Meaning & use
Infinitive
Last updated
The basic, uninflected form of a verb, in English typically preceded by 'to', such as 'to run' or 'to be'.
See it in a sentence
In the sentence 'I want to leave', 'to leave' is the infinitive.
Some style guides warn against splitting an infinitive, as in 'to boldly go'.
A note on using this word
The 'split infinitive', where a word is inserted between 'to' and the verb, was long considered an error, though most modern grammarians accept it as natural in English.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Infinitive”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.