There are four non-finite forms of the verb in English: the infinitive (to take), the gerund (taking), participle I (taking), participle II (taken). These forms possess some verbal and some non-verbal features. The main verbal feature of the infinitive and participles I and II is that it can be used as part of analytical verbal forms (is standing, is built, have come, will do, etc.) Lexically non-finites do not differ from finite forms. Grammatically the difference between the two types of forms lies in the fact that non-finites may denote a secondary action or a process related to that expressed by the finite verb.
Non-finites possess the verb categories of voice, perfect, and aspect. They lack the categories of person, number, mood, and tense.
4.1. / Infinitive
THE INFINITIVE
The infinitive is a verbal form (a non-finite verb form) which consists of the base form of the verb with the particle "to": to do; to go; to play; to take; to break; to find.
Properties and functions of the infinitive
The infinitive has some properties of the verb. The infinitive names an action (to drive a car) or state (to be sick), but cannot show person, number, or mood. The infinitive has active and passive forms (to take; to be taken) and can express voice and time, though in a rather limited way.
| Form of the Infinitive | Active | Passive |
| Indefinite denotes an action simultaneous with the action expressed by the finite verb, so it may refer to the present, past and future | I am (was/will be) pleased to meet you. | I am (was/will be) pleased to be met. |
| Continuous denotes an action simultaneous with that expressed by the finite verb; it is an action in progress | Where is Bob? He must be working in the Lab now. He seems to be sleeping. | |
| Perfect denotes an action prior to dial expressed by the finite verb. | I'm sorry to have missed the party. | Nothing seems to have been forgotten. |
| Perfect Continuous denotes n action which lasted a certain time before the action of the finite verb | He seems to have been working in the lab since morning. |
The infinitive can have a direct object (He plans to visit a museum) or a prepositional object (He wants to know about it) and can be modified by an adverb (He tried to walk slowly).
The infinitive can be part of the compound verbal predicate (She can drive; We must go) or part of the compound nominal predicate (His aim is to help you). The infinitive alone, without another verb, is generally not used as the predicate.
The infinitive has some properties of the noun and can be in the function of the subject (To quit now would be a mistake) or of an object (He likes to sing; She asked me to wait). The infinitive can be in the function of an attribute (He has no desire to see them).
The infinitive can function as an adverbial modifier of purpose (He came here to study) or as an adverbial modifier of consequence (He was too tired to go to the cinema).
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The use of the Infinitive without the Particle to
(Bare Infinitive)
| Auxiliary verbs: I Dont like Jogging. They Will see you to-morrow. | Modal verbs: (except ought to, have to, be to) You cantplay football in the street. I must go there to-morrow. You neednt worry. | Modal expression: You had better I would rather would sooner She d sooner die than come back You had better come at once. |
| Verbs of sense perception: (see, watch, observe, notice, hear, listen to, feel,etc.) I felt somebody touch me. He heard the door close. | Verbs of inducement: (let, make, have, bid) What makes you think so? Let me help you. | Phrases with but: cannot but, do anything but do nothing but couldnt but Did you do anything but ask questions? Why-not sentences: Why not begin at once? |
