infinitive phrases may act as adjectives, adverbs, and nouns. |
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Legend:
Her move to California wasn’t turning out as she thought. She wanted to wear the red dress. His plan to play bingo and get cozy with Martha was doomed. |
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NEVER Split an Infinitive | Definition: Splitting an infinitive simply means that another word has been inserted between the to and the infinitive (the verb). | |||||||||||||
Rule: For generations, we’ve been told to “never split an infinitive”, primarily because of those Latin construction rules 18th century grammarians used as the basis to bring order to the English language. As we all know, rules are made to be broken, and this is definitely one of them. The one rule you may never break is making it hard for your reader to understand what you’re saying. If you’re in doubt, keep the to and the infinitive together. Exception may occur in informal writing when a single adverb splits the infinitive as in the example below and the Star Trek quote on the right (OWL). |
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C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
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Resources for Infinitive
Barbara. “To as a Marker for an Infinitive vs. To as a Preposition.” Pearson Longman. <http://www.pearsonlongman.com/ae/azar/grammar_ex/message_board/archive/articles/00069.htm>.
“Infinitive or -ing?” English Club. n.d. Web. n.d. <https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-m_infinitive-ing.htm>.
Nordquist, Richard. “Infinitive Clauses.” ThoughtCo. 29 Mar 2018. Web. 13 Feb 2023. <https://www.thoughtco.com/infinitive-clause-grammar-1691062>.
Purdue OWL. Purdue University. n.d. Web. n.d. <https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/627/03/>.
Pinterest Photo Credits
Giovanni Mongiano by Paola Vigna under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons is a cropped and flipped derivative.