Skip to main content
Grammaring

Search form

  • Topics
  • Tags
  • Glossary
  • Highest rated
  • Verb phrase generator
  • Test your grammar
  • Exercises
  • E-book
Home »Topics »Non-finite verb forms (infinitives, gerunds and participles) »The infinitive »The use of the infinitive

The use of the infinitive

The infinitive can be used on its own or with an object or adverbial:

We decided to leave.
They told us to fill in a registration form.
I'm glad to have studied at that school.

  • The TO-infinitive as subject
  • The TO-infinitive as a subject complement
  • The TO-infinitive to replace a relative clause
  • The TO-infinitive after passive reporting verbs
  • The infinitive after modals
  • DO, DOES, DID + bare infinitive
  • SEE, WATCH, HEAR, LISTEN, FEEL, SMELL, NOTICE, OBSERVE + object + bare infinitive
  • APPEAR, HAPPEN, PROVE, SEEM, TEND, TURN OUT + TO-infinitive
  • HAVE, GET, LET, MAKE + object + infinitive
  • Verb + TO-infinitive
  • Verb + object + TO-infinitive
  • Adjective + TO-infinitive
  • Noun phrase + TO-infinitive
  • The infinitive of purpose
  • The infinitive of result
  • Question word + TO-infinitive
  • Introductory infinitive clauses
◂ The "subject" of the infinitive ▴
The infinitive The TO-infinitive as subject ▸

Rate this page

up
656 users like this page.

E-book

For timeline diagrams, quotes and exercises, check out our e-book The Grammaring Guide to English Grammar

About | Copyright

Grammaring – A guide to English grammar | Copyright © 2009-2025