Difference between revisions of "Infinitive"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
(new article) |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | An '''infinitive''' is a form of a [[verb]] that does not completely specify [[person (grammar)|person]], [[number (grammar)|number]], [[tense]], [[mood (grammar)|mood]], [[aspect (grammar)|aspect]], and [[voice]]. That is, an infinitive cannot function as a [[finite verb]], that is, as the main verb in a [[sentence]]. Instead, the infinitive can function as a verbal [[noun]] or can be combined with one or more [[auxiliary verb]]s to form a compound finite verb. | + | An '''infinitive''' is a form of a [[verb]] that does not completely specify [[person (grammar)|person]], [[number (grammar)|number]], [[tense]], [[mood (grammar)|mood]], [[aspect (grammar)|aspect]], and [[voice]]. That is, an infinitive cannot function as a [[finite verb]], that is, as the main verb in a [[sentence]]. Instead, the infinitive can function as a verbal [[noun]] or can be combined with one or more [[auxiliary verb]]s to form a compound finite verb. Infinitive verbs are often identified in the English language by a preceding "to" (i.e., to go, to work, to edit); this is known as a full infinitive. |
==References== | ==References== | ||
*[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/infinitive Infinitive] | *[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/infinitive Infinitive] | ||
[[Category:Grammar]] | [[Category:Grammar]] | ||
Revision as of 19:52, April 8, 2011
An infinitive is a form of a verb that does not completely specify person, number, tense, mood, aspect, and voice. That is, an infinitive cannot function as a finite verb, that is, as the main verb in a sentence. Instead, the infinitive can function as a verbal noun or can be combined with one or more auxiliary verbs to form a compound finite verb. Infinitive verbs are often identified in the English language by a preceding "to" (i.e., to go, to work, to edit); this is known as a full infinitive.