Infinitives are known asnon-finite verbs, meaning they do not express actions being performed by the subjects of clauses. Instead, infinitives function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs to describe actions asideas. Infinitives are distinct from a similar construction known asbare infinitivesor thebase...
no definite meaning. This syllabletois instinctively treated asaortheis treated in a similarly stressed sequence of adjective and noun (‘a brief designation,’‘the proper order,’ etc.) Ingrammar, unlimited; indefinite: noting a certain verb-form sometimes called theinfinitive mode.See II. ...
infinitive meaning, definition, what is infinitive: in grammar, the basic form of a verb, us...: Learn more.
grammar a word or affix occurring with the verb stem in the infinitive, such as to in to make“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009...
infinitive/ɪnˈfɪnətɪv/noun pluralinfinitives Britannica Dictionary definition of INFINITIVE [count]grammar :the basic form of a verb ◊ In English the infinitive form of a verb is usually used withto(“I asked himto go”) except with modal verbs likeshouldandcould(“He should...
Definition of infinitive noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
The first records of the terminfinitivecome from around 1425. It comes from the Late Latin wordinfīnītīvus,meaning “indefinite.”Infinitivesare used in many languages, even in very old languages like Latin. In English,infinitivesare usually made of two words such as to run or to know. In...
/ I started reading. same meaning but different use She forbids us to talk. / She forbids talking. different meaning He stopped to smoke. / He stopped smoking. infinitive or present participle I saw him go up the stairs. / I saw him going up the stairs....
First Known Use Noun 1530, in the meaning defined above Adjective 15th century, in the meaning defined above Time Traveler The first known use of infinitive was in the 15th century See more words from the same century Phrases Containing infinitive split infinitive Articles...
The meaning of INFINITIVE is a verb form normally identical in English with the first person singular that performs some functions of a noun and at the same time displays some characteristics of a verb and that is used with to (as in 'I asked him to go')