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Infinitives are an essential part of learning English. If you’re exploring how to learn to speak English fluently or enrolling in a course in Dubai, understanding infinitives is vital. This guide explains the basics of infinitives, their types, and their uses in a friendly and engaging way.
An infinitive is the base form of a verb, often preceded by “to.” Think of it as the simplest way to express an action without tying it to a specific time or subject.
Example: “To learn” is the infinitive of the verb “learn.”
Let’s dive into the types of infinitives with examples.
The to-infinitive is the most common form. It includes “to” + the verb.
Examples:
To-infinitives often indicate the reason or purpose for an action.
Example: She joined English courses in Dubai to improve her grammar.
Explanation: The action of joining English courses is explained by the purpose of improving grammar.
Verbs like ‘want,’ ‘hope,’ ‘plan,’ and ‘decide’ are typically followed by to-infinitives.
Example: He plans to travel to Dubai.
Explanation: The verb plans naturally connects to the to-infinitive to travel.
Here’s a handy list of verbs often followed by infinitives:
To-infinitives can follow certain adjectives, especially those expressing emotions or opinions.
Example: It’s exciting to visit new places.
Explanation: The adjective exciting is complemented by the to-infinitive to visit.
Subject: To learn English is important for global communication.
Object: I love to explore new cultures.
To-infinitives are also used in passive constructions.
Example: He was asked to complete the project.
Explanation: The action is passive, with the to-infinitive describing what was requested.
The bare infinitive is the verb without “to.” It is used in specific contexts.
Examples:
Modal verbs like ‘can,’ ‘should,’ ‘must,’ and ‘might’ are always followed by a bare infinitive.
Example: You must study hard to succeed.
Explanation: The modal ‘must’ is directly followed by the bare infinitive study.
Bare infinitives follow verbs like let, make, help, and hear.
Example: They let us go early today.
Explanation: The verb ‘let’ takes a bare infinitive to complete its meaning.
Causative verbs such as ‘make’ and ‘have’ are followed by a bare infinitive.
Example: The teacher made us rewrite the essay.
Explanation: The verb ‘made’ is causative, requiring a bare infinitive to indicate the action.
Phrases like would rather and had better are followed by bare infinitives.
Example: You had better finish your homework before dinner.
Explanation: The bare infinitive ‘finish’ is required after the phrase ‘had better’.
Verbs like ‘see,’ ‘watch,’ ‘hear,’ and ‘feel’ often take bare infinitives.
Example: I saw him run across the street.
Explanation: The verb ‘saw’ is followed by the bare infinitive ‘run’ to describe the action observed.
Verbs that prefer infinitives as subjects:
Verbs like “want,” “plan,” and “decide” are usually followed by an infinitive when the action is the subject.
Verbs that prefer gerunds as subjects:
Verbs like “enjoy,” “consider,” and “avoid” are typically followed by a gerund when the action is the subject.
Infinitives are often part of idiomatic expressions:
You may encounter split infinitives, where an adverb is placed between “to” and the verb.
Example: She wants to completely understand the topic.
This structure is widely accepted in modern English but should be used sparingly in formal writing.
To make an infinitive negative, simply place ‘not’ before it.
Example: I decided not to attend the meeting.
Practise using infinitives by completing these sentences. Use the correct form of either the to-infinitive or the bare infinitive based on the context.
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1. to improve 2. to call 3. try 4. to enrol 5. help 6. to receive 7. stay 8. to prepare 9. leave 10. to practise
Read the sentences below, identify the infinitive, and specify whether it’s a to-infinitive or a bare infinitive.
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Infinitives are your key to expressing thoughts clearly and efficiently in English. By understanding the distinct uses of these two types of infinitives, you’ll be better equipped to construct accurate and meaningful sentences. If you’re enrolling in an English language institute in Dubai, mastering infinitives will help you improve your fluency and confidence.
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