[Grammar] Are Infinitives verbs?

[Mithur]

I'm a bit confused with infinitives. What part they belong to a speech?

 

[MikeNewYork]

I consider infinitives to be verbals. They are verb forms that retain some features of verbs, but not all the features. When used in a sentence, they function as nouns or modifiers. They cannot function as the main verb in a sentence.

 

[Matthew Wai]

'An infinitive is formed from a verb but doesn't act as a verb. It acts as a noun, adjective, or adverb.'── quoted from http://english-grammar-revolution.com/infinitive.html

 

[Matthew Wai]

Most grammarians would consider this rather sloppy language.

This is easy for learners like me to understand, though.

 

[Rover_KE]

I'm a bit confused with infinitives. What part [STRIKE]they belong to a speech[/STRIKE] of speech do they belong to?

This is a better way to ask your question.

 

[MikeNewYork]

The parts of speech system is largely about the functions of words. It seems foolish to try to separate words from what they do.

 

[MikeNewYork]

This is easy for learners like me to understand, though.

And there is nothing wrong with it. In my opinion, grammarians are largely responsible for the sloppiness of our naming system.

 

[MikeNewYork]

"Word classes" is just another name for "parts of speech".

 

[TheParser]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello, Mithur:


I have found some information for you to add to the excellent answers that you have already received.

One scholar tells us this:

1. "Verbs have five form-types."

a. base (prepare).
b. -s (prepares).
c. -ing participle (preparing).
d. past (prepared).
e. -ed participle (prepared).

*****

The BASE form of the verb is used in four ways:

i. present tense (except for the third person singular).
ii. imperative [a command or order].
iii. present subjunctive ("We recommend that he repay the full amount").
iv. infinitive, which has two major uses:

a. bare infinitive (without "to" after a modal auxiliary, such as "I must write that message").
b. to-infinitive is the main verb in infinitive clauses ("I would like to write something").


Complete credit goes to Sidney Greenbaum, The Oxford English Grammar (1996), pages 117 -120.

 

[Matthew Wai]

b. to-infinitive is the main verb in infinitive clauses ("I would like to write something").

I doubt that a to-infinitive, a non-finite verb, could be the main verb.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I reject the term "infinitive clause". It is a phrase.

 

[Weaver67]

Given that

'An infinitive is formed from a verb but doesn't act as a verb. It acts as a noun, adjective, or adverb.'

and 'write' in 'I must write that message' is an infinitive, what would the function of it be? To me, it does not look like it could 'act as a noun, adjective, or adverb' here. So, either the definition is inaccurate/sloppy or 'write' is not an infinitive in that example. Which is it?

 

[Matthew Wai]

The quote in the above post refers to to-infinitives instead of bare infinitives.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Weaver, in your example, "write" is a verb and is preceded by a modal auxiliary.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I think 'write' and 'must write' are the main verb and the finite verb respectively.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I don't see the distinction.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I think the distinction is that 'write' alone as a bare infinitive cannot be a finite verb.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Who said it was an infinitive? How about "I write the messages" or "I will write the message".

 

[Matthew Wai]

Is 'write' an infinitive in 'must/will write'?

 

[Tdol]

I'd say it's a bare infinitive.