[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/infinitive/)

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# infinitive

noun (an infinitive, infinitives); adjective (infinitive)

«infinitive» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

(grammar) The basic form of a verb, often with to in front: to run, to be, to eat; the bare infinitive has no to: run, be, eat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/infinitive/#m1)

### In the lessons

In grammar lessons in English and French (manger, aller); dictionaries list verbs by the infinitive. Phrases: to-infinitive, split infinitive, bare infinitive.

### Examples

- To swim is an infinitive. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/infinitive/#x1)
- I want to go home: to go is an infinitive. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/infinitive/#x2)
- In French, aller is the infinitive meaning to go. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/infinitive/#x3)
- A split infinitive puts a word between to and the verb: to boldly go. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/infinitive/#x4)
- Can and must are followed by the bare infinitive: I can swim. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/infinitive/#x5)
- Look up a verb in the dictionary by its infinitive. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/infinitive/#x6)

### Note

Plural infinitives. Split infinitives are now accepted by most writers; old rules said avoid them. Say in-FIN-i-tiv.

## In Jewish tradition

In grammar lessons in English and French (manger, aller); dictionaries list verbs by the infinitive. Phrases: to-infinitive, split infinitive, bare infinitive.

### Examples

- HVI is the imperative form of the verb to he, meaning he thou; HIV is the infinitive; and VIH is future. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/infinitive/#x1)

### Note

Plural infinitives. Split infinitives are now accepted by most writers; old rules said avoid them. Say in-FIN-i-tiv.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «infinitive» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/infinitive/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«infinitive» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/infinitive.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «infinitive» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/infinitive/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«infinitive» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/infinitive.html) on Mova free.