Verbs: infinitives

I mentioned the infinitive right at the start of the verb chapters. It’s how you find verbs in the dictionary. If you drop the to, you get the form which you can use in like 80% of all sentences.

So it was a great way to introduce verbs. But I left out some important details and nuances, which I’d like to discuss now. Even though the infinitive isn’t often used, it helps understand other concepts:

I already explained how it was closely linked to the gerund. (Which is a common grammar construct.)
The next chapter—the last one on verbs—will require this knowledge.

Two different types of infinitives exist:

The regular infinitive: to + base verb (to remember)
The zero infinitive: base verb (remember)

To negate it, you simply put the word not in front. (This can always be done, no contraction or irregularity needed.)

Regular Infinitive

Purpose or intention

You can test this by replacing to with in order to (or so as to) and the sentence should still work.

Example

She came to school to receive her award. (👧➡️🏫 to 👐🏆)

She came to school in order to receive her award.

Subject

The original use I explained. The verb as the general concept of doing something.

Example

To find true love is the purpose of life!

To modify a noun

You modify a noun by saying in what way it is true.

For example, take the sentence: “You are easy.”

They are “easy”, but in what way? In which event are they easy?

Let’s modify it with an infinitive: “You are easy to convince”.

Now we know. They are easy when you’re trying to “convince” them!

Example

She is a nice girl to flirt with. (How is “nice” meant? For flirting.)
They are a dangerous group to run into late at night. (How are they “dangerous”? If you run into them.)
Jim is the worst person to ask for these matters. (How is Jim the “worst”? When asking him.)

When measuring an action

Often, an action is only taken if you measure that it’s possible. Or a good idea.

The word too measures an extreme. (Something is too much.)

The word enough measures a good balance. (Something is just enough.)

After these, an infinitive follows that describes for what action you’re measuring something.

Example

There is enough food to feed everyone here.
She is too beautiful to ignore.
They aren’t smart enough to study this.

Measuring with nouns

The above can be extended when talking about a noun and if it can be used for an action. For example, is this space big enough for dancing? Is the weather good enough for a light jacket?

Example

They will need some space to work in.
Would you like a slice of cake to eat?
You require two goals to play soccer

Questions

Infinitives are great for questions. Because they are about general actions, instead of someone actually doing it. You don’t often ask if somebody is currently dancing, you might ask if they know how to dance in general.

This is the structure:

Use one of the interrogative verbs: ask, decide, explain, forget, know, show, tell and understand c
Follow it with a question word (like how or why)
And then add the infinitive.

I’ve explained how questions are usually answered by repeating the structure. This remains true here.

Example

Do you know how to draw a cat? (✏️🐱)
Has he explained when it’s best to mow the lawn? (🌿🚜)
No, but I’ve been shown how to draw a dog instead. (✏️🐕)

About style

Infinitives cause prepositions (or other glue words) to be pushed towards the back of the sentence.

Example

Do you know which team you play in?

This is frowned upon. Glue words don’t work that well when you’re, well, not glueing things together, but placing it at the end. Communication is more clear if you don’t do this.

How do you rewrite a sentence like that? Keep the prepositions before the thing they belong to. If necessary, add an extra word to make the sentence flow better.

Example

Do you know in which team you play?

Example

I’ve told you what to use this machine for => I’ve told you for what (purpose) to use this machine.

It takes some effort. But it makes your communication more professional and easy to follow.

Zero Infinitive

Fortunately, the zero infinitive has far fewer uses.

Example

He can’t explain that to you now.
Would she tell you if she knew?

After verbs of perception

The construction here is: Verb + object + zero infinitive. The object comes between them!

Example

They heard her scream.
We watched him try to get on his bike.

People often wrongly write “we watched him trying to get on his bike”. This feels correct, but it’s not.

Adding a comma also doesn’t save you: “We watched him, trying to get on his bike” The subject of the sentence is we, so this implies that we are trying to get on his bike!

You’d need a small rewrites if you really want to use the -ing form: “We watched him as he was trying to get on his bike.”

After specific expressions

These expressions are:

The verbs make and let
The expression had better
In combination with why, making a suggestion.

Example

Let’s go!
You made him do that.
She had better go to bed now.
You’d better give me some more money!
Why wait until he returns?
Why not sleep at Jim’s place?*

Imperative

The “imperative” tense is very simple and small—now that you know the infinitive. It is used to give commands or instructions.

Remark

In Dutch, it’s called the “gebiedende wijs”, which translates to “the commanding way”.

This is only used if you’re directly speaking with someone else. You won’t find it in writing. And never in third person.

Let’s say you planned to go to an appointment with someone else. But they are taking a lot of time to prepare. Then you say “Hurry up! We’re almost late!”

The imperative is simply the verb stem, without anything else!

Example