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infinitive

Pronunciation: /ɪnˈfɪnɪtɪv/
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Definition of infinitive

noun

  • the basic form of a verb, without an inflection binding it to a particular subject or tense (e.g. see in we came to see, let him see).

adjective

  • having or involving the basic form of a verb: infinitive clauses

Derivatives

infinitival

Pronunciation: /-ˈtʌɪv(ə)l/
adjective

infinitivally

Pronunciation: /-ˈtʌɪv(ə)li/
adverb

Origin:

late Middle English (as an adjective): from Latin infinitivus, from infinitus (see infinite). The noun dates from the mid 16th century

Grammar

A form of the verb. In the verb phrase the infinitive has two forms: the verb stem. This form of the infinitive is used after modal auxiliary verbs such as must and should: to' plus the verb stem:

infinitive in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of infinitive in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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