INFINITIVE

1. Definition: When ‘to’ is added in the original form of a ‘verb’ then it is called ‘Infinitive’. In other words it can be said that- the verb which is not depend on ‘subject’ or ‘tense’ are called infinitive.
   

   Example: To run, To play, to work etc.
   

   1. Mukesh playes cricket.
      
   2. Mukesh played cricket
      
   3. Mukesh will play cricket.
      
   4. Mukesh wants to play cricket.
      
   5. Mukesh wanted to play cricket.
      

   Here, in sentences (i), (ii) & (iii) mentioned above, verb ‘play’ depends on tense and subject but in sentences (iv) & (v), verb play is not depending on tense. As in (iv) simple present is used and in (v) simple past tense are used respectively but play remain in it’s original form with ‘to’. Here, to play is infinitive.
   

   2.1    Uses of Infinitives: Like Gerund, Infinitive is also work as noun but in addition, it also works as adjective and adverb.
   

         Example: (i) To err is human. (Subject of verb means noun)

         (ii) To drive is not so easy (Subject of verb means noun)

        (iii) I want to go. (Subject of verb means noun)

        (iv) They gave us cloth to wear. (Here used as adjective as it is for noun ‘cloth’).

(v) Farmers give us food to eat. (Here, infinitive ‘to eat’ qualify for food that is noun so used as adjective).

(vi) Vinay came here to play (here infinitive ‘to play’ qualify for verb ‘came’ so used as adverb).

3.1    Important points: (a) If any sentence have two infinitive and they are combined with ‘and’ then second infinitive may lose it’s ‘to’.

            Example: I went to market to purchase a radio and to sell it. – Wrong.

             I went to market to purchase a radio and sell it. – Correct.

            (b) Never put any adverb between ‘to & ‘verb’ as it is called split infinitive.

Example: (i) I request you to kindly grant me leave. (ii) I advised him to carefully read the lesson. These both sentences are wrong as these are the case of ‘split infinitive’.

Correct sentence: (i) I request you kindly to grant me permission.

         (ii) I advised him to read the lesson carefully.

(c) The ‘to’ of infinitive of following words are always in hidden form –

Shall, should, will, would, can, could, may, might, do, did, must, see, hear, feel, smell, taste, make, please, let bid, watch, help, dare not, need not etc.

Example:
Wrong sentence: (i) I saw Mukesh to play cricket. (ii) Please let me to play.

Correct sentences: (i) I saw Mukesh play cricket. (ii) Please let me play.