Verbs Home The Infinitive is one of the "building
blocks" of English, and we use it often; sometimes with
"to" , and sometimes without "to".
|
| to work | Present Infinitive |
| to have worked | Perfect Infinitive |
| to be working | Progressive Infinitive |
| to be told | Passive Infinitive |
with "to"
"I want to go."
without "to"
(We also call this the "bare infinitive".)
"I must go."
auxiliary verbs
...like "do, does, did", to make questions and negatives in the present and
past:
Do you like? Does she like? Did he like?
I don't like. She doesn't like. I didn't like.
modal auxiliary verbs
...like "can", "must", "would","need" etc
She can speak - We must go - They would like - I need to check
certain other verbs
...like "promise", "ask", "agree", "learn" etc.
He promised to come - She asked me to stay - They agreed to work - I'm learning to speak
English.
As you learn, you must pay attention to the form which follows certain verbs...
some constructions
You will find the Infinitive in many situations.
Note for the moment its use in Reported Speech and Obligation.
Negative Infinitive
To be, or not to be? That is the question!
For example
I prefer not to travel by air.
to work, or not to work
to have worked, or not to have worked
to be working, or not to be working
to be told, or not to be told