Verbs in Infinitive – What are they, uses, examples and sentences

We explain what infinitive verbs are, their endings and what functions they can fulfill. Also, examples and use in sentences.

What are infinitive verbs?

In grammar, the verb infinitive is one of the fixed ways any verb can appear, part of the so-called verboids (together with the gerund and the participle), since they are not conjugatedInstead, they act as if they were words from another grammatical category.

Thus, infinitives are still verbs, but they act in the language as if they were nouns. That is why they are conventionally chosen to “name” verbs in general, that is, as a lexical piece or entry for a dictionary, for example, instead of the verbs themselves conjugated for one or another person or case.

Verbal infinitives are common to all languages ​​and are determined in each one by its particular rules. In Spanish they always end in the particles “-ar”, “-er” or “-ir”, like loving, fearing or leaving.

As will be seen, these examples do not present any of the morphological marks of the conjugation (verbal person, verb mood, verb tense, etc.), present instead in “amaré”, “feared” or “departás”, although it is possible that present clitic pronouns at the end, as in the cases of “love you,” “fear me,” or “parting.”

Functions of verbs in the infinitive

Infinitives fulfill various functions within the language, beyond serving as a “name” for verbs, that is, as a label for dictionaries. Among these functions we find the following:

• Subject of sentence. Since it acts as a noun, the infinitive can take the place of the subject of the sentence in cases like “To run it is the only thing that will save us ”.
• Verbal complement. Likewise, it can be used as a verbal complement, just as a noun would be used, in cases such as “I only want to live”(Direct complement),“ We ​​are dedicated to trade goods “(indirect complement) or” I regretted give me account of everything ”(circumstantial complement).
• Other add-ons sentence. It also works as a complement in different situations, as in the cases of “She is difficult to understand“(Adjective complement),” We saw you to get all arranged ”(predicative complement),“ I sat down after look to all sides ”(adverb complement) or supplement in complex sentences.
• As generalized instruction. The infinitive is used as part of the instructions and prohibitions such as “No to smoke“, “No get in without shoes “or”Introduce the bill in the slot ”.

Examples of infinitive verbs

Sentences with infinitive verbs

• Must to work for eat.
• Wish we could to travel more often.
• The police will to have that Chase more thieves.
• We could not watch nothing in the cinema.
• To drink It is not going to sort out your problems.
• For to think you better have to read and to write very often.
• You always need help when it comes to choose.
• You don’t always have to upload for to get higher.
• Had a walk so strange, that they could immediately recognize.
• At the time of dance, they can’t me overcome.
• No feed to the animals.
• Overcome it is our only purpose.
• Do you really want it to know?
• Can not to accept that you have decided do
• What I’m going to tell it’s easy to understand.