Infinitivinen

Infinitivinen is a grammatical term referring to the base form of a verb, often considered the dictionary form. It is a non-finite verb form, meaning it does not indicate tense, person, or number on its own. In many languages, the infinitive is marked by a specific particle or ending. For example, in English, the infinitive is typically preceded by "to" (e.g., to run, to eat). In languages like German, the infinitive often ends in "-en" (e.g., laufen, essen).

The function of infinitives within a sentence can vary. They can act as nouns, subjects or objects of verbs. For instance, in English, "To err is human" uses an infinitive as the subject. Infinitives can also function as complements or be used after certain verbs, prepositions, or adjectives. Understanding infinitives is crucial for comprehending verb conjugation and sentence structure across various languages, as their usage and forms differ significantly. They are a fundamental building block in the verbal system of many grammars.