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Formation and uses of the infinitive with and without to.
Practice: build the sentences →The infinitive is the base form of a verb used in a range of grammatical constructions, commonly with to.
English uses infinitives to express purposes, intentions, complements, subjects, objects, and other relationships.
I want to learn English.
Я хочу учить английский.
Infinitive with "to" after "want".
To travel is exciting.
Путешествовать — это захватывающе.
Infinitive as subject.
The most common infinitive form consists of to followed by the base form of the verb.
For example, to work, to study, to leave, and to understand.
She wants to study medicine.
Она хочет изучать медицину.
To + base form: to study.
He decided to leave early.
Он решил уйти рано.
To + base form: to leave.
The verb following to in a standard infinitive construction is in the base form.
For example, to go, to see, and to write, not to went, to saw, or to wrote.
I want to go now.
Я хочу пойти сейчас.
Base form "go" after "to".
She hopes to see you.
Она надеется увидеть тебя.
Base form "see" after "to".
A negative infinitive is normally formed with not before to-infinitive.
For example, not to go, not to forget, and not to mention.
I decided not to go.
Я решил не идти.
Negative infinitive: not to go.
She asked me not to forget.
Она попросила меня не забыть.
Not to forget.
A to-infinitive can function as the subject of a clause, especially in formal or written English.
For example, To learn another language takes time.
To learn another language takes time.
Изучение другого языка требует времени.
Infinitive as subject.
To understand the problem is important.
Понять проблему важно.
Infinitive subject.
English often uses introductory it when a to-infinitive subject would otherwise be long or heavy.
For example, It is difficult to understand the system.
It is difficult to understand the system.
Понять систему сложно.
Introductory it + infinitive.
It was nice to meet you.
Было приятно познакомиться с тобой.
It + be + adjective + infinitive.
A to-infinitive can function as a complement after verbs, adjectives, and certain nouns.
For example, She wants to leave, I am happy to help, and He has a chance to win.
She wants to leave.
Она хочет уйти.
Infinitive after verb "want".
I am happy to help.
Я рад помочь.
Infinitive after adjective "happy".
Many verbs can be followed by a to-infinitive as part of their complement structure.
For example, want to leave, hope to win, decide to stay, and plan to travel.
They hope to win.
Они надеются победить.
Hope + to-infinitive.
We plan to travel.
Мы планируем путешествовать.
Plan + to-infinitive.
A to-infinitive commonly follows adjectives to describe reactions, opinions, difficulty, purpose, or suitability.
For example, happy to help, difficult to understand, and ready to leave.
I am happy to help.
Я рад помочь.
Happy + to-infinitive.
The book is difficult to understand.
Книгу сложно понять.
Difficult + to-infinitive.
Certain nouns can be followed by a to-infinitive to describe an action, possibility, purpose, or relationship.
For example, a decision to leave, a chance to win, and a way to solve the problem.
He made a decision to leave.
Он принял решение уйти.
Decision + to-infinitive.
She has a chance to win.
У неё есть шанс победить.
Chance + to-infinitive.
A to-infinitive can express the purpose of an action.
For example, She went to the shop to buy some milk.
She went to the shop to buy some milk.
Она пошла в магазин, чтобы купить молока.
To buy expresses purpose.
I called to ask a question.
Я позвонил, чтобы задать вопрос.
To ask = purpose.
In order to can introduce a purpose and is followed by the base form of the verb.
For example, He left early in order to avoid traffic.
He left early in order to avoid traffic.
Он вышел рано, чтобы избежать пробок.
In order to + base form.
She studies hard in order to pass the exam.
Она усердно учится, чтобы сдать экзамен.
In order to pass.
So as to can express purpose, especially in formal English.
For example, The system was redesigned so as to improve performance.
The system was redesigned so as to improve performance.
Система была переработана, чтобы улучшить производительность.
So as to + base form.
He spoke slowly so as to be understood.
Он говорил медленно, чтобы его поняли.
So as to be understood.
A question word can be followed by a to-infinitive to express an action that needs to be decided, learned, or explained.
For example, I do not know what to do, where to go, or how to use it.
I do not know what to do.
Я не знаю, что делать.
What + to-infinitive.
She asked how to use it.
Она спросила, как это использовать.
How + to-infinitive.
How followed by an adjective or adverb can combine with a to-infinitive to describe degree or manner.
For example, I do not know how difficult it will be to solve and She explained how to use the machine.
I do not know how difficult it will be to solve.
Я не знаю, насколько сложно будет это решить.
How + adjective + to-infinitive.
She explained how to use the machine.
Она объяснила, как пользоваться машиной.
How + to-infinitive.
The to-infinitive can occur in exclamatory expressions to comment on an action or situation.
For example, What a mistake to make! and How nice to see you!
What a mistake to make!
Какую ошибку совершить!
Exclamatory infinitive.
How nice to see you!
Как приятно тебя видеть!
Exclamatory infinitive.
Too + adjective or adverb + to-infinitive expresses that something exceeds a limit necessary for an action.
For example, The box is too heavy to carry.
The box is too heavy to carry.
Коробка слишком тяжёлая, чтобы её нести.
Too + adjective + to-infinitive.
He is too young to drive.
Он слишком молод, чтобы водить машину.
Too young to drive.
Adjective or adverb + enough + to-infinitive expresses sufficient degree for an action.
For example, She is old enough to drive and He ran quickly enough to catch the bus.
She is old enough to drive.
Она достаточно взрослая, чтобы водить машину.
Adjective + enough + to-infinitive.
He ran quickly enough to catch the bus.
Он бежал достаточно быстро, чтобы успеть на автобус.
Adverb + enough + to-infinitive.
For can introduce the person or thing understood as the subject of a following infinitive.
For example, It is important for children to get enough sleep.
It is important for children to get enough sleep.
Важно, чтобы дети достаточно спали.
For + object + to-infinitive.
It is difficult for me to understand.
Мне сложно понять.
For me + to-infinitive.
The continuous infinitive is formed with to be followed by an -ing form.
It emphasizes that an activity is or was in progress. For example, She seems to be working.
She seems to be working.
Кажется, она работает (сейчас).
Continuous infinitive: to be + -ing.
He appears to be sleeping.
Кажется, он спит.
To be sleeping.
The perfect infinitive is formed with to have followed by a past participle.
It normally refers to an action that happened before the time of the main verb. For example, She seems to have forgotten.
She seems to have forgotten.
Кажется, она забыла.
Perfect infinitive: to have + past participle.
He appears to have left.
Кажется, он ушёл.
To have left.
The perfect continuous infinitive is formed with to have been followed by an -ing form.
It emphasizes the duration or ongoing nature of an earlier activity. For example, He seems to have been working all night.
He seems to have been working all night.
Кажется, он работал всю ночь.
Perfect continuous infinitive: to have been + -ing.
She appears to have been crying.
Кажется, она плакала.
To have been crying.
The passive infinitive is formed with to be followed by a past participle.
For example, The report needs to be completed and She expects to be invited.
The report needs to be completed.
Отчёт нужно завершить.
Passive infinitive: to be + past participle.
She expects to be invited.
Она ожидает, что её пригласят.
To be invited.
The perfect passive infinitive is formed with to have been followed by a past participle.
For example, He is believed to have been informed earlier.
He is believed to have been informed earlier.
Считается, что его проинформировали ранее.
Perfect passive infinitive: to have been + past participle.
The building is thought to have been built in 1900.
Считается, что здание было построено в 1900 году.
To have been built.
Use the appropriate infinitive form and distinguish the to-infinitive from the bare infinitive and gerund.
Common mistakes include using a finite verb after to, confusing purpose with result, using to after a modal, and choosing an infinitive where the following verb or expression requires a gerund.
She wants to go.
Она хочет пойти.
Correct: to + base form.
She wants to goes.
Она хочет пойти.
Incorrect: use base form "go" after "to".
He must to leave.
Он должен уйти.
Incorrect: no "to" after modal "must".
I enjoy to read.
Я люблю читать.
Incorrect: "enjoy" takes gerund "reading".