Infinitive: Learn Infinitives with Examples and Practice
āϤā§āĻŽāĻŋ āĻāĻŋ āĻāĻžāύ⧠Shakespeare-āĻāϰ Hamlet-āĻāϰ āĻŦāĻŋāĻā§āϝāĻžāϤ āϞāĻžāĻāύ âto be or not to beâ āĻāϏāϞ⧠āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ Infinitive Phrase? Infinitive āĻŽāĻžāύ⧠āĻšāϞ⧠Verb-āĻāϰ āĻāĻŽāύ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĢāϰā§āĻŽ āϝāĻž āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϝ⧠Noun, Adjective, āĻŦāĻž Adverb āĻšāĻŋāϏā§āĻŦā§ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĨ¤ āĻļā§āϧ⧠āϏāĻžāĻšāĻŋāϤā§āϝā§āĻ āύāϝāĻŧ, āĻāĻŽāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āĻĻā§āύāύā§āĻĻāĻŋāύ āĻāĻĨā§āĻĒāĻāĻĨāύ⧠Infinitive-āĻāϰ āĻā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻāĻž āĻ āϏāĻžāϧāĻžāϰāĻŖāĨ¤
āĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āϤā§:
To learn is to grow.
āĻļāĻŋāĻāϤ⧠āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻž āĻŽāĻžāύā§āĻ āĻŦā§āĻĄāĻŧā§ āĻāĻ āĻžāĨ¤I want to help you.Â
āĻāĻŽāĻŋ āϤā§āĻŽāĻžāĻā§ āϏāĻžāĻšāĻžāϝā§āϝ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻāĻžāĻāĨ¤To travel the world is my dream.
āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āĻŦ āĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻŖ āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āϏā§āĻŦāĻĒā§āύāĨ¤
āĻāĻŽāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āĻāĻĻā§āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϝ, āĻāĻā§āĻāĻž, āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāĻžāĻŦāύāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻļā§ Infinitive-āĻāϰ āĻāĻ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāĻžāώāĻžāĻā§ āĻāϰ⧠āĻļāĻā§āϤāĻŋāĻļāĻžāϞ⧠āĻāϰ⧠āϤā§āϞā§āĨ¤
āĻŦāĻŋāĻā§āϝāĻžāϤ āĻāĻā§āϤāĻŋ āĻ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦāĻžāĻĻā§ Infinitive-āĻāϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ:
- âTo err is human, to forgive divine.â â Alexander Pope
āĻā§āϞ āĻāϰāĻž āĻŽāĻžāύā§āώā§āϰ āϧāϰā§āĻŽ, āĻā§āώāĻŽāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻāĻļā§āĻŦāϰā§āϰ āĻā§āĻŖāĨ¤ - âTo love and to be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.â â David Viscott
āĻāĻžāϞāĻŦāĻžāϏāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāĻžāϞāĻŦāĻžāϏāĻž āĻĒāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻŽāĻžāύ⧠āĻĻā§āĻ āĻĻāĻŋāĻ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āϏā§āϰā§āϝā§āϰ āĻāώā§āĻŖāϤāĻž āĻ āύā§āĻāĻŦ āĻāϰāĻžāĨ¤ - âTo know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.â â Socrates
āύāĻŋāĻā§āĻā§ āĻāĻžāύāĻž āĻšāϞ⧠āĻā§āĻāĻžāύā§āϰ āϏā§āĻāύāĻžāĨ¤ - âTo live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.â â Oscar Wilde
āĻŦāĻžāĻāĻāĻž āĻĒā§āĻĨāĻŋāĻŦā§āϰ āϏāĻŦāĻā§āϝāĻŧā§ āĻŦāĻŋāϰāϞ āĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧāĨ¤ āĻ āϧāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻāĻļ āĻŽāĻžāύā§āώ āĻļā§āϧ⧠āĻ āϏā§āϤāĻŋāϤā§āĻŦ āĻŦāĻāĻžāϝāĻŧ āϰāĻžāĻā§āĨ¤
āĻā§āύ āĻļāĻŋāĻāĻŦā§ Infinitive?
Infinitive āĻļā§āϧ⧠āĻāĻāϰā§āĻāĻŋ āĻļā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝāĻ āύāϝāĻŧ, āϞā§āĻāĻžāϞā§āĻāĻŋ, āĻāĻĨāĻžāĻŦāĻžāϰā§āϤāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻāĻŋāύā§āϤāĻžāĻā§ āϏā§āϏā§āĻĒāώā§āĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻļ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āϏāĻžāĻšāĻžāϝā§āϝ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻā§āϰ āĻāĻžāĻāĻĄā§ āĻļāĻŋāĻāĻŦ:
- Infinitive-āĻāϰ āĻāĻ āύ āĻ āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋāώā§āĻā§āϝāĨ¤
- Infinitive phrase āĻā§āĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϝ⧠āĻā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻāĻž āϰāĻžāĻā§āĨ¤
- Infinitive-āĻāϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϏāĻžāϧāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻā§āϞāĨ¤
- āĻĒā§āϰā§āϝāĻžāĻāĻāĻŋāϏ āϏā§āĻāĻļāύ: Infinitive āĻāĻŋāĻšā§āύāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ āϏāĻ āĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻžāĨ¤
āĻāϞā§, infinitive-āĻāϰ āĻāĻžāĻĻā§āĻāϰ⧠āĻĻā§āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦā§āĻļ āĻāϰāĻŋ!

Definition of an Infinitive āĻāϰ āϏāĻāĻā§āĻāĻž
Infinitive āĻšāϞ⧠āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āώ āϧāϰāύā§āϰ Non-finite verb, āϝāĻž āϏāĻžāϧāĻžāϰāĻŖāϤ “To” āĻĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āĻļā§āϰ⧠āĻšāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻŦāĻ Verb-āĻāϰ Base Form āĻĨāĻžāĻā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϝ⧠Noun, Adjective, āĻŦāĻž Adverb āĻšāĻŋāϏā§āĻŦā§ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤Â Finite verb āĻāϰ āĻŽāϤ⧠Tense āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļ āĻāϰ⧠āύāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻ Subject āĻāϰ āϏāĻžāĻĨā§ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤāĻŋāϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧ āύāĻžāĨ¤ Infinitive āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϝā§āϰ Subject, Object, Complement, Modifier āĻšāĻŋāϏā§āĻŦā§ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§, āϝāĻž āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻā§ āĻāϰāĻ āĻāĻ āύāĻŽā§āϞāĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻ āϰā§āĻĨāĻŦāĻš āĻāϰā§āĨ¤
An Infinitive is the base form of a verb, usually preceded by the word “to.” It can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb in a sentence, making it versatile and dynamic. Infinitives play an essential role in sentence construction, offering flexibility and clarity.
In general, when we say the term ‘Infinitive’, we mean “To + Base Form of Verb”. [Alternatively known as ‘To Infinitive‘]
What is an Infinitive?
An Infinitive is the base form of a verb, often preceded by the word “to” (e.g., “to eat,” “to learn”). It can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb in sentences.
Infinitive āĻšāϞ⧠āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āĻŽā§āϞ āϰā§āĻĒ, āϝāĻž āϏāĻžāϧāĻžāϰāĻŖāϤ “to” āĻĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āĻļā§āϰ⧠āĻšāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϝ⧠āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻŋāύā§āύ āĻā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤
Examples of Infinitives āĻāϰ āĻāĻĻāĻžāĻšāϰāĻŖ
To sing is delightful. (To sing acts as a subject.)
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āĻāĻžāύ āĻāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻāύāύā§āĻĻāĻĻāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻāĨ¤He wants to play football. (To play acts as an object.)
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āϏ⧠āĻĢā§āĻāĻŦāϞ āĻā§āϞāϤ⧠āĻāĻžāϝāĻŧāĨ¤Her goal is to succeed. (To succeed acts as a complement.)
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āϤāĻžāϰ āϞāĻā§āώā§āϝ āϏāĻĢāϞ āĻšāĻāϝāĻŧāĻžāĨ¤They are about to leave. (To leave acts as the object of the preposition “about.”)
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āϤāĻžāϰāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻŦā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āϝāĻžāĻā§āĻā§āĨ¤She has a project to complete. (To complete modifies the noun “project.”)
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āϤāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāύā§āύ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāϞā§āĻĒ āĻāĻā§āĨ¤
Key Features of Infinitives āĻāϰ āĻŽā§āϞ āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋāώā§āĻā§āϝ
Base Form of the Verb:
Always uses the base form (e.g., “to eat,” “to run”).
āĻāĻāĻŋ āϏāĻŦāϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āĻŽā§āϞ āϰā§āĻĒā§ āĻĨāĻžāĻā§āĨ¤
- Acts as Noun, Adjective, or Adverb:
Infinitives are multifunctional and can take on different roles in sentences.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻžāϝāĻŧ: āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϝ⧠āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āώā§āϝ, āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āώāĻŖ, āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āώāĻŖ āĻšāĻŋāϏā§āĻŦā§ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤
To-Infinitive and Bare Infinitive:
Infinitives may or may not use “to.” For example:- To-Infinitive: I want to learn.
- Bare Infinitive: She made him cry.
- However, the term Infinitive is commonly used to mean or indicate ‘To-Infinitive’.
Passive Infinitive and Perfect Infinitive:
Infinitive can indicate Passive and Perfect mode. For example:- Passive Infinitive: Everyone wants to be loved.
- Perfect Infinitive: Everyone is happy to have helped the poor.
Can be the subject, object, or complement of a verb.
āĻāĻĻāĻžāĻšāϰāĻŖ:- Subject: To exercise is good for health.
- Object: She wants to paint something.
- Complement: His favorite activity is to go on a walk.
Types of Infinitives āĻāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāϰāĻā§āĻĻ āĻŦāĻž āϧāϰāĻŖ
Infinitives are versatile and can be categorized based on their structure and usage. Below are the five types of infinitives, explained with examples and Bangla meanings:
1. To Infinitive â To + Base Verb
This is the most common form of the infinitive, where “to” is followed by the base verb.
Example:
- To read is fun.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āĻĒāĻĄāĻŧāĻž āĻŽāĻāĻžāϰāĨ¤ - She wants to travel.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āϏ⧠āĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻŖ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻāĻžāϝāĻŧāĨ¤
2. Bare Infinitive â Only Base Verb
In this type, the base verb is used without “to.” It usually follows certain verbs like make, let, help, or modal verbs like can, may, should.
Example:
- He always makes me laught.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āϏ⧠āϏāĻŦāϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻŽāĻžāĻā§ āĻšāĻžāϏāĻžāϝāĻŧāĨ¤ - Let him go.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āϤāĻžāĻā§ āϝā§āϤ⧠āĻĻāĻžāĻāĨ¤
3. Split Infinitive â To + Adverb/Adverbial Phrase + Base Verb
A split infinitive occurs when an adverb or adverbial phrase is inserted between “to” and the base verb.
Example:
- She promised to always help her friends.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āϏ⧠āϏāĻŦāϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻžāϰ āĻŦāύā§āϧā§āĻĻā§āϰ āϏāĻžāĻšāĻžāϝā§āϝ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻļā§āϰā§āϤāĻŋ āĻĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤ - He tried to quickly finish his work.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āϏ⧠āĻĻā§āϰā§āϤ āϤāĻžāϰ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻļā§āώ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻā§āώā§āĻāĻž āĻāϰā§āĻā§āĨ¤
4. Perfect Infinitive â To + Have + Past Participle (V3)
The perfect infinitive shows actions that were completed before a specific point in time.
Example:
- She is happy to have completed her project.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āϏ⧠āϤāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāϞā§āĻĒ āĻļā§āώ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒā§āϰ⧠āĻā§āĻļāĻŋāĨ¤ - He seems to have forgotten the meeting.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āϏ⧠āĻŽāύ⧠āĻšāϝāĻŧ āĻŽāĻŋāĻāĻŋāĻ āĻā§āϞ⧠āĻā§āĻā§āĨ¤
5. Passive Infinitive â To + Be + Past Participle (V3)
The passive infinitive is used to show that something is done to the subject rather than the subject doing it.
Example:
- This house is to be sold soon.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āĻāĻ āĻŦāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻļā§āĻā§āϰāĻ āĻŦāĻŋāĻā§āϰāĻŋ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāĻŦā§āĨ¤ - The documents need to be signed.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āύāĻĨāĻŋāĻĒāϤā§āϰ⧠āϏā§āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āώāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύāĨ¤
Common Uses of Infinitives āĻāϰ āϏāĻžāϧāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ
An infinitive can serve various purposes in a sentence. Below are the common uses with examples and their Bangla meanings.
A. As the Subject of a Sentence
When the infinitive is the subject, it represents an activity or state.
- Example: To sing is delightful.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āĻ āϰā§āĻĨ: āĻāĻžāύ āĻāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻāύāύā§āĻĻāĻĻāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻāĨ¤
B. As the Object of a Verb
Some verbs (such as want, decide, hope, need, plan) require an infinitive to complete their meaning.
- Example: He wants to go abroad.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āĻ āϰā§āĻĨ: āϏ⧠āĻŦāĻŋāĻĻā§āĻļā§ āϝā§āϤ⧠āĻāĻžāϝāĻŧāĨ¤
C. As the Complement of a Verb
The infinitive can complement the meaning of a linking verb in both the subject and predicate.
- Example: Her dream is to travel. (Subject Complement)
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āĻ āϰā§āĻĨ: āϤāĻžāϰ āϏā§āĻŦāĻĒā§āύ āĻšāϞ⧠āĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻžāĨ¤ - Example: Her favorite activity is to paint. (Subject Complement)
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āĻ āϰā§āĻĨ: āϤāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻšāϞ⧠āĻāĻāĻāĻžāĨ¤ - Example: His hobby is to collect stamps. (Predicate Complement)
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āĻ āϰā§āĻĨ: āϤāĻžāϰ āĻļāĻ āĻšāϞ⧠āĻĄāĻžāĻāĻāĻŋāĻāĻŋāĻ āϏāĻāĻā§āϰāĻšāĨ¤
D. Certain Adjectives Are Followed by Infinitives
In English, some adjectives are typically followed by infinitives (to + base verb) to complete their meaning. These adjectives often describe emotions, states, or the subject’s ability, readiness, or difficulty. These adjectives are: easy, difficult, impossible, ready, willing, reluctant, happy, glad, sad, proud, afraid, anxious, necessary, important, essential, possible, likely, unlikely, wrong, fair.
- Example: It is easy to say but difficult to do.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āĻ āϰā§āĻĨ: āĻŦāϞāĻž āϏāĻšāĻ āĻāĻŋāύā§āϤ⧠āĻāϰāĻž āĻāĻ āĻŋāύāĨ¤
E. As a Modifier
Infinitives can modify nouns or verbs.
Example: She has a room to clean.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āĻ āϰā§āĻĨ: āϤāĻžāϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāϰ āĻāĻā§ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻžāϰāĨ¤
Learn Infinitives with Examples - Bangla to English
āĻāĻāύ āĻāĻŽāϰāĻž āĻāĻĻāĻžāĻšāϰāĻŖ āϏāĻš āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϝ⧠Infinitive āĻā§āĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰ⧠āϤāĻž āĻļāĻŋāĻāĻŦāĨ¤ āύāĻŋāĻŽā§āύāϞāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϤ āĻāĻĻāĻžāĻšāϰāĻŖāĻā§āϞāĻŋāϤā§, āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϝ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻāĻāϰā§āĻāĻŋ āĻ āύā§āĻŦāĻžāĻĻ āĻāϰ⧠āĻĻā§āĻāĻžāύ⧠āĻšāĻŦā§ āϝ⧠Infinitive āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϝ⧠Subject, Object, Complement, āĻŦāĻž Preposition-āĻāϰ Object āĻšāĻŋāϏā§āĻŦā§ āĻā§āĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšā§āϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤
āĻāĻĻāĻžāĻšāϰāĻŖāĻā§āϞ⧠āĻĒāĻĄāĻŧā§āύ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻ āύā§āĻļā§āϞāύ āĻāϰā§āύ, āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻāĻā§āϞ⧠āĻāĻĒāύāĻžāĻā§ Infinitive-āĻāϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻ āĻāĻžāϞā§āĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦā§āĻāϤ⧠āϏāĻžāĻšāĻžāϝā§āϝ āĻāϰāĻŦā§āĨ¤ āĻāϞā§āύ āĻļā§āϰ⧠āĻāϰāĻž āϝāĻžāĻ!
01 "āĻā§āύ⧠āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻĻā§āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϝ" āĻŦā§āĻāĻžāϤ⧠Infinitive āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ
- ______ āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻāĻĻā§āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϝāĨ¤
- ______ is my goal.
Now try the following:
āĻĒā§āĻžāĻļā§āύāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻāĻĻā§āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϝāĨ¤
To study is my goal.āĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻž āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻāĻĻā§āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϝāĨ¤
To travel is my goal.āĻ āĻāĻ āĻļā§āĻāĻž āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻāĻĻā§āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϝāĨ¤
To learn math is my goal.
02 "āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§āĻāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻāϞā§āĻĒāύāĻž" āĻŦā§āĻāĻžāϤ⧠Infinitive āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ
- āĻāĻŽāĻŋ ______ āĻāĻžāĻāĨ¤
- I want to ______.
Now try the following:
āĻāĻŽāĻŋ āĻāĻžāύ āĻāĻžāĻāϤ⧠āĻāĻžāĻāĨ¤
I want to sing.āĻāĻŽāĻŋ āϞā§āĻāĻžāϞā§āĻāĻŋ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻāĻžāĻāĨ¤
I want to write.āĻāĻŽāĻŋ āĻŦāĻŋāĻĻā§āĻļā§ āĻĒā§āĻžāĻļā§āύāĻž āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻāĻžāĻāĨ¤
I want to study abroad.
03 "āĻā§āύ⧠āĻāĻžāĻā§āϰ āĻāĻĻā§āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϝ āĻŦā§āĻāĻžāϤā§" Infinitive āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ
- āϏ⧠______ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻāϏā§āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
- She came to ______.
Now try the following:
āϏ⧠āϏāĻžāĻšāĻžāϝā§āϝ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻāϏā§āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
She came to help.āϤāĻžāϰāĻž āĻĻā§āĻāĻžāĻļā§āύāĻž āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻāϏā§āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤
They came to supervise.
04 "āĻā§āύ⧠āĻāĻŋāύāĻŋāϏ āĻā§āύ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāĻŦā§" āĻŦā§āĻāĻžāϤ⧠Infinitive āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ
- āĻāĻāĻŋ ______ āĻāϰ āĻāύā§āϝāĨ¤
- This is to ______.
Now try the following:
āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝāĨ¤
This is to use.āĻāĻāĻŋ āĻļā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝāĨ¤
This is to learn.āĻāĻāĻŋ āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϝāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāĻžāϧāĻžāύ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝāĨ¤
This is to solve the problem.
*05* āϝāĻāύ āĻāĻŽāϰāĻž "āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāĻāĻž āĻāϰāĻž" āĻŦāĻž "āϤā§āĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāĻāĻž āĻāϰāĻž" āĻŦāϞāϤ⧠āĻā§āύ⧠āĻāĻāĻāĻž āĻāĻžāĻ āĻŦā§āĻāĻžāϤ⧠āĻāĻžāĻ, āĻāĻŽāϰāĻž āύāĻŋāĻŽā§āύā§āĻā§āϤāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ Infinitive āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰ⧠āĻāĻŽāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āĻŽāύā§āϰ āĻāĻĨāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻļ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰāĻŋ:
- āϤāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧ āĻļāĻ āϰāĻžāύā§āύāĻž āĻāϰāĻžāĨ¤
- Her favorite hobby is to cook.
- āϤā§āĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻšāϞ⧠āϧā§āϝāĻŧāĻž āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻžāĨ¤
- Your job is to clean.
- āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻāĻžāĻ āϞā§āĻāĻžāϞā§āĻāĻŋāĨ¤
- My work is to write.
*06* āϝāĻāύ āĻāĻŽāϰāĻž āĻā§āύ⧠āĻ āύā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋ, āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĻŋ, āϏāĻŽā§āĻāĻŦāύāĻž, āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āϰā§āϤā§āĻŦ āĻŦā§āĻāĻžāϤ⧠āĻāĻžāĻ, āĻāĻŽāϰāĻž āύāĻŋāĻŽā§āύā§āĻā§āϤāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ Adjective āĻāĻŦāĻ Infinitive āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰ⧠āĻāĻŽāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āĻŽāύā§āϰ āĻāĻĨāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻļ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰāĻŋ:
āĻāĻā§āώā§āϤā§āϰ⧠āĻāĻŽāϰāĻž āĻāĻ Adjectives āĻā§āϞ⧠āĻŽāύ⧠āϰāĻžāĻāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰāĻŋ: easy, difficult, impossible, ready, willing, reluctant, happy, glad, sad, proud, afraid, anxious, necessary, important, essential, possible, likely, unlikely, wrong, fairāĨ¤
- āĻŦāϞāĻž āϏāĻšāĻ āĻāĻŋāύā§āϤ⧠āĻāϰāĻž āĻāĻ āĻŋāύāĨ¤
- It is easy to say but difficult to do.
- āϤā§āĻŽāĻžāĻā§ āϏāĻžāĻšāĻžāϝā§āϝ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰāϞ⧠āĻāĻŽāĻŋ āĻā§āĻļāĻŋāĨ¤
- I’m happy to help you anytime!
- āĻŦāĻŋāϤāϰā§āĻ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāϝā§āĻāĻŋāϤāĻžāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻžāϰ āϏā§āĻā§āϞāĻā§ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāύāĻŋāϧāĻŋāϤā§āĻŦ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒā§āϰ⧠āϏ⧠āĻāϰā§āĻŦāĻŋāϤāĨ¤
- She is proud to represent her school in the debate competition.
- āϤā§āĻŽāĻŋ āĻāĻŋ āĻŽāĻŋāĻāĻŋāĻ āĻļā§āϰ⧠āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤ?
- Are you ready to start the meeting?
- āϏ⧠āϏāĻŦāϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻžāϰ āĻā§āĻāĻžāύ āĻ āύā§āϝāĻĻā§āϰ āϏāĻžāĻĨā§ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰ⧠āύāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĨ¤
- He is always willing to share his knowledge with others.
- āϝāĻĨāĻžāϝāĻĨ āĻĒā§āϰāĻļāĻŋāĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻž āĻāĻ āĻĒāĻžāĻšāĻžāĻĄāĻŧā§ āĻāĻĄāĻŧāĻž āĻ āϏāĻŽā§āĻāĻŦāĨ¤
- It is impossible to climb this mountain without proper training.
- āĻāĻ āϏāύā§āϧā§āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻŦā§āώā§āĻāĻŋ āĻšāĻāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽā§āĻāĻžāĻŦāύāĻž āĻāĻā§, āϤāĻžāĻ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāĻžāϤāĻž āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āϝāĻžāĻāĨ¤
- It is likely to rain this evening, so carry an umbrella.
- āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻĻāĻŋāύ āϝāĻĨā§āώā§āĻ āĻĒāĻžāύāĻŋ āĻĒāĻžāύ āĻāϰāĻž āĻā§āϰā§āϤā§āĻŦāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖāĨ¤
- It is important to drink enough water every day.
- āϏāĻžāĻĢāϞā§āϝ āĻ āϰā§āĻāύ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āϤā§āĻŽāĻžāϰ āϞāĻā§āώā§āϝāĻā§āϞā§āϰ āĻāĻĒāϰ āĻŽāύā§āϝā§āĻ āĻā§āύā§āĻĻā§āϰā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻž āĻ āϤā§āϝāĻžāĻŦāĻļā§āϝāĻāĨ¤
- It is essential to focus on your goals to achieve success.
āĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§āĻ Adjective āĻāĻŦāĻ Infinitive āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰ⧠āĻ āύā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋ, āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĻŋ, āϏāĻŽā§āĻāĻžāĻŦāύāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āϰā§āϤā§āĻŦ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻļ āĻāϰāĻž āϝāĻžāϝāĻŧāĨ¤ đ
Practice Section: Test Your Understanding of Infinitives
Infinitive āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āϤā§āĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻā§āĻāĻžāύ āĻāϤāĻāĻž āĻŽāĻāĻŦā§āϤ āϤāĻž āϝāĻžāĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤ? āύāĻŋāĻā§āϰ āĻ āύā§āĻļā§āϞāύāĻā§āϞ⧠āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ āĻāϰ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻĻā§āĻā§ āϤā§āĻŽāĻŋ Infinitive-āĻāϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϤāĻāĻž āĻāĻžāϞā§āĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦā§āĻāϤ⧠āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻāĨ¤ āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻā§āϞ⧠āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ āĻāϰ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻ āύā§āĻŦāĻžāĻĻ āĻāϰ āϤā§āĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻĻāĻā§āώāϤāĻž āĻŦāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝāĨ¤ đ
A. Fill in the Blanks Using Infinitives
āύāĻŋāĻā§āϰ āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻā§āϞā§āϰ āĻĢāĻžāĻāĻāĻž āϏā§āĻĨāĻžāύāĻā§āϞ⧠āϏāĻ āĻŋāĻ Infinitive āĻĢāϰā§āĻŽ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāĻŖ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
I want ______ (learn) new skills.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āĻāĻŽāĻŋ āύāϤā§āύ āĻĻāĻā§āώāϤāĻž āĻļā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§āĻāĻž āĻāϰāĻŋāĨ¤She came ______ (help) us.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āϏ⧠āĻāĻŽāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āϏāĻžāĻšāĻžāϝā§āϝ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻāϏā§āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤To ______ (read) books is fun.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āĻŦāĻ āĻĒāĻĄāĻŧāĻž āĻŽāĻāĻžāϰāĨ¤It is important ______ (drink) enough water every day.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻĻāĻŋāύ āϝāĻĨā§āώā§āĻ āĻĒāĻžāύāĻŋ ______ (āĻĒāĻžāύ āĻāϰāĻž) āĻā§āϰā§āϤā§āĻŦāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖāĨ¤It is easy ______ (say) but difficult ______ (do).
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: ______ (āĻŦāϞāĻž) āϏāĻšāĻ āĻāĻŋāύā§āϤ⧠______ (āĻāϰāĻž) āĻāĻ āĻŋāύāĨ¤
B. Translate Bangla Sentences into English Using Infinitives
āύāĻŋāĻā§āϰ āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻā§āϞ⧠Infinitive āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰ⧠āĻāĻāϰā§āĻāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻ āύā§āĻŦāĻžāĻĻ āĻāϰā§āύāĨ¤
- āĻāĻŽāĻŋ āĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻŖ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻāĻžāϞā§āĻŦāĻžāϏāĻŋāĨ¤
- āϤāĻžāϰāĻž āĻāĻžāĻ āĻļā§āώ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻāĻžāϝāĻŧāĨ¤
- āĻāĻŽāϰāĻž āĻā§āϞāϤ⧠āĻŦāĻžāĻāϰ⧠āϝāĻžāĻā§āĻāĻŋāĨ¤
- āĻāĻŽāĻŋ āϤā§āĻŽāĻžāĻā§ āϏāĻžāĻšāĻžāϝā§āϝ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāϏā§āϤā§āϤāĨ¤
- āĻŦāϞāĻž āĻ āϏāĻŽā§āĻāĻŦ āϝ⧠āϏ⧠āĻāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻā§āώā§āĻāĻž āĻāϰāĻŦā§āĨ¤
Answer Keys to Practice Section Exercises
āĻ āύā§āĻļā§āϞāύāĻā§āϞ⧠āĻļā§āώ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻ? āĻāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻāϤā§āϤāϰāĻā§āϞ⧠āĻĻā§āĻā§ āύāĻžāĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϝāĻžāĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰ⧠āϤā§āĻŽāĻŋ Infinitive-āĻāϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϤāĻāĻž āĻāĻžāϞā§āĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāϝāĻŧāϤā§āϤ āĻāϰā§āĻāĨ¤ āύāĻŋāĻā§āϰ āĻāϤā§āϤāϰāĻā§āϞ⧠āĻŽāĻŋāϞāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĻā§āĻā§ āĻāϰ āĻŦā§āĻā§ āύāĻžāĻ āĻā§āĻĨāĻžāϝāĻŧ āϤā§āĻŽāĻŋ āĻāĻžāϞ⧠āĻāϰā§āĻ āĻāĻŦāĻ āĻā§āĻĨāĻžāϝāĻŧ āĻāϰāĻ āĻ āύā§āĻļā§āϞāύā§āϰ āĻĻāϰāĻāĻžāϰāĨ¤ āĻļā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻāĻ āϝāĻžāϤā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧ āϧā§āϰā§āϝ āϧāϰ⧠āĻāĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āĻāϞā§! đ
āύāĻŋāĻā§ āĻāϤā§āϤāϰāĻā§āϞ⧠āĻĻā§āĻāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻšāϞā§:
Answer Keys: Fill in the Blanks Using Infinitives
- To learn
- to help
- To read
- to drink
- to say, to do
Answer Keys: Translate Bangla Sentences into English Using Infinitives
- I love to travel.
- They want to finish the work.
- We are going outside to play.
- I am ready to help you.
- It is impossible to say that he will try again.
Difference Between Infinitives and Gerunds: A Comparison Table with Examples:
āϝāĻĻāĻŋāĻ Infinitive āĻāĻŦāĻ Gerund āĻāĻāϝāĻŧāĻ Verb-āĻāϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϰā§āĻĒ āϝāĻž āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϝ⧠āύāĻžāĻŽ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻžāϰā§āϝ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāύāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āĻ āĻāĻļ āĻšāĻŋāϏāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§, āϤāĻžāϰāĻž āĻāĻ āύāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻŦāĻ āϤāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻā§āώā§āϤā§āϰ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĻĨāĻā§āϝ āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤ Infinitive āϏāĻžāϧāĻžāϰāĻŖāϤ āĻāĻĻā§āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϝ, āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻāϞā§āĻĒāύāĻž, āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻŦāĻŋāώā§āϝ⧠āĻāĻžāĻ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻĻā§āĻļ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšā§āϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧ, āϝā§āĻāĻžāύ⧠Gerund āĻāĻžāĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻ āĻā§āϝāĻžāϏ āĻŦā§āĻāĻžāϤ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšā§āϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤ āĻāϏā§āύ āĻāĻ āĻĻā§āĻā§ā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϧāĻžāύ āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĻĨāĻā§āϝāĻā§āϞ⧠āĻāĻĻāĻžāĻšāϰāĻŖāϏāĻš āĻĻā§āĻā§ āύāĻŋāĻāĨ¤
Feature | Infinitive | Gerund |
---|---|---|
Structure | Main Structure is "To + Base Form of Verb" | Verb ending in -ing acting as a noun. |
Example | To read, To play, To learn | Reading, Playing, Learning |
Multiple Forms? | Yes, infinitives have different forms depending on usage: | No, gerunds always maintain the "verb+ing" form, regardless of usage. |
Example | Write, To write, To be written, To have written etc. | Writing, Reading, Swimming |
Use After Prepositions | Rarely used. | Commonly follows prepositions. |
Example | â Incorrect: She is good at to dance. | â Correct: She is good at dancing. |
Conveys | Purpose or intention. | Action or activity. |
Example | To exercise regularly is important for staying healthy. | Exercising regularly is important for staying healthy. |
Detailed Explanation | To exercise regularly - āĻāĻāĻžāύ⧠âāύāĻŋā§āĻŽāĻŋāϤ āĻŦā§āϝāĻžā§āĻžāĻŽ āĻāϰāĻžâ āĻāĻĻā§āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϝ (āϏā§āϏā§āĻĨ āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ) āĻŦā§āĻāĻžā§āĨ¤ | Exercising regularly - āĻāĻāĻžāύ⧠âāύāĻŋā§āĻŽāĻŋāϤ āĻŦā§āϝāĻžā§āĻžāĻŽ āĻāϰāĻžâ āύāĻŋāĻā§ āĻĨā§āĻā§āĻ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āϰā§āϤā§āĻŦāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻšāĻŋāϏā§āĻŦā§ āĻāĻĒāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāĻŋāϤ āĻšā§ā§āĻā§āĨ¤ |
Focus | Focus is on the reason or purpose of exercising, i.e., to stay healthy. | Focus is on the action or habit itself as being important. |
Common Mistakes with Infinitives
Mistake Example 1 (Subject-Verb Agreement with Infinitives):
- â To watch movies are my favorite pastime.
- â To watch movies is my favorite pastime.
Mistake Example 2 (Use of Countable Nouns):
- â To Watch movie is my favorite pastime.
- â To Watch movies is my favorite pastime.
Infinitive āĻĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϝ āĻāĻ āύ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āĻļāĻŋāĻā§āώāĻžāϰā§āĻĨā§āϰāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāϝāĻŧāĻ āĻāĻ āĻĻā§āĻāĻŋ āĻā§āϞ āĻāϰ⧠āĻĨāĻžāĻā§āĨ¤ āϤāĻžāĻ āĻŽāύ⧠āϰāĻžāĻāϤ⧠āĻšāĻŦā§ āϝā§,
- Infinitive āϝāĻāύ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϝā§āϰ Subject āĻšāĻŋāϏā§āĻŦā§ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšā§āϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧ, āϤāĻāύ Singular Verb āĻĒā§āϰā§ā§āĻāύ āĻšā§āĨ¤ When an âInfinitiveâ is used as the âSubject of a Sentenceâ, a Singular Verb is required.
- To swim is a great exercise.
- To wash clothes is a tiresome activity.
- Infinitive āĻāϰ Object āϝāĻĻāĻŋ Countable Noun āĻšā§, āϤāĻžāĻšāϞ⧠āϏāĻ āĻŋāĻ Determiner āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻšāĻŦā§ āĻ
āĻĨāĻŦāĻž Plural Countable Noun āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻšāĻŦā§āĨ¤ If the object of an infinitive is a countable noun, the correct determiner must be used, or the noun should be in its plural form to indicate a general or indefinite quantity (e.g., “apples,” “books”).
- To buy tomatoes is tricky.
- To buy a house is a long-term investment.
- To buy clothes is a time-consuming process.
Detailed Explanation with Extended Examples:
- Infinitive as Subject:
An infinitive phrase acts as a singular subject, so it requires a singular verb, regardless of the plurality of its object. - Plural Countable Nouns as Objects:
When the object of the infinitive is countable, it is typically plural if referring to a general or indefinite quantity (e.g., “apples,” “books”). This ensures grammatical and logical consistency.
Example Analysis 1:
- â Incorrect: “To eat apple is good for health.”
- â Incorrect: “To eat apple are good for health.”
- â Incorrect: “To eat apples are good for health.”
- “To eat apple” implies a single apple, which is illogical in general context.
- “Are” is incorrect because the infinitive phrase requires a singular verb.
- â
Correct: “To eat apples is good for health.”
- “Apples” (plural) logically aligns with the general activity.
- “Is” agrees with the singular infinitive subject.
Example Analysis 2:
- â Incorrect: “To collect stamp is a popular hobby.”
- â Incorrect: “To collect stamp are a popular hobby.”
- â Incorrect: “To collect stamps are a popular hobby.”
- “Stamp” (singular) sounds unnatural for a hobby involving stamps.
- “Are” is incorrect due to subject-verb disagreement.
- â
Correct: “To collect stamps is a popular hobby.”
- “Stamps” (plural) logically fits the hobby.
- “Is” agrees with the singular infinitive phrase.
Example Analysis 3:
- â Incorrect: “To read books are relaxing.”
- â Incorrect: “To read book is relaxing.”
- â Incorrect: “To read book are relaxing.”
- “Book” (singular) implies only one book, which is inconsistent with the idea of relaxation as a general activity.
- “Are” is incorrect.
- â
Correct: “To read books is relaxing.”
- “Books” (plural) makes the statement logical.
- “Is” agrees with the singular infinitive subject.
Importance of the Rule:
- Using Plural Objects:
Ensures the activity is expressed logically and aligns with general usage when referring to countable nouns. - Singular Verb Agreement:
Maintains grammatical accuracy by matching the infinitive phrase (singular subject) with a singular verb.
Test Your Understanding: Avoid Common Mistakes with Infinitives
Choose the correct sentence:
Which one is correct?
Choose the correct sentence:
Take the Infinitive Quiz to Reinforce Your Skills
Put your knowledge of infinitives to the test and learn from engaging questions designed to strengthen your understanding.
đ āĻĻā§āĻā§āύ: Quiz on Infinitives
Summary of Key Points
- An infinitive is the base form of a verb, often preceded by “to” (e.g., to read, to write, to learn).
- Infinitives can act as subjects, objects, or complements in a sentence.
- They are used to express purpose, intention, or future-oriented actions.
- Example: She works hard to achieve success.
- Infinitives often follow adjectives to provide explanation or reason.
- Example: Itâs essential to stay focused.
- Certain verbs always take infinitives, such as want, decide, hope, need, plan.
- Example: He decided to join the meeting.
- When an Infinitive is used as the Subject of a Sentence, it gives a formal tone.
- Example: To exercise daily is important for health.
- Infinitives are often used to describe why an action happens (purpose).
- Example: She left early to catch the bus.
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions about Infinitives
A1: An infinitive is the base form of a verb, usually preceded by "to." For example, âTo read is enjoyable.â
A2: An infinitive does not show tense or subject agreement. It acts as a noun, adjective, or adverb, while a regular verb shows action or state and changes according to tense and subject.
A3: The structure is typically "to" + base verb (e.g., to write, to play). However, in some cases, infinitives appear without "to," called bare infinitives (e.g., let him go).
A4: Yes, infinitives can act as the subject. For example:
"To travel is exciting."
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āĻā§āϰāĻŽāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻž āĻāϤā§āϤā§āĻāύāĻžāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖāĨ¤
A5: Infinitives are used as:
- Subjects: To read is fun.
- Objects: He wants to learn.
- Complements: Her dream is to succeed.
- Modifiers: She has a project to complete.
A6:
- To-infinitive: Includes "to" before the base verb (e.g., to write).
- Bare infinitive: Omits "to" and is used with verbs like "let," "make," "help" (e.g., Let him go).
A7: Rarely. Instead of infinitives, gerunds are usually used after prepositions. For example:
- Incorrect: She is good at to dance.
- Correct: She is good at dancing.
A8:
- Infinitive: Focuses on purpose or intent (e.g., to learn).
- Gerund: Focuses on activity or action (e.g., learning).
A9: A Passive Infinitive is used to express that something is done to the subject, rather than the subject performing the action. Its structure is "to + be + past participle (V3)."
Example:
- The report needs to be submitted.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āϰāĻŋāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻ āĻāĻŽāĻž āĻĻā§āĻāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύāĨ¤ - The house is to be sold soon.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āĻŦāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻŋāĻāĻŋ āĻļā§āĻā§āϰāĻ āĻŦāĻŋāĻā§āϰāĻŋ āĻāϰāĻž āĻšāĻŦā§āĨ¤
A10: A Perfect Infinitive shows actions that were completed before a specific point in time. Its structure is "to + have + past participle (V3)."
Example:
- She is happy to have completed her project.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āϏ⧠āϤāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāϞā§āĻĒ āĻļā§āώ āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻĒā§āϰ⧠āĻā§āĻļāĻŋāĨ¤ - He seems to have forgotten the meeting.
āĻŦāĻžāĻāϞāĻž: āĻŽāύ⧠āĻšāϝāĻŧ āϏ⧠āĻŽāĻŋāĻāĻŋāĻ āĻā§āϞ⧠āĻā§āĻā§āĨ¤