infinitiveja

Infinitives are non-finite verb forms that name an action without specifying a subject, person, or tense. They function as a base form of a verb and are often used to express purposes, intentions, or general statements about actions. In many languages there can be one or several infinitive variants, each with different grammatical roles.

In English, there are two primary infinitive forms: the to-infinitive (to eat, to run) and the bare infinitive (eat, run). The to-infinitive is common after many verbs, adjectives, and nouns, and it often expresses purpose (I study to learn). The bare infinitive is used after modal verbs (can, may, must), after let or make, and in some perception constructions (I saw him leave). Some verbs also allow a semi-infinitive or split infinitive in certain contexts.

Across other languages the infinitive is usually central to the verb’s dictionary form and serves as the basis for conjugation. Romance languages typically mark infinitives with characteristic endings: Spanish -ar, -er, -ir; French -er, -ir, -re; Italian -are, -ere, -ire; Portuguese -ar, -er, -ir. In many languages the infinitive can function as a noun or as part of non-finite clauses, and it may appear with or without markers that indicate aspect or voice. Some languages feature several distinct infinitive types, each with particular syntactic uses.

Infinitives often function as nouns or noun phrases, for example as subjects or objects: To read regularly is important. In Finnish, infinitive forms are used similarly to other languages, and the plural form infinitiveja is used when referring to more than one infinitive. Overall, infinitives play a central role in forming non-finite clauses and in presenting actions in a general, unanchored form.