Infinitive

The infinitive is a kind of helping verb that uses "to" with the root of the verb and this follows the main verb:

to sleep

The Eagle Scout offered to sleep with an eyepatch on.(red= main verb)

to dream

Gumby didn't mean to dream of his new flannel pajamas.(red= main verb)

The counterpart to the infinitive is the gerund. Whether one uses the gerund or the infinitive depends on what the main verb in the sentence. The following is an incomplete list of verbs that take only infinitives.

Verb + Infinitive

agree decide manage plan wait
ask expect mean pretend want
beg have need promise wish
claim hope offer refuse  

We plan to visit the Yucatan next week. (red= main verb)

 

Verb + Gerund or Infinitive

begin continue like can't stand start
hate love      

I love skiing.[gerund] (red= main verb)

I love to ski.[infinitive] (red= main verb)

With some verbs, however, the choice of a gerund or infinitive changes the meaning dramatically:

forget remember stop try  

She stopped speaking to Lucia.[gerund] (red= main verb)

She stopped to speak to Lucia.[infinitive] (red= main verb)


Exercises with infinitives