Infinitive facts for kids

An infinitive is a special form of a verb. It's different because it doesn't show who is doing the action (like 'I' or 'they'). It also doesn't show if it's happening now, in the past, or future. Think of it as the basic, original form of a verb.

Infinitives in English

In the English language, there are two main kinds of infinitives:

• The full infinitive (also called the to-infinitive) always has the word to in front of the verb.
  • Example: I want to run. (Here, 'to run' is the full infinitive.)
• The bare infinitive does not have the word to in front.
  • Example: I must go. (Here, 'go' is the bare infinitive.)

Using Infinitives with Modal Verbs

When you use a wikt:modal verb (like can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would), you always follow it with a bare infinitive.

• For example: I must go. or He must go.
• It is incorrect to say He must goes.

Different Ways Infinitives Show Time

Infinitives can also help us understand when something happens or how it relates to other actions. Here are some ways they do this:

• Simple Infinitive: This is the most common form, like to write. It shows a general action.
• Continuous Infinitive: This form, like to be writing, shows an action that is ongoing or happening at a specific time.
• Perfect Infinitive: This form, like to have written, shows an action that was completed before another action or point in time.
• Passive Infinitive: This form, like to be written, shows that the subject of the sentence receives the action, rather than doing it.

Infinitives in Other Languages

Infinitives exist in many languages, but they look different!

• In German, most infinitives end with -en, -eln, or -ern.
  • For example: lesen (to read) or spielen (to play).
  • There are a couple of exceptions, like sein (to be) and tun (to do).

• In Esperanto, a language created to be easy to learn, all infinitives end with -i.
  • For example: dormi (to sleep) or lerni (to learn).

See also

In Spanish: Infinitivo para niños