Infinitival: meaning, definitions and examples
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infinitival
[ ɪnˈfɪnɪtaɪvəl ]
grammar term
The term 'infinitival' relates to the form of verbs that function as infinitives. It can refer to a structure that includes the base form of a verb typically preceded by 'to,' such as 'to run' or 'to eat.' Infinitival phrases often serve as nouns, and they can express purpose or intention within a sentence. Understanding infinitival constructions is fundamental for mastering complex sentence structures in English.
Synonyms
infinitive, verb form
Examples of usage
- I want to eat.
- She loves to sing.
- He decided to go.
- They hope to win.
Translations
Translations of the word "infinitival" in other languages:
🇵🇹 infinitivo
🇮🇳 अनंत काल (अनंत क्रिया)
🇩🇪 Infinitiv
🇮🇩 infinitif
🇺🇦 інфінітив
🇵🇱 bezokolicznik
🇯🇵 不定詞 (ふていし)
🇫🇷 infinitif
🇪🇸 infinitivo
🇹🇷 mastar
🇰🇷 부정사
🇸🇦 مصدر
🇨🇿 infinitiv
🇸🇰 infinitív
🇨🇳 不定式 (bù dìng shì)
🇸🇮 infinitiv
🇮🇸 nafnháttur
🇰🇿 инфинитив
🇬🇪 ინფინიტივი
🇦🇿 infinitiv
🇲🇽 infinitivo
Etymology
The word 'infinitival' is derived from the base form 'infinitive,' which originates from the Latin term 'infinitivus,' meaning 'unlimited' or 'unconstrained.' The Latin root comes from 'infinitus,' which means 'unbounded' or 'endless,' stemming from the prefix 'in-' meaning 'not' and 'finitus' meaning 'limited' or 'finite.' The transition of the term into English occurred during the adoption of Latin grammar terminology in the scholarly context of the Middle Ages. Infinitives have been a crucial part of the grammar structure in many languages, including English, and the adjective 'infinitival' has come to describe characteristics associated with this verb form. This grammatical understanding has evolved from classical times through the Renaissance while being influenced by the rise of modern linguistics.