Infinitivfras

Infinitivfras, or an infinitive phrase, is a non-finite clause built around an infinitive verb form. In English, this usually means the to-infinitive (to read, to go) or, after certain verbs and modals, a bare infinitive (read, go). An infinitive phrase may include a direct object, complements, and modifiers, for example to read the long letter, to arrive early, or to read quickly.

The infinitive phrase can function in several syntactic roles. As a noun phrase, it can be the subject or object of a sentence: To travel light is to travel far. She hopes to visit Japan. As an adjective phrase, it can modify a noun: easy to use instructions. As an adverbial, it can express purpose: She studied to pass the exam. Infinitive phrases can also appear after adjectives or nouns that require a following clause, as in It is important to listen or the decision to move. In addition, infinitive phrases can participate in extraposition: It is difficult to understand, or To understand the problem is difficult.

A related concept is the gerund phrase, which centers on the -ing form (reading, traveling) and often behaves differently in syntax and semantics. Infinitive phrases may show control phenomena, where the understood subject of the infinitive is the matrix subject (I want to go → I want you to go can be interpreted with subject control or object-control in context).

Cross-linguistically, infinitivfras are common in many languages, though markers and usage vary. Some languages mark the infinitive with a dedicated particle, others rely on verb forms or sentence structure to indicate non-finite clauses.